subject: Things to Know About Sinusitis: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment [print this page] Things to Know About Sinusitis: Definition, Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment
Is sinusitis bothering you? Does it affect the quality of your everyday living? Do you need information about the condition? You're in the right place. Here are some essential information on sinusitis definition, causes, symptoms, and treatment to help you fight off this irksome condition.
1. What actually is sinusitis?
There are a lot of sinusitis definitions in books and articles in the web but they are all the same. Generally, sinusitis is the swelling or inflammation of the sinuses or the cavities found in our faces. These cavities produce mucus and when they swell, the mucus tends to build up causing a painful pressure on our cheeks, nose, and forehead. The condition can be acute (lasts for not more than a week) or chronic (lasts for a longer period of time and is recurring).
2. How do you know if you have it?
The most obvious symptom of this condition is the pain in some areas of the face (where the sinus cavities are located) area around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead. There can also be a discharge of viscous yellowish or greenish mucus. You can also experience toothaches and coughing. The sense of smell and taste can also be affected.
These symptoms can be present in both acute and chronic forms of the condition. The only difference is the duration of the symptoms.
3. What can cause the inflammation of the sinus cavities?
The condition may be caused by different forms of infection viral, bacteria, or fungal. Also, exposing the self to allergens can bring about the infection of the sinuses. In some cases, the structural abnormalities in the nose can trigger the mucus build-up in the nasal passages.
4. What can be done?
Now, to treat your condition, it is very important to know the cause. To do that, you need to talk to your doctor and ask for tests to determine the real cause so that the appropriate treatment can be used.
If the condition is relatively mild, then resting at home can surely ease up the symptoms. But in some cases, the condition can become worse. If this happens, immediately consult a physician.
Now, the treatment will depend on the diagnosis of the doctor. If the cause is found out to be as fungal, then anti-fungal meds should be used. If the cause is bacterial, then antibiotics should be taken in with a lot of precaution. Antibiotics should be taken as prescribed. For instance, if the doctor tells you to take antibiotics 4 times a day in the course of 7 days, then you should follow it or else the condition may recur and may become immune to antibiotics.
Viral cause is easier to treat because bed rest can do the trick. Immune system boosters can also help in treating sinus flare-ups caused by viruses.
When allergies are to blame, then keeping the self away from the allergens will surely help. Of course, you should always have a stack of anti-histamine meds if you are prone to allergies. For long term remedy, consider immunotherapy.
5. Are there other ways to minimize the symptoms?
Yes, and they can be done at home by yourself. You can help your body in draining or irrigating your clogged nasal passages with the use of saline solutions. You can use neti pots, sprays, or plungers to deliver the solution to your nose. This solution thins the mucus making it easier to drain.
Drinking plenty of water also helps in draining mucosal membrane. Inhaling steam and the use of warm compress are also effective ways in minimizing the symptoms. Certain foods also work the same like hot pepper.
Again, sinusitis can be treated if you have the knowledge about the condition. And most importantly, these suggestions should be taken with care and guidance from your doctor.
