Category Archives: Sinus Health

Deviated Septum & Sinus Surgery

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Deviated septum surgery and sinus surgery are two options that many people with chronic sinus infections often face after they’ve tried everything else with their doctors with no success. However, most patients often are concerned about whether it is really the last available option for them or if it is really necessary. Those concerned about the benefits, the risks, and whether it will even actually work all have valid concerns.

There are many different types of sinus surgery, and if you’re wondering what endoscopic sinus surgery and sphenoid sinus surgery even mean, or are concerned about what the possible complications of sinus surgery could be, there’s likely good news for you: You probably don’t really need surgery.

If sinus problems are caused by a tumor, or growth, then in those special circumstances surgery is likely unavoidable. But if you’re someone who is just battling chronic sinus infections that never seem to go away, there are plenty of homeopathic things you can that will make the problems disappear for good – without needing surgery at all!

While it is true having narrow nasal passages may make it more difficult for mucous to drain – have you thought to wonder what is causing all of that mucous? For some it can be an unlucky case of a viral or yeast infection – but for others it is often due to undiagnosed allergies. Sometimes it can be a dust mite allergy, pet dander allergy – or sometimes it can be due to the foods you eat.

My children frequently suffered from sinus and ear infections. Anytime they had a cold, it seemed like it never really ever went away. Over and over again we went to the doctors, were prescribed antibiotics, and I was stuck with sick crabby kids, which is never fun for me or them!

Then I learned about two simple diet changes, and they have made an enormous difference – Since removing two foods from their diets, my kids have not had a single ear or sinus infection since

So, you’re probably wondering what these foods are, right? You’ll likely be sad when I tell you what they are: Milk and Gluten containing grains.

Milk you’re probably familiar with – you know, all those yummy things like cheese and ice cream. Gluten you may not have heard of before, it is actually a protein found in the grains wheat, barley, and rye.

Now, most people think I am crazy when I tell them to try going without these foods. (My own husband included) – but it does make a drastic difference when you stop if you are sensitive to them and they could be causing your sinus issues. Since most people eat either milk, wheat, or usually both at least once a day, if not multiple times a day – most people never really realize that it may be the actual trigger behind all of their problems.

You can ask your doctor to test you for these things prior to giving them up if you like (but not after you stop eating them, as tests will no longer be as accurate). Not all testing is accurate however, especially because there is not always a way to measure intolerance. Gluten should be avoided for at least 60 days in order to tell if it makes a difference, because it takes the body much longer to process and heal from it. Milk however does not take nearly as long – most people can tell just after a week or so without milk and then adding it back into their diet to see if it makes a difference.

It can be tough at first however, you need be very diligent in reading labels. But, once you do realize that this really might be the cause to a lot of your health problems, it becomes much easier to find things you can eat – and avoiding the foods that make you sick is well worth it. I don’t really miss cheese or wheat at all, and there are plenty of other things we can eat that we enjoy just as much.

If you are nervous about your doctor suggesting surgery, and you’re not really sure about what to do, you owe it to yourself to first try every homeopathic and natural remedy available out there first before going through the pain, not to mention the expense and the cost of sinus surgery.

I strongly recommend giving up wheat and milk, as well as regularly rinsing your sinuses. You can also learn many different and often more effect treatments instead of surgical procedures in the book Natural Sinus Remedies That Work.

Sinus Headache Symptoms & Treatment

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Sinus headache symptoms are typically pretty uncomfortable and finding a good treatment for sinus headache relief can sometimes be difficult.

Do you know the symptoms of a sinus headache? Here are some of the ones to look out for:

Pain in the front of the face, around the nose, and/or cheek bones
Nasal Discharge
Nasal Congestion
Fever
Face Swelling

It can be difficult to know for sure if your headaches are caused by sinus problems or another cause. If your headaches are frequent and severe, or accompanied by nausea, then you should consult with your doctor because pain could be caused by a more serious condition, such as a tumor or other concern. If headaches are chronic and persistent, and your doctor has already outruled the possibility of an infection, or it has not responded to antibiotics, a doctor may decide to do a CAT scan to ensure there are not any other serious underlying problems.

