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How to Solve Your Sinus Problems

Last Updated: May 21, 2022 References

This article was medically reviewed by Alan O. Khadavi, MD, FACAAI . Dr. Alan O. Khadavi is a Board Certified Allergist and a Pediatric Allergy Specialist based in Los Angeles, California. He holds a BS in biochemistry from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Stony Brook and an MD from the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. Dr. Khadavi completed his pediatric residency at Schneider Children’s Hospital in New York, and then went on to complete his allergy and immunology fellowship and pediatric residency at Long Island College Hospital. He is board certified in adult and pediatric allergy/immunology. Dr. Khadavi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI), and a member of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI). Dr. Khadavi's honors include Castle Connolly’s list of Top Doctors 2013-2020, and Patient Choice Awards "Most Compassionate Doctor" in 2013 & 2014. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 68,255 times.

Sinus problems can range from a seasonal annoyance to a painful problem that affects your daily routine. From home remedies to prescription medicines, there are numerous techniques you can try to alleviate your sinus issues. Don't suffer from sinus pain and pressure needlessly.

Using Natural Remedies

• Sinus infections need to be diagnosed by a doctor. Classic symptoms include a thick/white discharge, nasal congestion, tooth discomfort, and facial pain or pressure that is made worse when the person leans forward or someone taps on his sinuses.
• Be aware that both viruses and bacteria can cause sinusitis. Bacterial infections need to be treated with antibiotics and viruses do not respond to treatment. There is no good way to differentiate between the two, so try waiting a few days to see if the infection improves on its own or with home remedies. If not, see a doctor for treatment.

• Avoid making your home too humid, which can promote the growth of mold and dust mites, both of which are bad for people with nasal allergies. Less than 50% humidity is ideal. [5] X Research source

• Be careful to avoid burning yourself with the steam. If you opt to use a pot of hot water, drape a towel over your head to trap the steam. This enables you to get the benefit of the steam while keeping your face far enough away from the heat source to avoid a steam burn.

• Frequently vacuuming your carpets or sweeping and mopping hard floors will also help minimize the indoor allergens from your pet's fur.

Getting a Medical Diagnosis

• Other questions your doctor may ask: Do you have drainage? If so, how much and how frequent? What is the color and consistency? Do you feel facial pain or fullness? Reduction or loss of smell?
• If any of the following are present, you may have a condition more serious conditions than sinus congestion that needs immediate treatment: high fever, double or reduced vision, swelling around the eyes, pain when moving eyes, severe headache, stiff neck that is painful to move, or significant or recurrent nosebleeds.

• If necessary, your doctor may refer you to an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) doctor.

• Allergy blood tests are often used in children and others who might have complications or problems with the skin prick test.

Addressing Issues That Won’t Go Away

• For example, if you have seasonal allergies, you might try an antihistamine medicine. For a cold your best choice would be decongestant medicine. [9] X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Main public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source

• Although these procedures are not extremely invasive, they are still major surgical procedures, so ask your doctor about the risks and recovery time for your procedure.

Expert Q&A

• Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including supplements, over-the-counter, and prescription. Never mix medicines unless your doctor tells you to. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

What You’ll Need

• Nasal strips
• Grapefruit seed extract supplements
• Medicines (over-the-counter and prescription)

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=26325561
• ↑ https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-are-neti-pots-and-do-they-work/#:~:text=Rinse%20the%20irrigation%20device%20after,every%20day%2C%E2%80%9D%20says%20Dr .
• ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4971034/
• ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/sinus-infection.html
• ↑ https://saveonenergy.ca/For-Your-Home/Advice-and-Tips/Home-humidity-levels
• ↑ https://www.saintlukeskc.org/health-library/self-care-sinusitis
• ↑ Alan O. Khadavi, MD, FACAAI. Board Certified Allergist. Expert Interview. 29 July 2020.
• ↑ https://www.rxlist.com/sinus_infection_and_sinusitis_medications/drugs-condition.htm

About this article

To solve your sinus problems, start with simple home remedies like using a neti pot to irrigate your sinuses and avoiding airborne irritants. Using a humidifier may also provide relief. If allergies are the source of your sinus issues, over-the-counter or prescription antihistamines can be helpful. See your doctor if you're unable to find relief or figure out what's causing your sinus problems. Your doctor may want to run specific allergy tests or perform a CT scan to get to the bottom of your condition. Once you know the cause of your sinus woes, your doctor can provide specific treatment options for you. To learn about supplements that might help, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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• Chronic sinusitis

An infection, growths in the sinuses, called nasal polyps, or swelling of the lining of the sinuses can cause chronic sinusitis. Symptoms might include a blocked or stuffy nose that makes it hard to breathe through the nose and pain and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead.

