What is Sinus Infection?

Millions of people in the United States alone suffer from a condition called sinus infection. This common condition is also sometimes known as and referred to as sinusitis. Sinuses are spaces around the bones in the skull, particularly around the nose and eyes. When the sinuses are infected, they become swollen. The swelling or inflammation can cause uncomfortable symptoms, particularly around the facial area, the nose, and the throat.

What are the Symptoms of Sinus Infection?

Some common symptoms of sinus infection include:

• pain around the eyes, nose, ears, cheeks, or forehead

• headaches

• sore throat

• bad breath

• coughing

These are only a few examples of the uncomfortable symptoms that sinus infection may cause. These symptoms can be disruptive to our everyday lives if left untreated.

What is the Treatment for Sinus Infection?

Sinus infection symptoms are easy to treat with home remedies. Drinking plenty of fluids (especially water) helps to flush out excess mucous from your sinuses and phlegm from your throat. Flushing out excess mucous and phlegm will help you breathe better and will alleviate your sore throat and coughing. Applying a hot, moist towel will take care of the facial pain you may be suffering. Another way to take care of pain you may be feeling around your nose, cheeks, and eyes as well as your headache would be to take non prescription pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or aspirin. Other non prescription medication that would be able to help relieve your symptoms is taken in the form of nasal sprays. They help reduce the swelling or inflammation caused by sinus infection. If your sinus infection is caused by bacteria, you may be able to ask your doctor for a prescription for antibiotics. If, however, it is not caused by bacteria, antibiotics would be useless, as they are not designed to fight fungi, viruses or allergies.

How Can I Prevent Sinus Infection?

Sinus infection can be caused by fungi, bacteria, viruses, or allergies. It also commonly occurs after a cold. There are countless ways to prevent the onset of sinus infection and its symptoms. Avoid contact with people who have a cold. Washing your hands often will significantly reduce the chances that you will develop infection. Or, if you already have a cold, the best way to prevent subsequent sinus infection is to treat the cold as soon as possible. Also, continue to drink fluids in order to thin your mucous and make it easier to get rid of anything that might get stuck in your sinuses. If you are aware of allergens that trigger allergic reactions in you, it would be wise to avoid contact with these allergens. If avoiding contact is impossible or improbable, you can ask your doctor for allergy medication. Treating the symptoms of allergies will help prevent sinus infection.