Your sinuses are behind your cheekbones and forehead and around your eyes. Healthy sinuses drain almost a quart of mucus every day. They keep the air you breathe wet. Your sinuses can’t drain right if they are blocked, infected, or swollen. Sinus problems include:
* A sinus infection. This can be acute or chronic.
* Sinus congestion without an infection.
Signs & Symptoms
For a Sinus Infection
* Fever.
* Green, yellow, or bloody-colored nasal discharge.
* Foul-smelling or tasting postnasal drip.
* Severe headache that doesn’t get better when you take an over-the-counter pain reliever. The headache is worse in the morning or when bending forward.
* Pain between the nose and lower eyelid. Cheek or upper jaw pain.
* A feeling of pressure inside the head. Stuffy nose.
* Swelling around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead.
* Cough that worsens at night.
* Fatigue.
For sinus congestion without an infection, drainage is clear and there is no fever.
Causes
* Bacterial, viral, or fungal infection. Sneezing hard with your mouth closed or blowing your nose too much with a cold.
* Irritants like tobacco smoke, air pollutants, etc. Hay fever or other allergies.
* A nasal deformity. Sinuses that don’t drain well.
Treatment
Sinus congestion without an infection does not need an antibiotic and can be treated with self-care. A decongestant helps break up the congestion.
An acute sinus infection usually clears up in 2 weeks with an antibiotic, a decongestant, and nose drops or a nasal spray. When this is not the case, the problem may be a chronic sinus infection which takes longer to treat and/or may need further investigation to diagnose the cause.
An antifungal medicine helps treat a fungal infection in the sinuses. Surgery may be needed to drain the sinuses. Surgery can be done to enlarge a sinus passage that is too narrow to allow proper drainage.
Questions to Ask
Self-Care / Prevention
* Use a cool-mist humidifier especially in the bedroom. Put a humidifier on the furnace.
* Put a warm washcloth, warm or cold compress over the sinus area of your face. Use the one that helps most for the pain.
* Drink plenty of liquids.
* Take an over-the-counter (OTC) medicine for pain as directed on the label.
* Take an OTC decongestant or an OTC pain reliever with a decongestant (e.g., Tylenol Sinus). {Note: Some persons should not take decongestants.}
* Use nose drops only for the number of days prescribed. Repeated use of them creates a dependency. Don’t share nose drops with others. Throw the drops away after treatment.
* Nasal washes with salt water. Find out about this technique from the National Jewish Health.