In the case of most infections, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics for sinus infections. However, before accepting this as a treatment it is VERY important that you request your doctor ensure that the infection is actually due to bacteria. Many people are shocked to find out that the congestion they are experiencing may actually be from allergies or yeast or a viral infection. In these cases, antibiotics will usually only make it worse, since they only dry up the mucous – not get rid of the actual cause!

For bacterial infections, it is best to consult with a doctor, but since most conditions are not actually caused by bacteria (your doctor can verify this) – then you may instead want to try some natural treatment options instead of reaching over for the usual over the counter medications and their side effects.

Natural Remedies Here: I have been getting some great feedback on the different remedies found in the book Natural Sinus Remedies That Work so while I wouldn’t feel right sharing them all here, you can check it out for yourself to see if any of those options work for you.

Warm & Hot Compress: Taking a washcloth and running it under hot water can often help relieve some of the pressure related to sinus headaches. I typically will do this for 10-20 minutes at a time, making sure the cloth stays warm.

Steam: A hot shower, or sometimes holding your head above a steamy cup of water can sometimes also help. Be sure that you are careful with boiling water – steam CAN burn you if you are not watchful!

Eat Warm Foods: A warm bowl of soup (such as a broth with vegetables) can really help with sinus headaches also.

Honey: Some have said a warm cup of tea with a big heaping spoonful of real, raw, unprocessed honey can sometimes help or prevent them when sinus headaches are due to allergies. However, this is not tested or proven.

As always, it is never a bad idea to consult with a professional – ideally one who specializes in holistic healing so you are not unnecessarily prescribed antibiotics that would not be helpful in alleviating your sinus headache symptoms.

Lactose, Casein, and Dairy Allergy/Intolerance and Sinus Problems

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milkIf you suffer from chronic sinus problems and infections, you may want to also consider whether or not dairy foods may be causing your suffering. You may have a milk allergy or be intolerant of lactose or casein and not even realize it!

Just as we wrote about gluten intolerance being a common underlying cause of sinus problems, milk can also be a trigger for many people. Why this is has not been researched enough, but there are many different theories.

Some believe that when you have an intolerance to dairy foods you develop what is called a “leaky gut”, which can cause toxins to permeate the intestines and be absorbed into the blood stream. Others suggest that the body constantly fighting foods you are eating can greatly weaken the immune system, making you more likely to catch viruses and colds that can result in chronic sinus infections.

It’s important to understand exactly what types of sensitivities exist to dairy and milk based products. A milk allergy typically results in very obvious effects, and may include hives, rash, difficulty breathing, as well as congestion or stomach cramps. Lactose intolerance is when you cannot digest the lactose found in milk and other dairy foods, which can result in what’s called a “leaky gut” or other stomach problems.  Casein is a protein found in milk, and while it’s thought to be rare, many people if tested are surprised to find their body may be producing antibodies against this protein.

Diagnosing a milk allergy or intolerance is easier than many other foods. A true allergy can easily be tested with a skin test by your doctor. Blood tests can sometimes reveal antibodies being produced against casein as well. For others, following an elimination diet of no dairy foods for two weeks and then drinking a small glass of milk can sometimes be all you need to do to know whether you may need to restrict milk from your diet.

Many chronic sinus sufferers have reported that by cutting out dairy foods their problems have significantly improved, and some have even found they go away all together. Why this is still needs more scientific based research, but if it works and it helps, it is certainly worth researching further.

If you’ve suffered nonstop from chronic congestion, even after trying many of the natural sinus cures discussed on this site, then doing a trial elimination diet is the way to go. You will need to not only stop eating all obvious sources of dairy, such as milk, yogurt, ice cream, and cheese, but you’ll also need to be very careful about foods that contain dairy. A bag of cheese flavored potato chips or even your favorite salad dressing may have dairy lurking in it.

After you successfully go two weeks with no dairy, you’ll want to consume a very small glass of milk. (Or heck, if this is the last time you have dairy, why not  go all out and have some ice cream?) Having a small amount is important, because after two weeks if you are intolerant of it your symptoms may be severe by just that small amount. If you notice also after those two weeks that you see an improvement in your sinuses and have not tried anything else new, it is also likely that dairy foods could play a role in your constant suffering.

Eliminating dairy from your diet is not guaranteed to work or cure any disease, and if you need medical attention you should certainly talk to your doctor. If everything else you’ve tried has been unsuccessful, talking to your doctor about dairy intolerance may be a step in the right direction in finding the reason why you are feeling sick all of the time.

