THE ANATOMY OF YOUR SINUSITIS PAIN AND HOW TO CURE IT

Though the sinus problems we encounter are rarely so dramatic, they can range in severity from an uncomfortable nuisance to a serious health threat. When your sinuses are working smoothly, they may play several roles in keeping you comfortable, though their exact job is still unclear.

QUICK ANATOMY OF YOUR SINUSES

Doctors think that these air-filled pockets behind your face give resonance to your voice and reduce the weight of your skull as well as provide a filter to catch dust and other airborne irritants. Normally, tiny hairs called cilia weep a constant flow of mucus from your sinuses into your nasal passage through a drainage hole as narrow as a pencil lead. This sticky fluid traps pollutants in your nasal passage, then, is harmlessly swallowed and digested in your stomach.

HOW DOES SINUSITIS HAPPEN?

When the lining of your sinus or nasal passage becomes inflamed and cuts off the flow of mucus and air, the entire process is grinded to a halt, causing sinusitis. Commonly, a viral infection, such as the flu or a common cold, triggers it. Other causes include allergies, air pollution, and changes in air pressure from a coming storm or an airplane ride. The result is the same: Your sinuses get blocked and become a breeding ground for infection and pain.

WHAT ARE ITS SYMPTOMS?

Depending on which sinus is affected and the nature of its involvement, you might feel a headache well away from the problem area or sometimes localized pain and tenderness to finger pressure directly over the sinus itself. Sinus pain may occasionally radiate to an eye, an ear, or an upper tooth.

• ACUTE SINUSITIS. Symptoms may include pain, nasal congestion, fever, and thick drainage from your nose over the course of 2 to 8 weeks.
• CHRONIC SINUSITIS. With many of the same symptoms as well as sore throat, malaise, and poor sense of smell, they can linger on for months.

WHEN TO SEE A DOCTOR?

Since the sinuses are crowded tightly near your eyes and brain, it’s important to control infection in that area before it spreads. See your doctor if you notice swelling around your eye, greenish mucus from your nose, or pain that lasts for more than 14 days after a cold starts. You may need antibiotics and other prescription drugs to clear up your sinuses, or even surgery if your problems are severe enough. When you do, don’t be hesitant to call Quick N Save Pharmacy at 863-285-3191. Our Pharmacy in Florida is always ready to assist any of your healthcare needs.

SOME NATURAL REMEDIES TO YOUR SINUSITIS PAIN:

• Flush them out. Doctors commonly recommend that you rinse out your nasal passages with salt water to clear out debris and infection when you have sinusitis and to help the area stay healthy the rest of the time.
• Make it like a sauna in there. Another way to clean out your nasal passages is to breathe steam through your nose. There are several ways to get your sinuses steaming. An inexpensive method is to boil a pot of water, take it off the stove, and inhale the steam through your nose.
• Don’t get dried out. To keep your sinuses draining well, don’t allow yourself to get dehydrated. Make certain that you drink plenty of fluids – 6 to 8 full glasses a day.
• Try a souper remedy. Mom may have been on to something when she ladled out bowls of hot chicken soup to treat your childhood colds. There is some evidence that it can help move mucus in your sinuses better than an ordinary hot fluid, though it’s unclear how it works.
• Towel off. Another way to improve sinus drainage, which may also reduce your pain, is to apply warm, moist heat to your face.
• Don’t take the pain from lying down. Sleeping elevated on a 7-inch-high sleeping wedge with a pillow on top of that will improve drainage and limit swelling in your sinuses, thereby reducing pain. It’s better to lie on your “good side,” with your affected sinus “up” in order to reduce swelling and improve its drainage.

When home remedies don’t work, you know where to go – consult our pharmacists today!