We often dismiss sinus congestions and discomforts as nothing and leave the problem untreated, thinking that they would go away on their own. Unfortunately, this is what causes the issue to aggravate. Not taking care of ourselves during a sinus attack will only make the problem so much worse, which could eventually lead to a greater issue involving sinus surgery. Therefore, whenever we encounter even the slightest symptoms of sinusitis, we should seek to nip the problem at the bud.
There are several treatments and preventive measures you can do at home in order for you to avoid the bigger financial and physical pain of going into sinus surgery. We enumerate several of them here.
1. Irrigate your nasal passageways. Allergen particles, like bacteria, dust, pollen and others are washed off when a nasal rinse is done because it cleans out our mucus membranes and prevents the formation of more bacteria. The purpose of the mucus on our faces is to fight infections and, thereby, eliminate the incidence of sinusitis. Over the counter medications and nasal irrigation products are available and most have been found to be very effective. To know if a particular nasal irrigation product is fit for you, consult an ear, nose and throat doctor.
2. Breathe in warm, moist air. Humidified air is best to help unclog congested nasal passaeways. You may use a humidifier or a steam vaporizer to do this. If these are not available, you can still declog your nose the cheaper way by inhaling the steam from a basin of hot water, or by taking a hot shower.
3. Taking sinus medications. There are certain medications that work very effectively against nasal problems, but most of them are designed to address the aches and pains that go with it. Such drugs include naproxen, acetaminophen, mefenamic acid, aspiring, paracetamol and ibuprofen, among others. Just make sure that you're not allergic to these drugs before you take them.
4. Use hot and cold compress. Alternating hot and cold compress applied to your sinus area will help relieve sinus pains. Use the hot compress against your face for around three minutes and follow with a cold compress for about thirty seconds, alternating. Repeat as needed and do so at least six times day, depending on your sinus complaints.
5. Try other alternatives. More and more people are turning to alternative medicine, instead of the usual over the counter drugs. In China, for instance, the Magnolia Flower, is being used a cure for nasal congestion and clogging. Chrysanthemum, Angelica and Mint have also been found to be effective against upper respiratory tract problems and pains. These alternatives have no scientific backing, however, but those who have turned to them have already sworn to their effectiveness.
As said earlier, not all the above methods are surefire ways to treat sinus congestions and its permutations, especially if you have left the problem untreated and unattended for a very long time. If this happens and none of the recommendations prove useful, you should then head to your ear, nose and throat specialist to determine the best options.
For grave cases, sinus surgery is often required. Your sinuses will be subjected to a CT scan so the doctors will be able to find out how serious the blockage has escalated into. If no chronic issues were found, then you will be told to proceed to allergy testing and other medication programs.
However, if the sinusitis has bloated to uncontrollable levels, you will be subjected to sinus surgery. This procedure is not exactly painful and may only take a while, but it can take quite a toll on your pocket, especially given the fact the sinusitis often starts at a very minor and curable point.
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