A lot of people fear spring, as it brings a lot of pollen into the air, aggravating their sinuses. However, allergy season isn’t the only time when people have issues with their sinuses. There are people who are bothered by them all the time, and it can be very frustrating trying to find the right remedy. So if you feel like you’ve tried everything from folk recipes to traditional medicine, here are a few things you might not have thought of.
What is sinusitis?
To know how to treat it, we must first understand what sinusitis is. You’ve probably heard people say that “their sinuses hurt”, but sinuses are simply cavities in our skulls, centered around the nasal area. So the pains they feel actually are those cavities being blocked and pressure building up, often causing headaches or migraines. There are plenty of ways to get rid of that blockage, so let’s see some remedies, both at-home and medicinal.
Steaming your face
One of the easiest ways to get rid of collected mucus and unblock your sinuses is to warm it up with steam. It’s easy enough to do at home: boil a big pot of water and once it’s steaming, take it off the heat and plant your head over it. Cover your head with a towel to trap the steam in and breathe deeply. You can also add some chamomile tea to the water for added benefits. This will help you if you have a sudden sinusitis attack, but it is also a great daily ritual to practice to prevent it from happening if you are usually prone to those problems. It is also great for your skin, so it can be a part of your skincare ritual. If you don’t have the time to commit to just steaming your face, taking a hot shower or bath will have a similar effect.
Surgical help
Some people are simply more prone to sinusitis naturally because of the shape of their skull. If the cavities are narrower or there are some other obstructions within the nose, it can make it impossible for small home remedies to make a difference. That is why there is a specific nose surgery that can help people who have issues with sinusitis. It is not a small procedure, and you will want to consult your doctor before opting for it, and they will likely recommend exhausting other options before opting for this, but this is a very valid option for many people.
Correct activities
The substances that congest the sinuses are fluid, and you can greatly influence them by the way you’re positioned and with the different activities you do. If you often wake up with pain, you should reconsider the way you are sleeping and add some extra pillows to encourage drainage. As far as activities during the day, doing yoga is one of the best ways to help yourself, as the different body positions combined with deep breaths will help you clear your sinuses.
Traditional medicine
If you have problems with sinuses and go to the doctor, the first thing they will probably recommend is some medicine. The components of the medicine are most commonly to aid you by thinning out the mucus blocking your sinuses, thereby preventing the blockages. In many countries, medicine like this is available without a prescription, but you still want to talk to your doctor about what the best available option is. If your symptoms are not that severe, the doctors might first recommend some natural remedies, such as changing your diet- This means getting more liquids in and staying hydrated, taking different herbs with medical properties, and most likely using some dietary supplements, such as the enzyme Bromelain, which naturally fights inflammation around the sinuses. However, even the natural options can have side effects, so make sure you check everything with your GP first.
These are just some of the many remedies that are available for the condition, but with so many options available, we have to ask: why are so many people still struggling with this? It’s most likely because people consider this a small nuisance, rather than a serious problem. As soon as people start taking this more seriously and treating it as a basic part of their health, the situation will certainly improve.
