Severe infections may require antibiotics. On rare occasions, infections of the sinus cavity can spread to the brain and become life-threatening, so serious care should be taken when making a home diagnosis, and if your sinus infection feels particularly fierce or is accompanied by symptoms like fever, you should call your doctor to get medical attention.
For those of us who have battled sinus infections, the pain and discomfort that they cause is all too familiar. This condition, which occurs when the cavities around your nose become swollen and inflamed, is typically caused by a virus and can linger long after other upper respiratory symptoms have eased. In rare cases, fungal or bacterial infections can cause a sinus infection, or it can be triggered by allergies, nasal polyps, tooth infections and deviated septums.
Because sinusitis is not always triggered by an infection, there are many popular home remedies for easing and preventing sinus symptoms. Here are seven ways that you can manage your sinus problems:
Humidifiers
Particularly dry air, which is common in colder climates in winter, can thicken mucus, clog the nose and irritate sinuses. Experts agree that adding humidity to the air with a humidifier is good for sinus health. Forced heating systems in homes or workplaces can often dry out the nasal passages, which are supposed to provide humidity and warmth and clean the air that passes through it. This dry air can keep nasal passages moister and help fight against allergies and sinus symptoms.