Sinusitis is inflammation that affects the cavities surrounding the nasal passages, causing mucus to build up that makes breathing difficult, causes facial pain, headache, and / or cough. It is often the consequence of a common cold (due to a virus), although it can also be triggered or caused by a bacterial or fungal infection, as well as allergies. To prevent it, you need to respect proper hygiene, avoid known risk factors and keep your immune system strong.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Avoiding Risk Factors
Step 1. Wash your hands often
Most bacterial and viral infections are spread through physical contact with an infected person, introducing germs directly into the mouth, nose or eyes. Microorganisms can live for hours in bodily secretions such as saliva and mucus; therefore, you must be careful when touching people who are visually ill (sneezing, coughing or having a runny nose) during cold season and be sure to wash your hands frequently to reduce the risk of contracting sinusitis.
- To wash them properly, first wet them with water, apply the soap and rub them for at least 20 seconds, taking care not to neglect the area between the fingers, under the nails and on both sides; when finished, rinse and dry them using a clean cloth.
- Avoid touching your face when in public places, especially your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Always wash them even before meals, especially if you are eating with your hands (for example, hot dogs or pizza).
- Do not overuse hand sanitizers, as they can promote the growth of microorganisms resistant to antibacterials.
Step 2. Stay well hydrated
In order for the body to function properly and to keep pathogens at bay, you must adequately moisturize the mucous membranes of the sinuses, nose and throat; when these areas are too dry, they become more susceptible to irritation, inflammation and infection. Therefore, to keep the mucous membranes moist and ensure good hydration, you should drink at least 8 8-ounce glasses of water every day.
- Avoid cola-based drinks and energy drinks, as they can promote dehydration due to the caffeine they contain, which is a diuretic substance (stimulates more urination); therefore, also limit your intake of coffee and black tea.
- During the winter months the nasal sinuses dry out a lot due to the particularly dry air present in closed places; you should increase the humidity by turning on a humidifier to avoid this problem. Make sure the air is cool and not hot; hot humidifiers can favor bacterial proliferation inside the appliances themselves, aggravating the situation.
Step 3. Keep allergies under control
They are another risk factor for sinusitis. Allergic reactions to pollen or other irritants can cause runny nose and stuffy nose, which are not sinusitis per se, but can trap viruses and bacteria in the nasal passages and increase the risk of infection. Therefore, if you have any allergies or suffer from allergic rhinitis (hay fever), you must not expose yourself to the triggers or you must control them with drugs - usually these are over-the-counter antihistamines / decongestants.
- Be careful not to overdo the intake of antihistamines because they can excessively dry the mucous membranes; consult your doctor before starting or stopping drug therapy.
- An allergic reaction and sinusitis can have similar symptoms (stuffy nose, difficulty breathing, watery eyes, and sneezing), but sinusitis is definitely more painful, causes fever, and is accompanied by grayish-green nasal discharge.
Step 4. Avoid exposing yourself to irritants
In addition to allergens, there are many chemical irritants that can trigger these symptoms, making the nasal passages more susceptible to infection. So try to avoid the most common irritants, such as cigarette / cigar smoke, dust, bleach, most chemical cleaners, environmental pollutants and asbestos particles. When you know you need to expose yourself to these types of irritants, wearing a mask can help, although it is sometimes difficult to avoid them completely.
- Cigarette smokers develop more respiratory infections (upper sinuses and lower lungs) than non-smokers.
- Passive smoking, in particular, is a rather important risk factor for lung and sinus infections in children. Never smoke when there are children around, as they are unable to know and avoid risk factors.
- Animal hair and dandruff can aggravate allergies.
- Remember to dust and vacuum regularly around the house so you don't irritate your sinuses too much.
Step 5. Do not bottle feed your baby when he is lying down
This technique represents another significant risk factor in infants, especially when they are in the supine position. Milk could easily enter the nose, nasal passages and reach the sinuses, resulting in not only an increased risk of choking, but also becoming food for bacteria. Any bacteria in the baby's sinuses feed on milk sugar and proliferate rapidly, causing an infection.
