A sinus infection is caused when bacteria and mucus get trapped within the sinuses, providing the perfect environment for an infection to form. There are many different ways to treat a sinus infection, and depending on what caused it the treatments can be relatively easy to quite difficult and painful. In this article we’ll take a look at what to do for a sinus infection.

KEEP YOUR NASAL PASSAGES MOIST

Acute sinusitis is the most common form of sinusitis. We have all experienced sinus problems at one time or another and acute sinusitis is most commonly triggered by a cold or flu. Inflammation within the nasal passageways is due to the fact that they are dry, and bacteria and debris being to irritate the delicate lining of the nasal walls. Keeping your nasal passageways moist will help promote cilia movement, and make drainage from the sinuses much easier.

There are several ways you can accomplish this, using a humidifier at home will help greatly. You can also inhale steam from a pot of hot water, or take a long hot shower. Nasal irrigation is also another great way to keep your nasal passages clean and moist. You can purchase a neti-pot at your local drug store, and use it to flush a saline solution through your nasal and sinus cavities.

USE OTC PRODUCTS

Over the counter medicines can be greatly beneficial in reducing the symptoms of sinusitis while your body naturally fights off infection. Decongestants like Sudafed will help break up congestion and make breathing easier. Pain killers like Tylenol will help with the pain from headaches, toothaches and pressure pain. You can also purchase a nasal decongestant spray but due to the high risk of dependency, it is not recommended.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

If you do not see improvement in your symptoms within 7 to 10 days, you should consult your doctor immediately about being prescribed medications to help your body fight off infection. Antibiotics, antifungal or anti-inflammatory medications will be prescribed depending on what caused the initial infection. If it is due to allergies, antihistamines could also be prescribed.

It is very important to see your doctor, the complications that could result from not getting the infection treated in a timely manner could be life threatening.

SURGERY

For some people over the counter medications and prescription medications are not enough to provide relief and kill the infection that they have. In these cases their doctor will send them to see an Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist (an ENT). 2 popular minimally invasive surgeries that are offered to provide relief from sinusitis are FESS (functional endoscopic sinus surgery) and balloon sinuplasty.

FESS uses an endoscope to shave away bits of bone and tissue, opening the ostia to allow for drainage of the sinuses. A balloon sinuplasty is much safer. The surgeon will feed a wire into the sinus cavity with a small balloon attached to it. When the balloon is inside the nasal passageway the surgeon will inflate it a quarter of an inch, actively opening the passageway and allowing for immediate drainage of the sinuses.

While these procedures offer quick results, they are rarely long lasting as they do not directly treat the infection. Most patients who undergo one of these procedures will do so again many times in their life.

TOPICAL TREATMENT

Sinus Dynamics specializes in treating sinusitis with one of three topical treatments. They are safe, have little to no side effects and they offer long lasting results. Sinus Dynamics utilizes compounded medications delivered through one of three drug delivery devices directly to the sinuses so that treatment can begin immediately.

Aerosolized treatment nebulized medication to a 1.0 to 3.2 micron sized particle. This is essential to the treatment because the smaller the micron size, the better chances the medication has of squeezing through tight spaces to reach the infected areas. A mist of medication is then breathed through the nasal passageways, and medication is delivered into the deepest pits of the sinus cavity.

Atomized treatment works in a similar way. Solution is atomized to a 6.0 to 10.0 micron sized particle, and through positive pressure it is propelled into the farthest reaching areas of the sinuses. It also coats the nasal cavities as it travels to the sinuses.

Nasal irrigation is in essence a bath for the nasal and sinus cavities. Using a special custom molded bottle, saline solution is flushed through the nasal and sinus cavities washing out all bacteria, debris and dried mucus. It keeps the nasal passages moist, keeps the cilia healthy and moving.

CLOSING THOUGHTS

What to do for a sinus infection depends largely on what type of infection you have and how severe it is. The important thing is to see your doctor before the infection can spread and become a source of complications and worry. No matter the case, Sinus Dynamics can help relieve you of your sinus symptoms and get you back on your feet before you know it. If you would like to know more about what we can do to help you, please don’t hesitate to call.

You can reach us at 1.877.447.4276, and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to assist you with any questions or concerns that you have. There’s no sense in losing hope, call us now and let us help you find relief from your sinus symptoms today!

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