Sinus Inflammation: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

Sinus inflammation is a very common problem of the respiratory tract and can be described as swelling or inflammation in mucus membranes of sinuses in our face. Sinuses are hollow cavities with lining of mucus membranes and located within the bones of our face surrounding the nose. If sinusitis lasts for few days it’s called acute sinusitis however, if it lasts for months or someone repeatedly suffers from sinusitis it’s referred to as chronic sinusitis, which can often be difficult to identify.

Symptoms

It’s a very debilitating condition and affects the entire body. Some of the symptoms are below:

• Pressure-like pain around and behind the eyes, sides of the nose and/or forehead.
• Face is tender to touch.
• Nasal congestion and discharge
• Headache severe in the morning and subsides by noon
• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue

Causes of sinus inflammation

Sinusitis is basically caused by viruses that trigger common colds. When a viral infection swells up the sinuses, the nasal openings get blocked which impedes free flow of air and mucus. This gives bacteria a chance to grow inside. Sinusitis can be viral, allergic, bacterial or fungal. Sinusitis can also be due to any structural problem in the nasal passage or a growth such as polyp or cyst. These can only be treated through surgeries.

Complications

Although rare, but if sinusitis left untreated, can result in a few fatal complications such as meningitis where the infection spreads to the brain or eyes. Some patients may experience vision problem or there’s a chance that the infection may even spread into blood vessels.

Treatment of sinus inflammation

Most people are comfortable with natural remedies to treat sinus inflammation rather than going for over the counter pain killers, decongestants, antihistamines, nasal sprays due to their harmful effects. If it’s acute sinus inflammation it gets treated with home remedies, however bacterial sinusitis requires antibiotic course. Using decongestants and nasal sprays for too long results in recurrence of worse nasal congestion. You can use the following natural remedies to relieve your symptoms:

• Make saline nasal wash by mixing 1 teaspoon sea salt in 1 cup warm water and rinse your nasal passage in such a way that you pour a little solution in 1 nostril and let it flow through and out of the other nostril. It effectively washes away bacteria and helps loosen congestion.
• Another very effective remedy is to stand under hot shower and let the water hit the sinuses on your face to help loosen mucus and inflammation.
• Try having some jalapeno peppers to drain mucus and ease symptoms.
• Inhale steam. Add a few drops of apple cider vinegar in steaming water and inhale vapors and see its wonders.