Sinusitis: Causes, Prevention & Cure

Sinusitis is a medical terminology that indicates inflammation in the sinuses.

Naturally, healthy sinuses are filled with air but once it’s got affected  – either because of a cold, some allergies, or genetic inheritance – it’s filled with liquid and thick mucus (flue material), and chances of germs growth that cause infection in the future.

The nasal cavity or sinuses is surrounded by a group of four, air-filled sacs, which, together, are named paranasal sinuses. Their inflammation is known as sinusitis.

Paranasal Sinuses are divided as:

• The maxillary Sinus: They are located under both eyes.
• The frontal Sinuses: They are present above both eyes.
• The Ethmoidal Sinuses: They are between the eyes.
• The sphenoidal Sinuses: They are present behind both eyes.

Since sinuses cavities are based on the face, around the nasal and eye region so, the pain and pressure felt in the forehead, on the face and cheekbones, toothache, vision disruption, ear pressure, and infections are the main symptoms of Sinusitis or Inflammated paranasal sinuses.

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Types of Sinusitis

Sinusitis is further categorized into two main types.

Sinusitis division is according to the condition and harshness of infection in an individual.

Symptoms and signs are almost the same in both types of Sinusitis but, the difference is in the infection stages, the intensity of pain, pressure on the face, and the duration of Sinusitis.

1) Acute Sinusitis

This is a short-span inflammation of the “Paranasal Sinus”, membranes that line the nose.

Acute Sinusitis is a common issue across the globe and is commonly due to a cold-causing viral infection if you don’t cure it on time.

This alters the ability to drain mucus from the nose and empty the sinuses. In this condition, mucus keeps building up inside and initiates the chances of fungal growth in the sinuses and chronic sinusitis in the future.

2) Chronic Sinusitis

It is a severe and alarming condition and arises when acute sinusitis has not been cured or one hasn’t taken precautionary measures on time.

Chronic Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses are inflamed and swollen for three months or longer, without any treatment.

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Main Symptoms of Sinusitis

Though they vary from person to person, the main symptoms of Sinusitis are as follows. They all may appear together or only a few of them may show.

1) Headache

It’s generally forehead discomfort and continuous pressure on the forehead.

2) Chocked Nasal

Heavy mucus (flue) material presents around nasal cavities which results in shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing through the nose. A stuffy nose and in some cases runny nose are the common signs.

3) Facial Pain

It comprises pain in the cheekbones, toothache, and the feeling of pressure and itching on the face.

4) Ear infection and Pressure

Chronic or silent sinusitis may convert into an ear infection. It arises when you don’t recognize yourself with the sinusitis symptoms and don’t prevent yourself from the conditions that trigger the sinusitis issue.

It’s an alarming condition and one should consult an ENT specialist immediately, otherwise in the future person may face hearing issues, even deafness in some, or permanent ear infections.

5) Vision Disruption

Sinusitis causes watery and sticky eyes, discomfort, pressure, and pain in the eyes, hence, disruption in vision occurs. The vision problem may be in both eyes or in a single eye, depending on which side is influenced the most. If it’s not cured on time and spreads to the eye socket, it can cause reduced vision or even blindness.

6) Fever

Fever is a common symptom of Sinusitis or paranasal inflammation. It’s not a high fever, but, you will feel your head and face warm and itching.

7) Loss of Smell

Until and unless you get recovery from sinusitis you stay without smell or a reduced sense of smell.

8) Loss of Taste

Various Sinusitis patients may experience an alteration in taste, bitter taste or no taste, and itching on the tongue.

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Ways to Prevent Sinusitis

Since prevention is always better than cure, therefore, if we follow the precautionary measures, and acquire the minor things that not only prevent us but strengthen our immune system as well, we will cope with Sinusitis.

It’s important to keep in mind that sinusitis is an allergic condition, a viral infection, and sometimes inherited from the family. In this condition, if our immune system is strong then we can easily manage the Sinusitis condition.

Do’s In Sinusitis

Once you have diagnosed yourself with Sinusitis then do this in cold weather.

• Cover up your head, forehead, ear, and nose especially when you are in the open air, in a cold, or a windy chill environment.
• Avoid an air-conditioned environment. In some patients, an air-conditioned environment enhances the condition of Sinusitis and makes it worse. Unbearable pressure in-ear and forehead pain.
• Take steam. It’s preferable to take steam at bedtime and make sure after steam you have covered up yourself and have rest. It’s best to take steam with 1-2 cloves added in water, it will give you immediate results and relief of pain.
• Flush your nose with warm water. It is best if you use a“Neti pot” (a common practice in which “Saline Water” is used to flush the nasal passage). Its daily use keeps the sinuses flowing well.

Top Six Foods best for Sinusitis

Supplements and certain foods help a lot in immunity enhancement and in clearing a stuffy nose. In Sinusitis condition, the patient needs to focus on the immunity side and ways to clear the mucus from paranasal sinuses.

So, include these Six Foods in your diet during Sinusitis disorder.

1) Soups

Hot soup intake gives relief the pain and helps in clearing mucus.

2) Vitamin C

Vitamin C and citrus fruits enhance the immune system; immunity is the main weapon to fight allergies and viral infections. Adequate use of Vitamin C reduces sinuses’ inflammation and provides quick recovery.

