Sinusitis Treatments and Home Remedies

Sinusitis is common. But many people who have it use treatments that aren’t likely to help. So before you run to the drugstore, you’ll want to be sure you know how to handle this condition.

The sinuses are small cavities in the skull that are normally filled with air. They make mucus, which helps keep the nasal passages clear of allergens and pollutants.Sinusitis is an inflammation of the tissue that lines these cavities. In some cases, this swelling blocks off the sinuses, trapping mucus and air inside them. This can cause pain and pressure. Sometimes, it can lead to a bacterial infection.

Do you know the two types of sinusitis?

Acute vs. Chronic

• Acute sinusitis lasts up to 4 weeks but typically improves in a week to 10 days.
• Chronic sinusitis may last up to 3 months — and can linger for years. Its cause can be hard to pin down — and hard to treat.

Acute sinusitis usually occurs from a cold, and sometimes from allergies. The cause of chronic sinusitis isn’t always as obvious. Risks for chronic sinusitis include year-round allergies, a weak immune system, frequent colds, and cigarette smoking.Sometimes, chronic sinusitis is due to problems with the structure of the nasal passages, or growth such as a nasal polyp that keeps the sinuses from draining normally and preventing fall allergy relief.

Acute and chronic sinusitis have similar symptoms:

• Facial pressure and pain
• Thick discolored mucus
• Congestion

Treatment

The key is to figure out the cause. For instance, if their sinusitis is due to allergies, then decongestants alone will probably not help much.If you have symptoms for more than 10 days, check-in with your doctor. With a good exam — and sometimes imaging tests, like X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs — you may be able to figure out exactly what’s causing the problem.Often, the best sinusitis treatment is a combination of different approaches — typically medication, self-care, and nasal spray sinusitis online.

Medicines

• Antibiotics: If their doctor thinks a bacterial infection is to blame, they may prescribe antibiotics. For acute sinusitis, you typically take them for 10–14 days. For chronic sinusitis, it might be longer. Antibiotics only help with bacterial infections. They won’t help if their sinusitis is caused by viruses or other problems.
• Painkillers: Many people with sinusitis take over-the-counter (OTC) pain medicines, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen, to ease discomfort. Follow the instructions on the label, and don’t take them for more than 10 days. Check with their doctor to see which one is right for you.
• Decongestants: These meds lower the amount of mucus in the sinuses. Some are available as nasal sprays. Others are pills. If you use decongestant nasal sprays for more than 3 days, they may make you more congested. Follow the instructions on the label.
• Allergy medicines: Many cases of sinusitis are due to uncontrolled allergies. If you’ve never been diagnosed with allergies, it might be worth doing some allergy testing to see if you have them. If you do, medication (like antihistamines) and avoiding their triggers will help. Another option is to get allergy shots, a long-term treatment that gradually makes you less sensitive to the things that set off their symptoms.

Home treatments may do the trick for some people. But call their doctor if you’ve had sinus symptoms for more than a few days or if they’re really bad. The sooner you start the right treatment, the sooner you’ll feel better again.