Chronic sinusitis causes the spaces inside the nose and head, called sinuses, to become inflamed and swollen. The condition lasts 12 weeks or longer, even with treatment.

This common condition keeps mucus from draining. It makes the nose stuffy. Breathing through the nose might be hard. The area around the eyes might feel swollen or tender.

Infection, growths in the sinuses, called nasal polyps, and swelling of the lining of the sinuses might all be part of chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is also called chronic rhinosinusitis. The condition affects adults and children.

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Common symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:

• Thick, discolored mucus from the nose, known as a runny nose.
• Mucus down the back of the throat, known as postnasal drip.
• Blocked or stuffy nose, known as congestion. This makes it hard to breathe through the nose.
• Pain, tenderness and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead.
• Reduced sense of smell and taste.

Other symptoms can include:

• Aching in the teeth.
• Sore throat.
• Bad breath.

Chronic sinusitis and acute sinusitis have similar symptoms. But acute sinusitis is a short-lived infection of the sinuses often linked to a cold.

The symptoms of chronic sinusitis last at least 12 weeks. There might be many bouts of acute sinusitis before it becomes chronic sinusitis. Fever isn't common with chronic sinusitis. But fever might be part of acute sinusitis.

When to see a doctor

Schedule an appointment with your health care provider for:.

• Repeated sinusitis, and if the condition doesn't get better with treatment.
• Sinusitis symptoms that last more than 10 days.

See a health care provider right away if you have symptoms that could mean a serious infection:

• Swelling or redness around the eyes.
• Bad headache.
• Forehead swelling.
• Double vision or other vision changes.
• Stiff neck.

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Nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are soft growths on the lining of the nose or the spaces inside the nose, known as sinuses. Nasal polyps aren't cancer. Nasal polyps often occur in groups, like grapes on a stem.

The cause of chronic sinusitis usually is not known. Some medical conditions, including cystic fibrosis, can cause chronic sinusitis in children and teens.

Some conditions can make chronic sinusitis worse. These include:

• A common cold or other infection that affects the sinuses. Viruses or bacteria can cause these infections.
• A problem inside the nose, such as a deviated nasal septum, nasal polyps or tumors.

Risk factors

The following factors raise the risk of getting chronic sinusitis:

• A dental infection.
• A fungal infection.
• Regularly being around cigarette smoke or other pollutants.

Complications

Serious complications of chronic sinusitis are rare. They can include:

• Vision problems. If a sinus infection spreads to an eye socket, it can reduce vision or possibly cause blindness.
• Infections. It's not common. But a serious sinus infection can spread to the membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord. The infection is called meningitis. Other serious infections can spread to the bones, called osteomyelitis, or to skin, called cellulitis.

Take these steps to lower the risk of getting chronic sinusitis:

• Protect your health. Try to stay away from people who have colds or other infections. Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before meals.
• Manage allergies. Work with your health care provider to keep symptoms under control. Stay away from things you're allergic to when possible.
• Avoid cigarette smoke and polluted air. Tobacco smoke and other pollutants can irritate the lungs and inside the nose, called the nasal passages.
• Use a humidifier. If the air in your home is dry, adding moisture to the air with a humidifier may help prevent sinusitis. Be sure the humidifier stays clean and free of mold with regular, complete cleaning.
• Ferri FF. Sinusitis. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2023. Elsevier; 2023. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
• Sinusitis (sinus infection or sinus inflammation). Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. https://aafa.org/allergies/allergy-symptoms/sinusitis-sinus-infection/. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
• Holbrook EH. Chronic rhinosinusitis: Clinical manifestations, pathophysiology, and diagnosis. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 3, 2023.
• AskMayoExpert. Chronic rhinosinusitis. Mayo Clinic; 2022.
• Bennett JE, et al., eds. Sinusitis. In: Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
• Sinus infection. American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. https://acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/sinus-infection/. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
• Sinus infection (sinusitis). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/antibiotic-use/community/for-patients/common-illnesses/sinus-infection.html. Accessed Feb. 2, 2023.
• Holbrook EH. Chronic rhinosinusitis: Management. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed Feb. 3, 2023.
• Fokkens WJ, et al. European position paper on rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps 2020. Rhinology. 2020; doi:10.4193/Rhin20.600.