How to Get Rid of Dust Mites

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dust-mite-clean-upMany people are allergic to dust mites, which is why learning how to get rid of dust mites can greatly help with your allergies and in turn improve your nasal and sinus problems.

First, it’s important to know what a dust mite is. While many people think a dust mite is a particle of dust, it’s actually a living organism – a microscopic bug, closely related to spiders, as they also have 8 legs. Gross as it seems, they eat dead skin cells – and they love living in mattresses, stuffed animals, pillows, carpeting, and more. Your bed especially is a favorite place for them, since most of us spend at least 6 hours there a day. This for many people can cause a lot of problems, especially when they lay down to fall asleep only to find they are coughing and sneezing too much.

Getting rid of dust mites is no easy task – even if your home is spotless you may still have problems because of them! Unfortunately, dust is impossible to keep out of your house completely – and even if your home isn’t infested with them, there’s still a chance that there are enough to cause some allergy problems, especially because they can hide in places you can’t even see or regularly clean, such as inside a mattress or an air duct for your heater or air conditioner.

Fortunately, there are some things you can do to kill dust mites, as well as minimize your exposure to them.

Wash Bedding in HOT Water: Having your water thermostat set around 130 degrees (provided it would not be a safety hazard) and washing all bedding, stuffed, animals, drapery, and others in hot water at least once a week will help kill dust mites that are thriving in these areas. While it will not likely kill all of them, it can help.

Protect Your Mattress: Your Mattress is like a tropical resort with a full buffet to these bugs. If you can, a latex mattress may be one solution (though some people do have sensitivity to latex) – you can also cover your bed with a hypoallergenic dust cover that can be washed regularly and help minimize the amount of dust mites you are exposed to.

Wipe Dust Off With Water: When something is dusty, you should wipe it off with hot water and a paper towel. This makes it much easier to clean, and also makes sure you’re not just dusting the dust mites somewhere else temporarily.

Switch to Hardwood Floors: Carpeting definitely has many advantages, especially if you have kids who drop things and often fall and trip constantly. But if you do not have kids, or you feel that the dust mite allergy is a bigger threat than any benefit carpet would have, switching to hardwood flooring can definitely help with allergies as long as you clean it frequently. If you do have carpet, you should steam clean it once a week.

Consider Some Cleaners: You have to be really careful about cleaning things and what cleaning products you use. Nobody wants to use cleaners that are loaded with toxins, especially if the goal is to have a healthier environment for you. There are however, some 100% natural solutions you can try, such as Kleen Free Naturally, a cleaning solution that uses all natural enzymes to get rid of bugs and other dirt.

Change Your Air Filters: Your furnace, your vacuum, maybe even a dehumidifier or air purifier all come with filters – and these filters are designed to help trap all these microscopic organisms that cause us allergy problems. But if you don’t change and replace them frequently, guess what? You’re just spreading it around more!

Now that you know how to get rid of dust mites, you’ll be able to prevent much of the allergic reaction you may experience because of them. Sinus and nasal problems can be often aggravated by dust mites. If you do all these things and still have sinus problems, then you may also want to check out some Natural Remedies for Sinus Problems.

How Do I Keep From Getting Sinus Infections?

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Many people ask the question of how do I keep from getting sinus infections – most people do not just get once as a rare occurrence but instead find that they get them frequently – constantly living day to day in a fog and with head congestion that leads to headaches and later possibly even a bacterial infection that requires antibiotics.

First, it helps to understand how sinus infections happen. Identifying the causes of sinus infections can greatly help you learn what lifestyle changes as well as what best practices can help in treating them to make sure they go away. For most people a sinus infection occurs when too much mucous gets stuck in the sinus cavities. You sinuses are pretty much just hollow spaces in your head, and so when mucous gets trapped there it can cause a lot of pain and pressure. Although most sinus infections are caused by viruses, sometimes these infections can turn into a bacterial problem, which requires a visit to your doctor for antibiotics before more serious complications occur.

