Treating Your Sinus Infection Symptoms

Sinus trouble comes in two versions: acute and chronic. The acute attack of sinusitis, which lasts for a week to ten days, produces a headache that can range in intensity from minor to what feels like bone shattering. Chronic sinus infection symptoms seldom causes head pain, although it does cause unpleasant discharge, chronic coughing, recurrent ear infections, and a roaring case of postnasal drip. But the lack of real pain is misleading; chronic sinusitis can be serious indeed, because bacteria can become so entrenched after repeated infections that no antibiotic can touch them. That is why it is wise to have your sinus infection symptoms checked out by a doctor, especially if your sinus drainage is greenish in color or if you have a fever.

Quick Relief with Home Remedies
Humidity is the key to keeping the cilia working, the mucus flowing, and the sinuses drained. Twice a day, stand in a shower hot enough to fog up the mirror. Or lean over a pan full of steaming water with a towel draped over your head, creating a steam tent. Inhale the vapors as they waft up toward your nostrils. If stuffiness hits during the day when you are at work or on the run, get a cup of hot coffee, tea, or soup, cup your hands over the top of the mug, and sniff. It will not work on your sinus infection symptoms as well as a steam bath, but it will provide some relief. Humidify your home. Running a cold-mist machine in your bedroom will keep your nasal and sinus passages from drying out. Just make sure that you clean it once a week so fungus can't develop.

Bathe your nostrils daily to flush out stale nasal secretions caused by your sinus infection symptoms. Use a commercial saline product or mix 1 teaspoon of table salt with 2 cups of warm water and a pinch of baking soda. Pour it into a shot glass, tilt your head back, close one nostril with your thumb, and sniff the solution with the open nostril. Then blow your nose gently. Repeat on the other side.

Drink to your heart's content. Drinking extra liquids—both hot and cold—throughout the day thins out the mucus and keeps it flowing. Sipping hot teas made with herbs such as fenugreek, fennel, anise, or sage may help move mucus even more and relieve you of your sinus infection symptoms. Another method that might help is to blow one nostril at a time. This will help prevent pressure buildup in the ears, which can send bacteria further back into the sinus passages. Go ahead and sniffle. Sniffling is a good way to drain the sinuses and escort stale secretions down the throat. Unstuff yourself with decongestant tablets. The best over-the-counter medication to dry up sinuses is single-action tablets that contain only decongestants. Decongestants constrict the blood vessels, put air through the nose, and alleviate pressure. You should avoid products containing antihistamines if you are stuffed up from sinus infection symptoms.