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The Best Natural Home Remedies for a Sinus Infection

• Flush Nasal Passages

Drink Lots of Fluids

• Healthy Foods
• Antibacterial Foods

Use a Humidifier

• Warm Compress
• OTC Nasal Spray

Other OTC Medications

When you need antibiotics.

A sinus infection ( sinusitis ) usually resolves on its own within about a week with at-home treatments. Flushing your nasal passages, staying hydrated, resting, using steam, eating wholesome foods, and taking over-the-counter (OTC) medications often help keep you comfortable.

Sometimes, when these treatments don't work and your sinusitis turns into a bacterial infection, you may require antibiotics.

This article covers the top at-home sinus infection treatment options to ease sinus pain and inflammation.

Ines Fraile / Getty Images

Flush Your Nasal Passages

Rinsing your nasal passages can help a sinus infection by loosening thick mucus so it can more easily be blown out. You can flush sinuses in several ways, including:

• A neti pot (a teapot-looking device that you use to rinse nasal passage with salt water)
• Bulb syringes
• Squeeze bottles
• Battery-operated pulsed water devices

As long as these devices are kept clean and used as directed, they are usually safe. However, there are certain precautions to keep in mind:

• Only use distilled or sterile water. Tap water can harbor bacteria.
• Use the device as directed. Most devices use or call for salt water, which is less irritating.
• Read the device's package labels to ensure they are safe and appropriate for children.

When in doubt, speak with a healthcare provider or pharmacist.

As with any infection, staying hydrated is crucial for your immune system. But with a sinus infection, drinking lots of fluids (water, juice, herbal tea) can help your body thin the mucus clogging your nasal passages.

However, not all fluids are helpful. Caffeinated beverages act as a diuretic , causing your body to excrete salt and water through extra urination. Drinking too much caffeine can lead to dehydration .

Alcohol can also cause dehydration because it suppresses the release of vasopressin, a hormone that tells the kidneys to retain fluid. As such, it increases urination, causing the body to lose fluids.

Adequate rest is especially important when you are ill because your immune system requires sleep to function correctly. Research has found that sleep is associated with a reduced risk of infection and improved infection outcomes.

Lay low as much as possible if you have a sinus infection. Take naps, lie down during the day, and get extra sleep at night.

Steam inhalation can be great for sinus infections because the moisture loosens thick mucus in your nasal passages. Research is inconclusive on the efficacy of steam for sinus congestion and has found no or minimal benefit for respiratory infections.

However, many people say steam helps them feel less congested. To use steam, follow these steps:

• Boil water in a kettle, pot, or microwave. Then transfer water to a bowl.
• Place the steaming water bowl on a steady surface (a table or countertop) in a safe place.
• Sit or stand with a towel draped over your head about a foot from the bowl.
• Inhale the steam for 10–15 minutes.

Avoid steam burns by staying far enough away from the steam and taking extreme care not to spill steaming water. It's best to avoid this method with children; instead, have them sit with you on the floor in the bathroom while running a steaming hot shower.

Eat More Fruits and Vegetables

One important substance that's plentiful in fruits and veggies is antioxidants. Antioxidants combat free radicals (unstable molecules that increase your disease risk), which makes it easier for your immune system to fight illnesses like sinus infections.

Some fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants include:

• Bell pepper
• Cauliflower
• Leafy greens
• Strawberries
• Winter squash

Add More Natural Antibacterial Foods

Certain foods have antibacterial properties that help bolster the body’s ability to fight infections. Research has found that the following inhibits the growth of many microorganisms:

• Herbs and spices (garlic, onion, oregano, cinnamon , clove , rosemary, parsley)
• Vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, kohlrabi, turnips, carrots, celery, parsnips, rutabaga)
• Fruits (citrus fruits, apples, grapes, plums, strawberries)
• Horseradish

Humidifiers work by keeping your indoor air moist. This is especially important when you are ill with a sinus infection to help loosen thick mucus.

