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Sinusitis, also known simply as a sinus infection, is the swelling or inflammation of the tissue that lines the sinuses. Normally, your sinuses are simply filled with air. However, they can easily become blocked, causing bacteria, fluid, and viruses to accumulate and lead to an infection. Having sinusitis often consists of a tight, congested nasal cavity that’s downright annoying and hard to breathe out of, but can also be painful at times. Today, we’re going to talk about alleviating the pain and congestion often caused by sinusitis.

 

Common Sinusitis Symptoms:

• Nasal congestion
• Nasal discharge
• Postnasal drip
• Loss of smell
• Bad breath
• Coughing
• Headache
• Facial pain, sensitivity, or tenderness
• Lack of energy
• Irritated throat

 

Stages of Sinusitis

Note that there are four different stages of sinusitis, each being more extreme than the one before. Before we give you tips and tricks to prevent or relieve yourself from sinusitis symptoms, we wanted to inform you about the different stages since some require medical attention. Here’s a quick overview.

• Acute Sinusitis: a single case that lasts up to four weeks
• Subacute Sinusitis: a single case that lasts longer than four weeks, fewer than 12 weeks
• Chronic Sinusitis: multiple cases that last longer than 12 weeks, with symptoms fluctuating but never fully resolving
• Recurrent Sinusitis: multiple cases of acute sinusitis (four or more cases) throughout the period of one year, with the sinuses returning to normal between symptom outbreaks

 

Tips to Alleviate Pain and Congestion

Based on the descriptions above, if you have chronic or recurrent sinusitis, it is time to visit a sinus specialist or ENT doctor. But, if you are experiencing acute or subacute sinusitis, feel free to start with some at-home treatments before visiting a specialist. Here are some great ideas for treating sinusitis pain and congestion at home.

1. Avoid Dry Environments

One of the best things you can do for your sinuses is to keep them as moist as possible. Just like we mentioned on our blog, Why Your Sinuses May Be Worse At Night, a good way to wake up to clear sinuses is to sleep with a humidifier running. Ideally, you will find yourself waking up to less congested sinuses by making this simple lifestyle change.

2. Flush Your Sinuses

While you should try this with caution, another great way to clear out your sinuses is to flush them with a neti pot. It may feel weird, but the practice of simply flushing your nose and sinuses with salt water may greatly reduce pain, swelling, and other sinusitis symptoms. Here is a great guide from the FDA about how to safely use a neti pot.

3. Hydrate and Rest

If you are experiencing some sinusitis symptoms lately, be sure that you are caring for your body properly — drink plenty of water and get some well-deserved rest. Taking these simple steps to ensure that your body is getting the care it needs will help to alleviate some of the pain and congestion happening in your sinuses.

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Schedule with Detroit Sinus Center

At Detroit Sinus Center, we are a dedicated team of sinus specialists, backed by our board-certified otolaryngologist, Dr. Pinnock. We have offices in both Southfield and Allen Park, near Detroit, Michigan, and offer an array of sinus services. We can provide you with everything from nasal steroids and medical therapy to balloon sinuplasty and endoscopic sinus surgery. Contact us today to book your appointment to relieve pain and congestion caused by sinusitis!