Ways to Get Rid of a Sinus Infection

A sinus infection has similar symptoms to a common cold. The big difference

 between the two is how long those symptoms linger. Sinusitis symptoms

typically last no longer than 10 days. Chronic sinusitis can last for 12 weeks or

longer.

_ Drink lots of water.

 To help flush the virus out of your system, make sure you’re adequately

hydrated. Aim to drink at least 8 ounces of water every two hours.

_ Avoid dry environments. 

A humidifier in your home (in particular, by your bed) and where you work can

help prevent nasal passages from drying out. Keep humidifiers clean and free of

bacteria and mold.

_ Bathe your nasal passages daily.

 Run water gently into the nasal passages to help clear excess mucus and moisten

 membranes. (See "First line of defense: Nasal irrigation.") Good times to do it

are in the morning and at night, when you brush your teeth. "Brush, then flush,"

is Dr. Metson's motto. During the day, use nasal saline spray to moisten nasal

passages.

_ Sleep with your head elevated.

 Mucus pools in your sinuses at night when your head is down, so have your

head propped up with pillows or a wedge during sleep.

_ Be careful with decongestants. 

Tablets containing pseudoephedrine act on blood vessels to shrink membranes

and keep nasal passages open. Nasal sprays containing phenylephrine or

oxymetazoline also work well — and quickly. But using topical nasal

decongestants for more than a day or two runs the risk of setting off a spiral of

dependency as a result of rebound — increased swelling after the medication

wears off. (According to Dr. Metson, a shorter-acting spray, such as 0.25% or

0.5% Neo-Synephrine, is less likely to cause rebound than longer-acting ones

like Afrin.) Oral decongestants can cause jitters and increase blood pressure, so if

 you have high blood pressure, don't use them without consulting a clinician first.

_ Be nice to your nose.

 Blow your nose gently, one nostril at a time. Forceful blowing can irritate the

 nasal passages and propel bacteria-laden mucus back up into your sinuses.


_ Inhale steam.

 Linger in a hot shower. Or bring water to a boil, and pour it into a pan; place a

 towel over your head, and carefully bend over the pan to inhale the steam. To

 avoid burns, keep your distance at first and move in gradually to a comfortable

 zone.

_ Avoid antihistamines unless prescribed.

 Antihistamines make mucus thick and hard to drain. But if your sinusitis is

triggered by allergies, your clinician may still want you to take an antihistamine

along with other medications.