The biggest risk with a humidifier is bacteria or mold buildup in the machine that gets pumped into the air you breathe. Thoroughly clean the device regularly according to the package directions. Using filtered water may reduce mineral buildup in the machine.

Vaporizers work the same way as humidifiers, by adding moisture to the air; however, vaporizers use steam rather than cool mist. The bigger risk with vaporizers is burns. With kids in the home, the safest option is a humidifier.

Ease Pain With a Warm Compress

Placing a warm washcloth over the eyes, nose, and forehead can help relieve the pressure in your nasal passages and head. Lie on the couch or a bed and place a warm, wet cloth over your face. You can lie like this as long as you are comfortable, maybe 15–20 minutes, or until the washcloth cools.

Take More Vitamin C

Vitamin C is an antioxidant that benefits the immune system, helping your body fight infection.

Vitamin C supplements may prevent and treat respiratory and body-wide infections. Researchers say prevention doses are lower than treatment doses because infections create inflammation and higher demand on the body.

Eat foods high in vitamin C, like peppers and strawberries, or drink orange juice. If you want to take a vitamin C supplement , ask a healthcare professional what dosage they recommend. The upper limit (UL) for adults is 2,000 milligrams (mg) and is much lower for children, which is based on age.

Many people practice yoga for pain relief , including headaches. Since sinus infections often come with inflammation and head pain, these gentle movements may also help alleviate pain and throbbing.

Moving your head lower than your body could increase head pain and pressure. Try to stick to upright poses that don't put pressure on your face or head, like a standing or cobra pose .

OTC Nasal Decongestant Spray

Nasal decongestant sprays ( Afrin , for example) are medications you spray directly into your nostrils for localized relief from congestion. They work by reducing swelling and clearing mucus from the nasal passages.

Use caution with these nasal sprays, though. You should not use these medications for more than three days in a row because doing so can cause rebound congestion when you stop. This causes longer-term congestion and may even damage your nasal passages.

In addition to nasal decongestant sprays, other OTC medicines are designed to help sinus infections. These include:

• Oral decongestants (Sudafed)
• Antihistamines (Claritin, Zyrtec, Benadryl)
• Pain relievers like Motrin or Advil ( ibuprofen ), Tylenol (acetaminophen), and Aleve (naproxen)

Oral decongestants carry the same risk of rebound congestion as nasal decongestant sprays. Antihistamines may work to dry up nasal passages, but only if allergies cause your sinusitis. Pain relievers can work wonders to relieve sinus pressure and headaches. Be sure to read instructions carefully and not overlap different treatments.

Understanding Your Triggers

Sinus infections occur when a cold, allergies, or other upper respiratory infection causes germs to grow and multiply. A virus or bacterium can cause sinus infections.

Risk factors for sinus infections include:

• Having a  cold
• Having seasonal allergies
• Exposure to secondhand smoke
• Having nasal polyps (lumps of tissue growing in the sinuses)
• Being immunocompromised (having a weakened immune system)

Understanding the triggers that apply to you may help you limit or avoid getting a sinus infection in the future.

Antibiotics are not always necessary or helpful since viruses usually cause sinus infections and antibiotics only kill bacteria . Most of the time, you can get rid of a sinus infection without antibiotics.

A healthcare provider may take a couple of approaches when considering if antibiotics are necessary for a sinus infection. One option is watchful waiting, which entails looking for improvement in a few days before starting treatment, such as an antibiotic.

Alternatively, they might prescribe an antibiotic with instructions not to fill the prescription unless you are not improving in two to three days.

Sinus infections often resolve on their own with self-care strategies at home. There isn't one best home remedy for sinus infections or a quick fix. That's because everyone's body responds differently to different treatments.

Some effective ways to find relief include getting adequate rest, staying hydrated, nasal irrigation, steam inhalation, eating healthy foods, and using supportive OTC medications for congestion and pain relief.

UCLA Health. Risks and rewards of nasal rinses: What you need to know .

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe? .

