Member-only story
Sinus Infection 101
Natural Medicine Approaches to Prevent/Treat Sinusitis
Sinus infections are a common complaint for both adults and children. In fact, it is the most common reason for doctor visits in the US. The main symptoms include: a stuffy nose, post nasal drip, thick yellow to green, offensive smelling discharge from the nose, pain and pressure around the nose, eyes and face, cough, fever, brain fog, and fatigue.
When you have a sinus infection the tissues in the maxillary sinuses become inflamed and swollen, which can also happen with a common cold or from allergies. So how do you tell the difference between a cold and sinus infection? A cold starts as a virus with a runny nose for a few days, followed by a stuffy nose for another few days and then it typically subsides. The mucus will be clear.
A sinus infection is caused by a build-up of mucus and bacteria that lingers and causes an infection. A small percentage of colds may turn into sinus infections. There are recognizable differences between a cold and sinus infection: duration and fever. Sinus infections last longer (more than 7 days) than colds, create green or dark yellow green and you may have a fever from the trapped bacterial infection.
There are many other causes that may make matters worse including: cigarette smoking and air pollution as well as a deviated septum (a displacement of the wall between the nasal passages), sinus polyps (small benign growths in the area), changes in air pressure (like going up and down in an airplane or scuba diving), ongoing dental issues, and injury to the facial area. Any of these can lead to blockage and build- up of mucus where germs can set up shop and cause infection.
Your sinuses play an important role by reducing the weight of your skull and enhancing the quality of your voice. But mostly your sinuses work to create a just-right amount of moisture to allow the inside of your nose to protect you, by flushing away environmental pollutants, pathogenic organisms, dust, pollen, and dirt.
Sinusitis is commonly treated with antibiotics, in fact, it’s the 5th leading cause of antibiotic prescription in the United States. Sometimes the body will resolve sinus infections over time. However, there are a host of natural medicine approaches to give symptom relief, address the root…
