Your sinuses are behind your cheekbones and forehead, and around your eyes. Healthy sinuses drain almost a quart of mucus every day. They keep the air you breathe wet.
Your sinuses can't drain right if they are infected and swollen. Your chances
of getting a sinus infection increase if you:
Have hay fever
Smoke
Have a nasal deformity or sinuses that
don't drain well
Have an abscess in an upper tooth
Sneeze hard with your mouth closed or blow
your nose too much when you have a cold
Symptoms of a Sinus Infection Are:
Head congestion
Nasal congestion and discharge (usually
yellowish green) with or without foul odor or bad taste
Pain and tenderness over the facial sinuses
Pain in the upper jaw
Recurrent headache that changes with head
position and disappears shortly after getting out of bed
Fever
Sinus complications can be serious. Your doctor can tell if you have a sinus infection with a physical exam, a laboratory study of a sample of your nasal discharge, and X-rays of the sinuses. You may need prescriptions for an antibiotic, a decongestant as well as a nasal spray and/or nose drops. These work to clear the infection and reduce congestion. Severe cases may require surgery to drain the sinuses.
Do you have two or more of the following? A fever over 101oF
Greenish-yellow or bloody-colored nasal
discharge Severe headache which doesn't get better
when you take an over-the-counter pain reliever or that is worse in the morning or when
bending forward Pain between the nose and lower eyelid A feeling of pressure inside the head Eye pain, blurred vision, or changes in
vision Cheek or upper jaw pain Swelling around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and
forehead  |
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A "cool-mist" humidifier can help. Wet air helps make mucus thin. You can put
a warm washcloth or compress on your face, too. This can help with the pain. Here
are some more tips:
Drink plenty of water and other liquids.
Take an over-the-counter medicine for
pain.{Note: See Pain
relievers in Your Home Pharmacy.}
Take an over-the-counter decongestant pill
or an over-the-counter pill for pain that also has a decongestant, such as Tylenol Sinus.
(Note: Older men should check with their doctor before taking
decongestants. Decongestants that have ephedrine can give older men urinary problems.}
Use nose drops only for the number of days
prescribed. Repeated use of them creates a dependency. Your nasal passages
"forget" how to work on their own and you have to continue using drops to keep
nasal passages clear. To avoid picking up germs, never borrow nose drops from others.
Don't let anyone else use yours, either. Throw the drops away after treatment.
Add a humidifier to your furnace.
HEALTH AT HOME - Your Complete Guide to Symptoms, Solutions, and Self-Care © 1999 by Don R. Powell. American Institute for Preventive Medicine.
Date updated 02/01/99