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Use your nasal spray as directed by your doctor to avoid side effects. Nasal corticosteroid sprays: These are topical nasal sprays that contain steroids that help decrease swelling. Do not use steam if it triggers your asthma or makes it hard to breathe. Or you can breathe hot steam through your nose for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times a day.
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You can also follow a recipe to make your own nasal saline rinse from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. You can buy nasal saline packets in most pharmacies. Use lukewarm distilled or boiled water that is stored in a clean container. Nasal rinse or inhaling steam: To clear your sinuses, you rinse your nose with warm saline solution (salt water) using a neti pot or a special rinse bottle. Here are a few common treatment options for sinusitis: If you have a bacterial infection, your doctor may also prescribe an antibiotic to fight it. Draining your sinuses helps flush out a bacterial infection. The first step to treat sinusitis is to clear your nasal passages. These symptoms may be similar to some respiratory viral infections.
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When a sinus infection results from blocked sinuses, symptoms may include: If you have more than three sinus infections in a year or have symptoms longer than 12 weeks, you could have chronic sinusitis. Sinus infections may cause long-term sinus inflammation and symptoms. This causes mucus and pressure to build up.Ĭhronic sinusitis occurs when symptoms become more frequent or worse. The swelling blocks the sinus openings and prevents normal mucus from draining. This could happen when you have a cold or allergies. The mucous membranes inside your nose, sinuses, and throat swell. What Are the Types of Sinusitis?Īcute sinusitis is a temporary swelling of the sinuses. If you are frequently exposed to certain irritants, they can cause sinusitis. Irritants like smoke, strong odors, and air pollution can also cause sinus swelling. These bacteria multiply and cause a sinus infection when they are unable to drain out of the blocked sinuses. This secondary infection is caused by bacteria that are normally present in the respiratory tract. If your sinuses are blocked for a long time, you may get a bacterial infection. Colds, bacterial infections, allergies, asthma, and other health conditions can also cause sinusitis.
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What Causes Sinusitis?Ī viral infection causes most cases of sinusitis. Over time, air trapped inside swollen sinuses can create painful pressure inside the head. When the tissue inside the sinuses swells, mucus increases. The same things that can cause swelling in the nose can also affect the sinuses, such as allergies or an infection. The sinuses have the same kind of tissue that lines the inside of the nose. Sinusitis is when your sinuses become infected or congested. These are called the “paranasal sinuses.” They lighten the skull and help give your voice its tone. There are many sinuses in the body, including four pairs inside the skull. Sinusitis (Sinus Infection or Sinus Inflammation) What Is Sinusitis?Ī “sinus” is simply a hollow space.
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