Colds Cold Treatment

Your Guide to Sinusitis Treatment

When we're feeling good, most of us probably give about as much thought to our sinuses as we do our toenails. But when these empty pockets in our heads get inflamed, the pain can be a terrible wake-up call. Chances are, if you've had a sinus headache and congestion for more than a week, it's sinusitis -- an inflammation of the sinuses.

The key to treating sinusitis is to speak with your doctor to determine what's causing the inflammation. Most of the time, it's an infection, but sinusitis can also be caused by allergies or abnormalities in the sinuses and nasal passage.

Your physician should be able to recommend ways to deal with your sinusitis and prevent it from coming back. Depending on the cause, you might need antibiotics and other medications or methods for controlling allergies. But with the right treatment, you'll be headache and congestion-free in a few days.

Medications
Medications are the most common way to treat sinusitis, and you'll find that most of your symptoms can be relieved with a combination of anti-inflammatory painkillers and nasal decongestants.

Decongestants come in many shapes and sizes -- from 4-, 12- or 24-hour pills to nasal sprays. Listen to your doctor and be careful when it comes to using painkillers and decongestants. Some of the active ingredients can be duplicated in over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications, and it can be easy to take too much.

If your sinusitis is the result of a bacterial infection that doesn't clear up after a week or so, your physician may recommend antibiotics. Be patient, though -- many strains of bacteria that can cause sinus infections have become resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics. You may have to try two or more types to treat the infection.

People with chronic sinusitis -- sinuses that are constantly inflamed -- may benefit from taking corticosteroids to reduce the inflammation. Corticosteroids are available in pill or nasal spray form, although most physicians prescribe the nasal spray because it targets the sinuses more efficiently. But don't use steroids for longer than your doctor prescribes them. Overuse of steroid sprays can make sinusitis worse and can cause other problems with your immune system.

Allergy Shots
If your sinusitis is caused or aggravated by allergies, your physician may recommend allergy shots to reduce them. Being in constant contact with allergens can cause the sinuses to swell, bringing on the symptoms of sinusitis. This can feel like an annoying, vicious circle. Allergy shots introduce a small amount of the allergen to your system, which then fights off the allergen and builds some immunity to it.

If you suffer from chronic sinusitis, there are two major benefits of allergy shots. They reduce the number of sinus flare-ups, while also addressing your other allergy symptoms, such as watering eyes and itchy nose.

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