14/08/2025
SINUSITIS: WHAT TO DO
If you’ve ever felt annoying facial pressure, blocked nose, mouth breathing or stubborn headaches, you must have experienced sinusitis.
What causes this?
How can it be dealt with?
WHAT IS SINUSITIS?
Sinusitis is an inflammation or infection of the sinuses.
The sinuses are air filled spaces located in the forehead, cheeks and around the eyes that drains mucus out of your nose, keeping it clean.
When these spaces become blocked or filled, it creates an environment for germs to grow, leading to sinusitis.
THERE ARE TYPES
Depending on the duration, sinusitis can be classified as:
- Acute: This lasts for less than 4 weeks, and it’s mostly caused by viral infections like common colds
- Sub-acute: This lasts anywhere from 4-12 weeks, and it’s mostly due to unresolved acute infections.
- Chronic sinusitis: This lasts 12 weeks or longer, and it’s most times due to a bacterial infection.
- Recurrent sinusitis: This is a situation where sinusitis happens atleast 4 times in a year.
WHAT CAUSES SINUSITIS?
Viral infections are the most common causes of sinusitis.
Other causes include:
- Bacterial infections
- Fungal infections
- Allergies
- Structural abnormalities
- Environmental irritants like smoke, pollution or chemicals.
WHAT SYMPTOMS ARE EXPERIENCED?
Symptoms include:
- Pain or pressure around the eyes, forehead or cheeks
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
- Thick, yellow or green nasal discharge
- Intense headaches
- Reduced or lost sense of smell
- Cough
- Fever
- Weakness
YOU’RE MORE LIKELY TO HAVE SINUSITIS IF:
- You’re naturally allergic
- You’re asthmatic
- You have nasal polyps
- Your septum is deviated (septum is the line that divides your nose)
- You have a weakened immune system
- You smoke
WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT
For mild cases, sinusitis can be treated at home using:
- Steam inhalation to loosen mucus
- Saline nasal spray (saltwater solution)
- Warm compress to relieve facial pain
- Hydration: Staying hydrated helps.
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