- If you do not want milk to reach the airways, you should always breastfeed the baby / infant when he is sitting upright.
- Although 90% of sinusitis in adults is caused by viruses (most often by that of the common cold), only 60% of cases affecting children and infants are of viral origin, the other 40% are of bacterial origin. which develops due to poor breastfeeding techniques.
Part 2 of 2: Staying Healthy
Step 1. Keep your immune system strong
True prevention of any type of infection depends on your health condition and the strength of the immune response. The immune system is made up of cells that specialize in searching for and destroying pathogenic microorganisms, but when it is weak or compromised, viruses and bacteria can proliferate in the mucous membranes and more easily cause sinusitis. For this reason, you must work to keep your immune system strong, to avoid the risk of this and other diseases and / or infections.
- Getting more or better sleep (at least 7-9 hours a night), eating more fresh fruits and vegetables, practicing good body hygiene, staying well hydrated, and exercising regularly are all ways to strengthen the body's defenses.
- Pay attention to nutrition. If you want to improve your immune response, you should also reduce your intake of refined sugars (sugary drinks, candies, cakes, cookies, pastries, ice cream, milk chocolate, and so on), alcohol and quit smoking.
- To strengthen your defenses, you can also take supplements such as vitamins C and D, zinc, selenium, echinacea, olive leaf extract and astragalus root. But if you want to get more benefits than supplements, you should get your vitamins through your diet, by eating more oranges, papayas, grapefruits and leafy greens.
Step 2. Reduce your stress levels
Excessive emotional tension is another major factor that triggers disease, especially bacterial and viral infections. Moderate or severe stress, especially when it is constant (chronic), significantly weakens the immune system. As mentioned above, a compromised immune system allows potential pathogens to develop and grow significantly, invading tissues such as mucous membranes. Consequently, it is vital to reduce stress levels both at work and in personal life to prevent infectious diseases such as sinusitis.
- Among the most effective stress relieving techniques, consider meditation, yoga, Tai Chi, and deep breathing exercises.
- Some changes in work and / or personal relationships are the best form of stress relief; see a psychologist if you feel the need for advice or guidance.
- In addition to emotional stress, the immune defenses are also negatively impacted by the physical one, such as overweight, malnutrition resulting from inadequate nutrition, other diseases such as diabetes or chronic infections and exposure to toxic substances.
Step 3. Do nasal rinses with a saline solution as a preventative measure
Spray a mixture of warm distilled water and a pinch of salt into your nasal passages to keep them hydrated and prevent the growth of pathogenic microorganisms. Most viruses and bacteria either die in a salty environment or are unable to reproduce. These saline sprays also help get rid of mucus buildup.
- Consult your doctor before attempting this type of sinus cleansing.
- Place the saline solution in a spray bottle and spread it into your nostrils, making sure to inhale it until it reaches your sinuses. Proceed with this remedy a few times a week throughout the cold / flu season (December to February) as a preventative measure.
- Alternatively, you can use a neti pot and pour the mixture into the nasal passages through the nostrils. This tool looks like a small teapot and is often used in India and Asian countries to clean / disinfect the nasal cavities; search online to find out more.
Advice
- Common symptoms of sinusitis include stuffy or runny nose, temporary loss of smell, postnasal drip, sneezing, sharp pressure or pain in the face, headache, sore throat, cough, bad breath, fatigue, and mild fever.
- If you have nasal growths (polyps), allergies, recurring respiratory tract infections, or complaining of sinusitis that lasts more than six months, you run a higher risk of suffering from it chronically.
- The bacteria responsible for this infection are typically Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae or Moraxella catarrhalis.
- Another important risk factor for sinusitis in newborns is the excessive use of pacifiers, in addition to the frequency of kindergartens, where diseases spread very easily.
Warnings
- If your symptoms last longer than a week or get better but then worsen again, you may have developed a severe bacterial infection and should therefore see your doctor promptly.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms: severe pain and tenderness to touch in the area around the nose and eyes, obvious signs of skin infection, such as red and hot rashes that spread quickly, fever above 39 ° C.
