Causes

Colds, allergies, or chronic irritation from smoke or dust may cause mucus in the sinuses to thicken and the tissues to become swollen. This thickening and swelling blocks the sinus drainage passages into the nose. If this mucus is not opened up in about 1 week, bacteria can grow and become a bacterial infection.

Symptoms

A runny nose or sinus congestion by itself doesn’t necessarily signal a sinus infection. However, you may have sinusitis if congestion lasts for more than a week and is accompanied by any of the following symptoms:

• Thick, yellow-green nasal discharge
• Facial or sinus pain, made worse by bending over or straining
• Runny nose with cough and sore throat
• Aching teeth
• Headache
• Fever

Treatment

Sinusitis can usually be treated with the following medications:

• Decongestants to reduce congestion
• Antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection
• Pain relievers to reduce pain

Prevention

You can’t always prevent sinusitis, but there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.

• Wash your hands often to avoid catching colds.
• Don’t smoke, because tobacco irritates your sinuses.
• Don’t drink alcohol, which can cause the lining of your sinuses to swell.
• Avoid polluted air, which can irritate your lungs and nasal passages.

Self-Care

• Drink 6 to 10 glasses of liquids a day.
• Maintain proper humidity in your home.
• Heat your sinuses by taking a hot shower or using a hot wash cloth, hot water bottle, or gel pack for 5 to 10 minutes 3 or more times a day.
• After heating, massage your sinuses to stimulate drainage. Begin at the top and work slowly downward for 2 to 3 minutes. Search for pressure points that relieve pain.
• Use an oral decongestant such as pseudoephedrine (Sudafed or a generic), or use a decongestant nasal spray such as oxymetazoline (Afrin or Sinex) or phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine or a generic) up to 2 times a day for up to 3 days. Follow package directions.
• Use ibuprofen (Advil or a generic) or acetaminophen (Tylenol or a generic) according to package directions.
• Use nasal irrigation or saline nasal spray (Ocean or Ayr) 4 to 6 times a day. Follow package directions.
• Do not take antihistamines unless you have allergies. They tend to thicken mucus. Sleep with the head of your bed elevated.