3) Spicy food

Spicy food helps in clearing nasal passages and makes them flow.

4) Green Chilies

Rich in vitamin C, good for the immune system, and because of its spicy nature, it converts a stuffy nose to a runny one and makes the mucus flow.

5) Warm Water

The use of warm water in drinking provides you relief in facial pressure by releasing mucus from the sinuses, its continuous use in drinking and washing the nose with warm water help to make the stuffy nose flow.

6) Roasted Grams or Roasted Chickpeas

Roasted Grams or Roasted Chickpeas, contain plenty of phytochemicals and are a good source of many healthy minerals. Phytochemicals aid immune function and reduce inflammation. It’s helpful to relieve sinus pain.

Don’ts In Sinusitis condition

In sinuses or inflammation avoid all foods that suppress the immunity system.

• Boiled eggs

The use of boiled eggs will thicken the mucus, thus, stuffy and choked nasal areas will create more unwanted pressure and facial pain.

• Coldwater

Avoid taking cold water, it enhances the pain and sinusitis problem. It initiates a sore throat since the sinuses are already infected and inflamed, thus, the condition may become worse.

• Carbonated beverages

Avoid carbonated beverages, they are flavored and chilled. The chemical added to them to give flavor is harmful to the immunity system of the body.

• Tin packed juices

Preservative chemicals and flavors are responsible to suppress the immune system and are responsible for causing a sore throat. Any infection around the sinuses may trigger Sinusitis.

• Boiled Rice

Boiled rice is liable for the production of mucus, and chest congestion. If you have the tendency to have mucus formation or chest congestion, it’s better to avoid boiled rice because respiratory tract infection may initiate sinusitis in allergic history patients.

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Implications of not managing Sinusitis in its Initial Stage

If you didn’t manage the Sinusitis in Initial Stage, you may end up having:

• Permanent Ear Infection or Hearing impairment
• Vision disturbance or maybe vision shortness in some cases
• Toothache
• A Feel of Imbalance while moving on the escalator, on steep stairs, or on heights. It is associated with the volume of fluid in the ear. The fluid in the ear is responsible for keeping the body in balance.
• Permanent pain in the forehead
• Nausea
• The poor focus in daily routine because you feel like your head is spinning.

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Top Six Home Remedies To Cope With Sinusitis

These are effective for Sinusitis (paranasal sinuses), chest congestion, sore throat, cough, mucus formation, Influenza, and upper respiratory tract issues. These remedies are like magic but one needs to follow them and take precautions too.

Attend to these simple and magical tips.

1) Soup/Broth

Homemade soup of chicken wings/neck or any other chicken piece, it’s preferable to avoid artificial flavor and sauces.

A simple Soup with common Spices (onion, garlic, clove, black pepper, cumin)

It does not only drain the flu out but overcomes cold effects and improves the immune system. Intake of soup relieves the pain and provides speedy recovery.

You can enhance its taste and nutritional value by adding desired vegetables as well.

As per the situation, take soup daily or on alternate days throughout the cold weather.

2) Ginger Juice and Honey Mixture

Take ginger juice (pure, free of water, and moist) 1 tablespoon of Honey 1 tablespoon of (1:1 ratio) mix, and consume it for a whole day. Use until results start to show and complete recovery from sinusitis.

3) Fenugreek Seed Tea (Methi dana)

• Recipe for 1 cup: 1 tablespoon Fenugreek seed boil it in 1 1/2 cups of water for 4 to 5 minutes, until the water turns yellow and bubbles arise. Pour it into a cup, add 1 Tablespoon honey, a pinch of salt, and a minimum of half lemon squeezed in it.

Enjoy it, pretty good in taste and magical for influenza and cough relief.

Fenugreek tea provides immediate relief from Sinusitis, cures it, and improves the immune system.

4) Milk with Turmeric Powder

Take 1 cup of warm milk add a quarter teaspoon of turmeric powder, a pinch of Black pepper, and crushed jaggery 1 tablespoon to taste or you can take sugar according to taste.

You can take it daily, once a day, or at night. It’s very beneficial for health and curing cough and flu.

It clears the mucus from the sinuses, relieving facial pressure and pain.

5) Olive Oil

• Oral intake: For kids 1 teaspoon at night daily in winter.
• For elders: 1 tablespoon daily at night.

It enhances the immunity of the body and provides strength to the chest, prevent from chest congestion and respiratory disorders.

6) Herbal Syrup, Sharbat Toot Siah (By Hamdard)

In Sinusitis it’s important to prevent yourself from upper respiratory tract infections and congestion because it turns into a Sinusitis allergy as well. It is now available worldwide.

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Wrapping Up

It is fundamental to recognize that sinusitis is an allergic disorder, a cold-catching tendency of a person. All allergies demand protection and aspects, to avert conditions that trigger them or enable their buildup inside the body, as I discussed earlier the “top foods” to avoid in sinusitis disorder and do’s and don’ts.

Prevention is the nodal point to avoid sinusitis and prevent it from turning into chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis demands the urgency to consult a specialized doctor and medication to cure it.

The fact to remember is, antibiotics and anti-allergy drugs are not durable treatments but might be effective for the time being and they do have side effects too.

Therefore, it is more reasonable to follow home remedies and precautionary measures.

After all, everything comes to this single point, observe a healthy lifestyle and live a healthy and comfortable life.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)