Sinus Infections, Symptoms and Treatments

Sinus infections can be painful enough to interfere with your daily activities, but the treatment options can be quite effective. Sinus infections can lead to a sore throat as a result of post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip is generally the worst at night when you are lying down. Mucous from your sinuses collect in your throat causing irritation, coughing and redness. Sinus infections and the symptoms that go along with it also may interfere with a good night's sleep.

Sinus infections generally start as a common cold, leaving one feeling tired and achy. Sinus infections not only cause nasal pain but can affect the head and throat. Sinus infections have a lot of very unpleasant symptoms. Allergic rhinitis symptoms may include an itchy and runny nose, sneezing, itching in the ears, itchy eyes, and sore or itchy throat. Seasonal allergic rhinitis is usually caused by pollen in the air and has similar symptoms. Infected sinus cavities can also cause severe headaches.

Treatment of sinus infections is an individual approach depending on your symptoms and their severity.

The main thing is to try to prevent your sinus passageways from getting blocked. One technique is to irrigate your nose and sinuses with a squeeze bottle filled with salt water or use a Neti pot. A neti pot is a small plastic pot that resembles a teapot. It can be purchased at most pharmacies. It usually comes with a powder or premixed saline like solution for irrigation. This nasal wash is known to clear your nose of pollutants such as mold, dust, dander, etc. It also reduces the swelling in your nasal passages that may have become inflamed. Over the counter medications can be effective in relieving some of the symptoms.

Surgery should only be an option if conventional treatments fail or if there is a nasal obstruction that medications or treatments cannot improve. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is recommended for certain types of sinus diseases. A chronic cough manifests itself as a cough that will not go away and may be an indication of another issue such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinus infection, heavy cigarette smoking, Acid Reflux, or a post nasal drip, bronchitis, pneumonia, medications, and less frequently tumors or other lung diseases.

In conclusion you should see your doctor or a medical professional and discuss your problem before trying anything mentioned in this article. Use guides like this one to discuss your options with your doctor, not as a substitute for proper medical care.

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Frank

About the Author - Frank C. Fallo

I am in charge of Network Systems and workflow development at a 250 bed hospital in Scranton Pennsylvania. I have diverse interests which include music, science, health, and art. I am a musician and play my guitar whenever I can. I enjoy nature and the outdoors and am an avid fisherman. I am married and have two adult sons. If you would like more Health and Wellness resources please visit my website at http://wholehealthmethods.com/

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Original article

Allergies Vs Sinus Infection - Do I Have Allergies or a Sinus Infection?

Nasal symptoms affect millions of Americans all the time. But is it allergies or sinus infection? What's the difference? How does it matter?

Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (hay fever) is an allergic response to pollen or other microscopic particles or organisms. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis include:

Itchy, watery eyesCongestionSneezingRunny nose

Colds or flu may cause some of these same symptoms, but are usually accompanied by fever, sore throat, and body aches. Colds typically last about seven days, then go away. But with allergies, symptoms last longer. And allergy symptoms occur in a predictable pattern: The symptoms of allergies tend to be present when pollen counts are high, and go away when they are lower.

Sinus Infection

Sinus infection (sinusitis) is inflammation of one or more of the sinus cavities in the skull. Sinuses have small openings into the nasal cavity and are normally just filled with air, but when they become blocked and filled with fluid, they become a breeding ground for germs that cause an infection. These can include bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Based on the length of time symptoms are present, sinusitis is classified as acute, chronic, or recurrent

Acute Sinusitis

In acute sinusitis, the primary symptoms last about 7-28 days and include:

Facial pain/pressureNasal stuffinessNasal dischargeLoss of smellCough/congestion

Additional symptoms may include:

FeverBad breathFatigueTeeth pain

A health care professional will make a diagnosis of acute sinusitis when a person has two or more symptoms and/or thick, green, or yellow nasal discharge. Treatment for allergies is usually symptomatic. These include medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal corticosteroids. Antibiotics are not needed. Non-medicinal remedies such as nasal irrigation has been proven helpful as well.

Chronic Sinusitis

People with chronic sinusitis may have the following symptoms for 8 weeks or more:

Facial congestion/fullnessA nasal obstruction/blockagePus in the nasal cavityFeverNasal discharge/discolored postnasal drainage

Additional symptoms of chronic sinusitis may include:

HeadachesBad breathFatigueTeeth pain

A physician may treat sinusitis with symptomatic medication or antibiotics in severe cases. Overuse of antibiotics has lead physicians to be more reserved in prescribing antibiotics. Nasal irrigation has been proven effective, as well, in helping to relieve the symptoms of sinusitis and maintain nasal health.

One Condition May Lead to Another

It is not uncommon for allergies to lead to sinusitis. Nasal allergies cause swelling of the lining of the nasal passages, which can lead to a blocked sinus. Sinus infection can then develop because of the blockage.

Nasal allergies and sinusitis affect the body in different ways and are treated differently, so it is important to know the difference.

Kevin Deremer owns and writes articles for http://www.sinus-and-allergy.com/ where you can find all-natural, clinically proven products for sinus and allergy relief.

Original article