If you’ve been suffering from sinus problems and congestion non stop and it seems like you never get better, there’s a number of things you can do:

1. Use Natural Remedies to treat the Congestion: Most antibiotics actually make sinus infections worse, especially if it is not bacterial in nature. Doctors should do a simple swab of your nose to find out if your infection is caused by a virus or bacteria before prescribing antibiotics. Using antibiotics is only necessary if the infection is indeed bacterial – if it’s not, then the antibiotics only provide temporary relief by drying out your mucous and you’re going to keep getting the same problems over and over again. See Here for the Best Natural Remedies.

2. Eliminate Allergy Triggers: Chronic allergies can also lead to a lot of sinus problems. Many people do not even realize what they are allergic to, especially food allergies that can cause constant runny nose or watery eyes. Seeing an allergist can be a great step in the right direction to determine if you do indeed have allergies that could be putting you at greater risk for sinus infection problems. Making changes so your home is dust free, avoiding foods that you may be allergic to, and others are all steps in the right direction.

3. Use a Nasal Rinse: Many people have found a lot of success with regularly rinsing out their sinuses and nasal passages using a painless procedure that can easily be done at home. This helps prevent too much mucous from being trapped and can often help with preventing infections from recurring over and over again.

4. Boost Your Immunity: Your immune system is what will help prevent you from getting sick and catching every cold or flu virus out there that leads to sinus infections. There are a number of foods that boost your immune system to eat as well as different supplements you can take. Generally you want lots of antioxidants (found in mostly fruits and veggies) as well as many others.

5. Wash Your Hands: Hand washing to a near obsessive compulsive level can be a big help in keeping flu and cold viruses away. You can also use hand sanitizer. You should always wash your hands for about 15-20 seconds especially after using the restroom, before preparing food, after cleaning, etc. Getting in the habit of washing your hands at least 6-8 times a day depending on your activities can greatly help reduce the spread of germs that keep making everybody sick.

6. Clean the House: A clean house is also important in keeping germs away. Wash sheets, blankets, get new pillows, wash sinks, tubs, clear away dust, etc. etc. Using an all natural disinfectant spray may or may not help, but it won’t likely hurt.

7. Rule Out Underlying Causes: Let’s say you try all of the natural sinus remedies, are taking supplements to help boost your immunity, eat a really healthy diet, exercise, have a sparkling clean house, and the allergist couldn’t find anything wrong with you but you’re still getting sinus infections…well, then you may have something else causing your problems and you’re going to have to be a bit of a detective to figure out what that is exactly. Most of you will likely feel better after steps 1-3 – but sometimes no matter what you do you can’t seem to figure out the cause. The only thing you can do in this case is to find a doctor who is not just going to prescribe you drugs but actually have several tests done to determine what could be causing your problems.

You don’t have to suffer with sinus problems for the rest of your life – even if it does seem that way. There are things you can do that will start making a difference. What are you waiting for?

Jaw Pain and Sinus Infections

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Many people wonder if jaw pain can be related to sinus infections.  In many cases, it sometimes can be a side effect and symptom of having sinus problems, however it greatly depends which sinuses are effected. We have four sinus regions and depending on which sinus becomes blocked with mucous, the side effects will differ for everybody.

As we listed in our list of sinus infection symptoms it is not uncommon to feel pain in your face because two of your sinus cavities are located right in the cheek region of your face. For many people this is where their jaw begins and so having pain in your upper jaw or teeth can happen.

Most sinus infections can be treated naturally at home with no need for antibiotics – using antibiotics for sinus infections unnecessarily can cause worse problems for you later on, or put you at risk for developing chronic infections more often.

It’s important to remember however that jaw pain or teeth problems can also sometimes cause sinus problems – for example if you have a bad cavity in your upper mouth, the pain may radiate upwards toward your sinuses. Also, many people suffer from a disorder in their Temporomanidibular joint (that’s basically the joint that controls you jaw movement) which can cause a lot of pain.

If you are unsure of what to do about jaw pain, there are some things you can do to help:

1. Clear Up Your Sinuses: Clearing your sinuses of blocked mucous is critical in becoming well again. This can be done in a variety of ways, whether through steam treatment, saline solutions, or using a Neti Pot and Wash to clear your nasal passages.

2. Boost Your Health: The more healthier you are, the less likely you are to be a candidate for becoming sick often. This includes eating a healthy diet and following any recommendations by your physician to improve your immunity to such diseases.

