Do you suffer from chronic sinusitis? If so, then you know how absolutely painful the symptoms can be. It can feel like an uphill battle you can never win. You experience symptoms like:
- Nasal congestion
- Post-nasal drip
- Fatigue and sleep loss
- Trouble breathing
- Headaches
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Runny nose
What causes sinusitis and sinus infections?
The sinus cavities in the face surround the nose, eyes, and the surrounding areas. They play a huge role in breathing. They help control humidity and keep foreign substances out of the body by draining. When the lining of the sinus cavities become swollen or inflamed it becomes difficult for them to drain. This means that the viruses and bacteria that would normally drain out cannot. This leads to a build-up and then to an infection. When people are constantly suffering, they may turn to pharmaceuticals for help. While these may help for a little while, they will also come with some side effects. Such as:
- High blood pressure
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Insomnia
Sinusitis home remedies
For people who want to avoid the side effects of pharmaceuticals, sinusitis home remedies may be the answer. Natural remedies are safe, effective, and target the underlying cause of inflammation. They also help with natural sinus drainage to prevent further infections. The safest and most effective natural home 1remedies for sinusitis involve the use of water in some form. The water penetrates the blockage so that mucus can begin to flow freely again.
Steam and Vapor
Using steam can be a highly effective treatment. Steam can naturally rise into the sinus cavities and begin breaking through the blockage. As the steam works its way through the nasal passage it will begin to thin out the mucus so that it can naturally drain out. It may also soothe the pain caused by the inflammation. Some ways to utilize water vapor as a home remedy are:
- Take a warm shower or bath: Take a few extra minutes to breathe in deeply through the nose when taking a shower or bath.
- Use a steam pot: Place a bowl or pot of warm water on a solid surface and then breathe in the steam deeply through the nose. Place a towel on your head to trap in the steam.
- Use a warm mist humidifier: These machines produce warm steam and may be a safer alternative than heating up your own pot of water.
Sinus Rinse
Using liquid water instead of steam is just as effective. Most sinus rinses contain some sort of mixture of sterile water and sodium solution. Rinses can be sprayed into the nose or poured through the nasal passages. Rinses are usually safe, but it is important to pay close attention to the manufacturer's instructions so you don't hurt yourself. Check your directions for:
- They type of water to use: Distilled and sterile water are the two types suggested for use. All other types are dangerous to put into the sinus cavities.
- What temperature the water should be: Using water that is too hot will cause burns and other damage.
- Device cleanliness: If you are using a rinsing device, like a neti pot, make sure to sanitize between uses.
Cool Mist Humidifier
Cool mist humidifiers are a good alternative to warm mist humidifiers when used for children or elderly people. Cool mist humidifiers create steam in other ways other than heat, but the steam still breaks up nasal blockages.
Other sinusitis home remedies:
Other effective sinusitis home remedies include:
- Elevate your sleeping position so that gravity can naturally drain your sinuses
- Stay hydrated so that your body can function properly. When your body is dehydrated its natural processes may not work at full capacity
- Using a warm or cool compress can help reduce the inflammation so that your sinuses can drain properly.
Sinusitis home remedies aren't working for me.
Natural remedies are safe, and they are usually effective. If you want to avoid pharmaceuticals and home remedies aren't cutting it, balloon sinuplasty may be the choice for you. Balloon sinuplasty is an effective minimally invasive procedure that can finally solve your painful symptoms of chronic sinusitis.