Sinusitis Symptoms & Treatment. Sinusitis is a health problem that directly affects the quality of life of patients. It is defined as air-filled spaces behind the bones around the nose. In 1 out of 8 adults, sinusitis occurs once a year and usually occurs as a result of infection of the sinuses by bacteria or viruses. Symptoms include nasal obstruction, runny nose, having yellow or green mucus, headache, impaired smell, etc. Sinusitis is not an incurable disease as many people think. In this text, we will shortly explain sinusitis with its causes and symptoms below.
What is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis, also known as rhinosinusitis, occurs as a result of the body’s reaction to infection, swelling of the tissues in the sinus walls and disruption of the transition between the sinuses and the nasal cavity. Sinus is the name given to the hollow places in the bones around the nose. Sinuses on the cheeks, behind the eyes and nose, connect to the nose with channels, and they heat and filters the air in the nasal cavity when we breathe. There are five pairs of sinuses in a person. These;
- Maxillary sinuses
- Frontal sinuses
- Sphenoid sinuses
- Ethmoid sinuses
In babies and children, the development of the sinuses is largely completed at the age of 12-14 years. However, they take their final form at the age of 22-24.
Symptoms of Sinusitis
- Fatigue
- Nasal congestion,
- Feeling of pressure behind the eyes,
- Ear fullness,
- Runny nose,
- Nasal discharge,
- Cough,
- Headache,
- Fever
- Toothaches
In cases where these symptoms occur, it is important to consult your doctor for the diagnosis of the disease to be performed the correct treatment.
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Causes of Sinusitis
Although there are many different causes of sinusitis, the most common causes are;
- Viral upper respiratory tract infections (URIs)
- Mucosal edema occluding the sinus ostium due to allergy is the second most common cause of sinusitis.
- Nasal Septal Deviations
- Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy
- Polyps
- Pressure changes during swimming or air travel
Although sinusitis is more common than hypertension and rheumatism, it deteriorates the quality of life more than diabetes and heart diseases. It has negative effects not only physically but also psychologically.
How to Prevent Sinusitis
You should be more careful in preventing sinusitis, especially if you have a nasal obstruction. If you have an allergy problem, you should take the necessary precautions, and if necessary, you should have allergy test treatment. Especially in winter, dry air leads to sinus infections. In order to maintain the ideal humidity level of 35% -50%, you can have humidifiers in your home. It is recommended that people who are frequently caught in sinusitis should not dive deep in the pool. Sinusitis can cause not only the problems like nasal congestion, pain in the forehead, fatigue, sleeping with mouth open, and snoring but also gastrointestinal and lung diseases.
Herbal Steam with Chamomile
Add two tablespoons of dried chamomile to a liter of water. When it starts to boil on low heat, you can take the pot from the stove. Then, cover your head and chest area with a large towel. After inhaling the chamomile steam for 10 – 15 minutes, the towel is removed. So, in acute sinusitis, you can use this method if you do not have a runny nose (excess nasal drainage).
Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and a glass of water. You should not consume it more than two times in a day. It is helpful to get rid of painful sinus infection.