3. See a Dentist: Most people do not go to the dentist every six months as recommended. If you haven’t been to the dentist recently, you should certainly schedule an appointment. Your dentist can then determine if you have any cavities which may be causing sinus problems.

4. Determine if You Have TMJ: If you have TMJ which is usually characterized by jaw pain, grinding of the jaw, popping of the jaw during eating or chewing, feeling that your mouth doesn’t open or close right, then you may need to see a specialist who can help you determine what the best course of action may be.

While jaw pain and sinus pain may be caused by very different things, it is not uncommon for when one is experiencing problems to effect the other. Talking to your doctor and/or dentist is the only way to be certain for sure to know exactly what the culprit of the pain may be.

If you suffer from chronic sinus infections, you will also want to check out Natural Sinus Remedies to help get rid of those chronic sinus problems for good!

Could Sinus Problems Cause Hearing Loss?

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earMany people wonder if sinus problems could cause hearing loss. Because the sinuses are closely located beside the ear canal, it is not uncommon for a sinus infection to also lead to an ear infection. Because the ear canal becomes blocked, hearing can sometimes be affected. Recurring ear infections can also cause damage to be done to the ears which can also result in hearing being affected.

For questions about hearing loss and sinus problems, it is best to do a few things:

1. Clear Up Your Sinus and Ear Infection Problems: You will likely need to see a doctor who can determine whether or not you should take Antibiotics. If it is a viral infection and/or recurring ear infections and sinus problems happen frequently to you, then you should also consider trying natural sinus remedies to see if that helps any. If treating your ear infection and sinus infection causes your hearing to return to normal, then likely it was just due to a blockage and no damage has been done. However, if after your sinus problems have been addressed and you are still noticing hearing problems, continue on to the next steps below:

2. Have Your Hearing Tested: Having your hearing tested can be done quite simply and rather quickly. You may remember having your hearing screened when you were in grade school or as a child visiting the doctor. It’s relatively easy to do and pretty much painless. This will confirm whether you are having hearing problems or not, as well as to what degree and how much hearing loss you have. This test can be performed by a variety of people, from general practitioners to even local clinics who have the right equipment. If you are positive you have hearing loss, you may want to skip directly to the next step.

3. Consult With Your Audiologist: An audiologist is a doctor who specializes in hearing loss. If you have hearing loss, a specialist will be able to best examine why it has occured as well as what the best treatment options would be or if a hearing aide would be appropriate. There have been significant advances in medical technology that can often help hearing problems. While often damage cannot be reversed, there are a wide variety of things to make it easier for you to deal with any hearing loss.

4. Consider Other Possible Causes: Sinus infections do not typically act as the sole reason behind hearing loss, though occasionally it can be related. You should carefully consider other factors such as genetics, your personal health history, medications you are taking which could have potential side effects, as well as any environmental factors (such as working with heavy and loud machinery on a daily basis). Your audiologist will be able to help you identify why you may be having problems.

If you suspect hearing loss, following the above steps and talking to your doctor will help you identify the problem and better determine the next course of action.

Antibiotics for Sinus Infection

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A common question that many people ask is this one: Do I need antibiotics for sinus infection? The next common question is “What antibiotics are best in treating sinus infections?”

Now, it would be nice if we could give you a very easy answer yes or no and rattle off a miracle drug name that will cure all your problems for good, but like most things in life it’s a little bit more complicated than that.

For starters, not everyone who has a sinus infection knows whether it is bacterial or viral (and therefore whether an antibiotic would be necessary or not) – and secondly there are many different opinions in the health and medical community about the use of antibiotics for treating sinus infections. Many people are concerned that by prescribing antibiotics to treat sinus problems, the result could be an overuse of antibiotics and thus cause bacteria to become resistant to these medications.

With so many differences in opinion not only on the general consumer level but also in the professional medical field, it’s no wonder so many people end up frustrated and confused. Who can you trust? How do you know who is right? Could taking antibiotics end up being worse for you? What if you let the infection go untreated? What would happen?

