Prevention
You can reduce
your risk of chronic sinusitis by carefully treating allergies and
colds. Work with your doctor to get allergy symptoms under control. He
or she may suggest medications or allergy shots.
Use decongestants
and drink plenty of fluids when you have a cold. Keep your nasal
passages clear by gently blowing your nose, one nostril at a time.
Avoid air travel
during a cold, allergy attack or bout of sinusitis. If you must fly, use
decongestants to reduce the pressure that may block sinuses.
If you're prone to
sinusitis, avoid cigarette, cigar, and pipe smoke and other air
pollutants that can cause your sinus membranes to swell.
Although
people cannot prevent all sinus disorders — any more than they can avoid
all colds or bacterial infections — they can take certain measures to
reduce the number and severity of the attacks and possibly prevent
sinusitis from becoming chronic.
Many
people with sinusitis find partial relief from their symptoms when
humidifiers are installed in their homes, particularly if room air is
heated by a dry forced-air system. Air conditioners help to provide an
even temperature, and electrostatic filters attached to heating and air
conditioning equipment are helpful in removing allergens from the air.
A person
susceptible to sinus disorders, particularly one who also is allergic,
should avoid cigarette smoke and other air pollutants. Inflammation in
the nose caused by allergies predisposes a patient to a strong reaction
to all irritants. Drinking alcohol also causes the nasal-sinus membranes
to swell.
Sinusitis-prone persons may be uncomfortable in swimming pools treated
with chlorine, since it irritates the lining of the nose and sinuses.
Divers often experience congestion with resulting infection when water
is forced into the sinuses from the nasal passages.
Air
travel, too, poses a problem for the individual suffering from acute or
chronic sinusitis. A bubble of air trapped within the body expands as
air pressure in a plane is reduced. This expansion causes pressure on
surrounding tissues and can result in a blockage of the sinuses or the
eustachian tubes in the ears. The result may be discomfort in the sinus
or middle ear during the plane's ascent or descent. Doctors recommend
using decongestant nose drops or inhalers before the flight to avoid
this difficulty.
People
who suspect that their sinus inflammation may be related to dust, mold,
pollen, food — or any of the hundreds of allergens that can trigger a
respiratory reaction — should consult a doctor. Various tests can
determine the cause of the allergy and also help the doctor recommend
steps to reduce or limit allergy symptoms.
Chronic sinusitis
is a prolonged or recurrent infection and/or
inflammation of the sinuses of the head.
Most cases of sinusitis are
acute sinusitis,
which lasts less than 4 weeks. If the signs and
symptoms of sinusitis last more than 12 weeks, or if
you have frequent bouts of sinusitis, you may have
chronic sinusitis.
Self-care
These steps may
help you lessen the symptoms of chronic sinusitis:
-
Avoid bending
over with your head down. This can increase the pain.
-
Apply warm
facial packs.
-
Use a
humidifier or inhale steam from a kettle or basin of boiling water,
being careful not to scald yourself.
-
Dilute the
secretions by drinking lots of fluids.
Chronic sinusitis
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