Sinus infections are difficult to distinguish between because the various stages have relatively the same symptoms. An infection can last less than four weeks (acute), four to twelve weeks (subacute), or for 12 weeks or longer (chronic). All types of sinus infections can be diagnosed by a doctor clinically and can be treated by a doctor. One of the most common treatments is rest and relaxation. Doctors recommend a decongestant and painkiller to relieve a patient of their symptoms and if that doesn’t work the doctor will then prescribe an antibiotic called Amoxicillin.
Some hot foods or drinks such as tea or chicken soup can help to alleviate some of the congestion associated with a sinus infection. For the more serious sufferers there is a procedure used to open up the nasal passages. It is called nasal irrigation. The nasal cavity is washed out of all its excess fluid while moisturizing the mucus membranes of the nose and sinuses. The easiest way to do this is by snorting water out of your cupped hands or out of a bottle. Most people use a syringe to push the water into their nose. The fluid will be pushed into the throat where it can be spat out of the mouth and into the trash for instant relief.
One thing that does irritate the senses when using this procedure is plain, cold water. Many doctors recommend using a type of warm salt water and a buffering agent such as sodium bicarbonate. This will help the mucus membrane react in a more positive way. For some of the more chronic sufferers of sinusitis, nasal or sinus surgery might be the best and only option to relieve symptoms. One of the more popular and recent surgeries has been balloon sinuplasty. This is where balloons are utilized to widen the openings of the sinuses. Surgery should only be considered for patients that do not experience relief from everyday medications such as nasal decongestant sprays, antibiotics or any over the counter medicines.
An acute sinusitis attack will cause a discharge of green fluids without blood and is usually caused by a toothache or sever headache. Sometimes a sinus infection can be a one and done thing. Not all people who suffer from sinus infections suffer from them on a weekly or even yearly basis. Most sufferers of sinus infections have them occur once in a blue moon but when they do suffer from them the pain is almost unbearable because they aren’t accustomed to it.