In general you should call your doctor if you are experiencing any of these symptoms:

Swelling or Painful Face
Fever of 101 degrees F or higher
Nausea
Severe Headaches
Thick Green/Yellowish Mucous
Ear or Eye Pain
Drainage from the eyes or ears

Sinus infections can typically be cured by natural homeopathic remedies quite successfully. In fact, even the CDC (Center for Disease Control recommends that antibiotics not be administered for the majority of sinusitis cases, especially because they are often due to a viral infection. However, there are rare circumstances when someone can have a severe bacterial infection that could cause major consequences if left untreated, especially because the sinuses are located in such close proximity to your eyes and your brain. Most sinus infections and problems are not always bacterial in nature, nor do they always require antibiotics – but unless you are a doctor and unless you test to see if it is necessary for antibiotics you would never know. There’s also the possibility that what you think is a sinus infection could be something else entirely – and so talking with a doctor is certainly important. As wonderful as the internet is, no website can accurately diagnose and treat any medical condition – not yet at least!

If the CDC says that most cases should not be treated with antibiotics, then it’s pretty safe to assume that you can avoid a visit to the doctor’s office as long as you are not experiencing any major symptoms such as fever or eye drainage.

Here are some reasons why many medical professionals and the CDC are against antibiotics for sinus infections:

1. Most Sinus Infections Are Viral: You’ve likely heard the difference between viral and bacterial infections. Viral infections are caused by viruses, whereas bacterial infections are caused by bacteria. Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics, and so there is really no reason to take them because it has no effect on whether you get better or not.

2. Increased Risk for Chronic Sinus Problems: Antibiotics typically cause mucous to dry up, but it doesn’t make problems causing the pain and pressure to go away. For this reason, even if you do have a viral infection you may end up finding relief from antibiotics. Unfortunately, when you dry up mucous, it does not really go away, it just “shrinks” (which relieves the pain and pressure) – but guess what? Within a few weeks or months moisture is going to cause problems to flare up again. Many people end up falling into this trap over and over again, some people having problems for months or years.

3. Resistance to Antibiotics: Taking antibiotics when you don’t really need them can cause problems for when you really DO need them. Instead of bacteria being stopped they may instead mutate and then multiply and not respond to the medication. This is a great fear that many doctors have about the use of antibiotics when they are not absolutely necessary.

4. Kill off the “Good” Bacteria: Our bodies naturally have “good” bacteria that help keep our body healthy. For example, there are bacteria in your digestive track which help you digest food. When you take antibiotics, you risk killing off the good bacteria in your body – which could cause digestive problems or increase your chances for yeast infections.

5. Unnecessary Side Effects: Some antibiotics can cause strong side effects. If you have a bacterial infection that needs treated with antibiotics, than obviously for most people the benefits far outweigh the potential side effects you might experience. However, if you don’t need them, why would you subject yourself to having those side effects for no reason and to only make them worse?

Viral infections do not respond to antibiotics and therefore you will be taking the medication unnecessarily which could then later cause bacteria to become more resistant of that medication later. While it is good practice for doctors to first test patients to ensure a bacterial infection exists, that does not usually happen – most doctors are more than happy to just give you a prescription and send you out of their office as fast as they can. While we can’t emphasize the importance of talking to a doctor enough – be sure before your doctor writes you a prescription that your problem is indeed bacterial, otherwise not only will it not really solve the problem, but it can also make things worse than ever.

Click Here for Natural Sinus Remedies

Sores in Nose: Blisters & Pain

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Chances are if you are chronically sick with allergies, stuffy and runny nose, and sinus congestion there’s a very good chance that you have developed at some little red sores or blisters around the edges or inside your nostrils.

A common misconception is that these red blisters come from too much nose blowing or using scratchy and rough tissues. While that could potentially cause some dry or chapped skin, it does not contribute directly to having sores or blisters develop in your nose.

The majority of those who experience these symptoms have likely developed a condition called Impetigo which happens when bacteria decide they like living in your nose just a little too much and get out of hand.

This bacteria that causes these blisters are either typically streptococcus (strep) or staphylococcus bacteria and are responsible for many other problems and infections, such as strep throat and other related illnesses.

These sores, also called blisters or lesions are usually red in nature and are often “crusty” with a yellowish pus. They can be large or they can be small. They’re not only gross looking, but you’re going to need to see a doctor to get them to go away because they are cause by bacteria and thus need antibiotics or the infection will likely get worse. Some doctors may try oral antibiotics in conjunction with an antibiotic cream to help combat the infection.

