Among the common, uncomfortable symptoms that people with sinusitis suffer:
● Nasal obstruction or nasal congestion
● Thick and discolored drainage (mucus)
● Decreased ability to smell or taste
● Facial pressure, discomfort or a feeling of fullness
Sinusitis can cause some less common symptoms, including:
● Headache
● Fatigue
● Bad breath
● Fever
● Tooth pain (especially in the upper teeth)
● Cough
● Ear pressure
Because a number of sources can cause sinusitis, ranging from bacterial and/or viral infections, allergies or environmental irritants, make an appointment with a health care provider if your sinus infection lingers beyond 10 days or if you have recurring sinus infections.
However, if you come down with these uncomfortable symptoms, there are products that you can use to minimize your suffering while you wait for your sinuses to clear up. In addition to over-the-counter (OTC) medications and medicated nasal sprays, the following products are highly recommended.
Humidifiers
During winter months in colder climates, we find ourselves cranking up the furnace to stay warm, but air that has been run through a heater dries out, and that dry air can wreak havoc on your sinuses. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, your home should be between 25 and 40 percent humidity during the winter, but some homes can dip to 10 percent humidity, causing sore throats, bloody noses and sinus problems.
Dry, heated air has been shown to thicken mucus and irritate sinuses, causing the symptoms we equate with sinusitis. A humidifier, particularly in rooms where you sleep, can help boost your home’s humidity to ideal levels and ease your sinus pain.
Saline Spray
Not to be confused with medicated nasal sprays, saline sprays offer a supercharged boost of humidity for dried-out nasal passages and sinus cavities. Because saline does not cause the withdrawal symptoms associated with medical sprays (which can make your congestion worse when you try to wean yourself from them), and they can be used safely up to six times per day, they are a great way to moisturize your nose.
They are portable (unlike humidifiers), so saline sprays are an ideal way to keep your nasal passages happy and your sinuses irritation-free when traveling to dry climates or during the winter months when you start feeling dried out.
Steam Cloths
Steam has been shown to be a great way to ease congestion naturally, and healthcare providers often recommend hot showers to ease the discomfort and congestion from cold and flu symptoms. Many also claim that steam wraps provide the same relief.
Placing a warm, steamy wrap over the face and nose may ease congestion and discomfort associated with sinusitis.
Neti Pots
A neti pot is a device with ancient Ayurvedic roots that looks like a small teapot, used to irrigate the nasal passages and clean out debris. The device works by pouring a saline solution -- which can be store-bought or homemade -- into one nostril and out the other. Not only does the device moisturize the sinuses, but it also has the force to flush out irritants that may cause or aggravate sinusitis.
These pots are available online and at most drugstores. Solutions are also available for sale or can be homemade using sterile or distilled water to avoid introducing any potentially harmful germs into the sinus cavities.
Aromatherapy Oils
Essential oils are said to be potent treatments for sinusitis. Not only do many of them contain antimicrobial properties, but certain oils, like peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil, also can help open the nasal passages. In fact, the ingredients in Vicks Vapor Rub are derivatives of these essential oils.
The oils, which are available at most natural food stores and online, can be used in carrier oils and rubbed on the chest as homemade vapor rubs, added to humidifiers, or used in the shower to boost the effects of the steam. There are also herbal products that contain combinations of essential oils said to ease congestion and sinus pain.
Nasal Irrigation Systems
A nasal irrigation system is a technologically advanced version of the neti pot. While this system works in the same way, nasal irrigation systems combine humidifying benefits with irritant rinsing. They have the added benefit of a pulsing feature that can clear thick mucus out of nasal passages more effectively.
Because it is a more sophisticated device, one can expect to pay a more sophisticated price than for a neti pot. These systems typically cost $80 or more and can be ordered online or found in some stores.
Steam Therapy
Steam therapy is an incredibly effective natural decongestant, whether holding your head over a steaming bowl of chicken soup or taking a hot shower. For those who crave the benefits of steam therapy without the water bill that comes with repeated showers, there are steam therapy inhalers that can be used to simulate the effects of a shower, without the water waste. Some devices can be used with aromatherapy oils to boost their effects.
Air Purifiers
Not all sinus infections are viral or bacterial. For people who suffer allergies or for people with certain irritants in the air they breathe (including many mold spores, which can be found outdoors in certain climates, as well as indoors when mold infestations occur) environmental irritants can trigger sinus inflammation.
Air purifiers can help boost the quality of indoor air, eliminating irritants that can range from pet dander and mold spores to smoke and dust, which can reduce sinus inflammation and irritation. These purifiers can be found in many home stores or online in a wide range of prices.