Sinusitis is an infection in one of your sinuses. It can cause severe pain and pressure behind your eyes, as well as a runny nose, cough, and headache. When you have sinusitis, mucous from your sinuses builds up inside your nose or upper throat. This causes the blockage that leads to the symptoms outlined above.
There are many different causes of sinusitis including viral infections, allergies, obstruction from foreign bodies in the nose or around the eyes and chronic sinus problems such as allergies or a deviated septum (narrowed part of the nostril).
How Do You Know If You Have Sinusitis?
The hallmark symptom of this condition is continuous pain behind the eyes. Other signs include increased mucous production from the nose and a change in smell or taste. You may also experience a harsh cough with mucus coming up occasionally and postnasal drip that makes it feel like there’s something left behind even when everything has been thoroughly rinsed out
How Does The Condition Develop?
Sinusitis is an inflammation of one or more of the sinuses. The sinuses are the air-filled cavities located above and below the face. Sinusitis occurs when the mucous membranes lining the sinus or nasal passages are swollen and infected. Sinusitis is usually caused by an infection, but it can also be the result of a chronic sinus problem, such as allergies, deviated septum, or polyps in the nose.
Sinusitis is most common in people who are between the ages of 20 and 40. It can also occur in certain other age groups such as infants and the very elderly.
What Causes Sinusitis?
There are many possible causes of sinusitis, including viral infections, allergies, obstruction from foreign bodies in the nose or around the eyes, and chronic sinus problems such as allergies or a deviated septum (narrowed part of the nostril).
If you have a deviated septum, an affected sinus may drain into another part of the nose instead of draining into the throat. This makes breathing through the nose more difficult, which may cause a sinus infection.
Also, a deviated septum may lead to sinusitis as mucous may back up into the sinus as well. As for allergies, some studies indicate that allergic rhinitis, or a runny or stuffy nose because of allergies, is a cause of sinusitis.
Treatment of Sinusitis
The two most important things you can do to treat your sinusitis are to get complete rest and to keep your head elevated. And remember, if your pain goes away but comes back, you may have a viral infection that is just passing through your body. So rest, hydrate, and eat nutritious foods. If your pain and symptoms are severe, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. The length of time that you will need to take them depends on your specific condition.
If your sinusitis is accompanied by an acute bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic to treat both conditions at the same time. There are also some over-the-counter decongestants and anti-inflammatory pain medications that can ease your discomfort when you have sinusitis.
Home Remedies for Sinusitis
Home remedies for sinusitis may help to reduce inflammation and improve your sense of smell. These include:
Steamy shower
Because water loosens mucous, steamy showers are a great way to help with sinus drainage.
Nasal washes – Like steamy showers, nasal washes can loosen mucous and help to unblock your sinuses.
Neti pots
While they may seem strange at first, neti pots can be very effective at clearing out your sinuses. They work by using saline solution to draw impurities out of your nasal passages.
Humidifier
Using a humidifier in your bedroom is another great way to keep your sinuses hydrated.
Herbal supplements
In addition to taking antibiotics for sinusitis, you may also want to try taking some herbal supplements to help reduce inflammation.