If you’re suffering from this becoming a recurring problem, especially in the months where your cold and allergy symptoms are at their worst, the best thing to do is try and prevent it as much as possible after you see a doctor for treatment. It can be difficult to keep your body free of germs, especially during cold and flu season, but if you follow some of the tips below you’ll see that it may potentially help:

Eat Well: The first thing to do is eat a healthy and well balanced diet to help your body resist infection more easily. Your ability to fight infection relies heavily on your body getting the nutrients it needs. Talking to your doctor can help you determine what vitamins may be helpful, but usually it is best to eat a balanced diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and dairy to ensure all of your dietary needs are met.

Avoid Allergy Triggers: You will also want to try and avoid or eliminate and potential triggers which may be causing a lot of allergies and therefore mucous to build up in your sinuses and nose. Because impetigo develops from mucous, the less you trigger your allergies the better.

Practice Hand Washing: Many people do not realize the importance of hand washing or making sure you wash your hands properly. Always use hot water and soap and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds. Some parents teach their kids proper hand washing by having them since a song while they do it.

Talk to Your Doctor: Recurring infections can sometimes be a sign of another problem – for example you may have hair follicles in your nose which are becoming infected or it could even potentially be due to the herpes virus. If need be, visit an ear, nose, and throat specialist (also known as an ENT) who may be able to pinpoint the exact cause of why it continues to happen.

Sinus Infection Symptoms and Signs

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Wondering whether you have sinus infection symptoms or not? Each year millions of people world wide suffer from stuffy and runny noses which can lead to making your sinuses a great place for bacteria to live and grow. When bacteria becomes trapped because of a blockage, an infection is likely to occur. Sinusitis occurs when these cavities in your nasal passages and your head become irritated and inflamed, causing mucous to become trapped and leading to a lot of discomfort!

Here are some of the symptoms of a sinus infection to look out for:

Headaches: Sinus headaches typically occur in the front of your head, because two of your sinuses are located right within your forehead. You also have sinus cavities behind and between your eyes, which can also cause some pressure to occur in those places as well. You can take pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetametaphine to reduce this pain, but if it occurs frequently then you should talk to your doctor because it can be a cause of a more serious problem or a sign that you have a sinus infection which could lead to further complications.

Face Pain: One of the common complaints with a sinus infection is face pain, especially in the cheekbone area right below the eyes. You may also feel pain around your eyes, because there are sinus cavities in these places as well.

Fever: A fever should not be ignored and if you find that you’ve had a cold for a few weeks and then come down with a fever, it is usually necessary to seek professional medical care as antibiotics are likely needed to help fight the infection. In children between the ages of 1 year to to 5 years old, you should be very watchful of any fever that occurs that goes over 101 degrees Fairenheit. Fevers can also be a symptom of other underlying medical illnesses and conditions, so don’t ignore it – call a doctor right away.

Coughing: A deep cough can sometimes occur due to a sinus infection, especially if you have a lot of problems with post nasal drip. For some, this coughing can be a lifelong chronic problem until a solution is found for their sinuses, and for others it may be a symptom of a different infection or underlying disorder. Coughs typically worsen at night because you are laying down and the mucous has a better path into your throat and lungs. Again, if you are experiencing any coughing or wheezing, you should seek medical care immediately.

Eye Drainage and Pain: You may notice that occasionally goop will form in your eyelids, especially while sleeping. Some may wake up to find that it is difficult to open their eyes, especially if swelling also occurs. This is another symptom that signals immediate medical attention as antibiotics are usually prescribed before the infection becomes worse and there is any damage done to the eyes.

Extended Cold Symptoms: Many sinus infections are caused by the viruses that cause the common cold. Most colds can last anywhere between 7 to 14 days, but the worse of the symptoms typically end after 5-7 days. If you notice after two weeks you still aren’t feeling any better then it may be time to talk to your doctor.

Serious complications can occur from an untreated sinus infection. Your sinuses are located in close proximity to your eyes and your brain and if an infection occurs and goes untreated it can result in problems such as seizures, blindness, and even potentially be fatal.

If you think you have an infection, you should call you doctor. If it is still in the early stages (no fever present for example) you may be able to help the situation through using many of the natural home remedies for sinus infections we have available through our website.