Mount Sinai. Sinusitis .

National Library of Medicine. Caffeine .

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol's effects on health .

Besedovsky L, Lange T, Haack M. The sleep-immune crosstalk in health and disease .  Physiol Rev . 2019;99(3):1325-1380. doi:10.1152/physrev.00010.2018

Little P, Stuart B, Mullee M, et al. Effectiveness of steam inhalation and nasal irrigation for chronic or recurrent sinus symptoms in primary care: a pragmatic randomized controlled trial .  CMAJ . 2016;188(13):940-949. doi:10.1503/cmaj.160362

Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health. Antioxidants .

Quinto EJ, Caro I, Villalobos-Delgado LH, Mateo J, De-Mateo-Silleras B, Redondo-Del-Río MP. Food safety through natural antimicrobials .  Antibiotics (Basel) . 2019;8(4):208. doi:10.3390/antibiotics8040208

MedlinePlus. Sinusitis .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sinus infection (sinusitis) .

Carr AC, Maggini S. Vitamin C and immune function .  Nutrients . 2017;9(11):1211. doi:10.3390/nu9111211

National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.  Vitamin C .

Mount Sinai. Sinus headache .

University of Rochester Medical Center. Take care with nasal decongestant sprays .

By Kathi Valeii Valeii is a Michigan-based freelance writer with a bachelor's degree in communication from Purdue Global.

Sinusitis (sinus infection)

Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection. It's common and usually clears up on its own within 4 weeks. But medicines can help if it's taking a long time to go away.

Check if it's sinusitis

Sinusitis is common after a cold or flu .

The main symptoms of sinusitis include:

• pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
• a blocked or runny nose
• a reduced sense of smell
• green or yellow mucus from your nose
• a high temperature

Other symptoms include:

• a feeling of pressure in the ears

You may also snore at night and sound nasal when you speak.

Young children may also be irritable, have difficulty feeding and breathe through their mouth.

The sinuses are small, empty spaces behind your cheekbones and forehead that connect to the inside of the nose.

Sinusitis causes the lining of the sinuses to swell up.

This stops mucus draining into your nose and throat properly, making you feel blocked up.

How you can treat sinusitis yourself

You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by:

• getting plenty of rest
• drinking plenty of fluids
• taking painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen (do not give aspirin to children under 16)
• avoiding things that trigger your allergies
• not smoking
• cleaning your nose with a salt water solution
• Boil a pint of water, then leave it to cool.
• Mix 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into the water.
• Wash your hands.
• Stand over a sink, cup the palm of 1 hand and pour a small amount of the solution into it.
• Sniff the water into 1 nostril at a time. Breathe through your mouth and allow the water to pour back into the sink. Try not to let the water go down the back of your throat.
• Repeat the first 5 steps up to 3 times a day (making a new solution each time) until your nose feels more comfortable.

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

A pharmacist can help with sinusitis

A pharmacist can advise you about medicines that can help, such as:

• decongestant nasal sprays or drops to unblock your nose (decongestants should not be taken by children under 6)
• salt water nasal sprays or solutions to rinse out the inside of your nose

They can also provide other treatments if you need them, without you seeing a GP.

Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:

• you have sinusitis and are very unwell
• painkillers do not help or your symptoms get worse
• your symptoms do not get better after 3 weeks
• you keep getting sinusitis

Treatment for sinusitis

If a GP thinks your sinusitis needs treatment, they may prescribe medicines such as:

• steroid nasal sprays or drops to reduce the swelling in your sinuses – you might need to take these for a few months
• antihistamines if an allergy is causing your symptoms

Rarely, you may need antibiotics. This is not common as sinusitis is usually caused by a virus, not bacteria.

The GP may refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist if you:

• still have sinusitis after 3 months of treatment
• keep getting sinusitis
• only have symptoms on 1 side of your face

The specialist may recommend surgery for some people.

Surgery for sinusitis

Surgery to treat chronic sinusitis is called functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).

FESS is carried out under general anaesthetic (where you're asleep).

The surgeon can widen your sinuses by either:

• removing some of the blocked tissue
• inflating a tiny balloon in the blocked sinuses, then removing it

Page last reviewed: 31 January 2024 Next review due: 31 January 2027

Health | How do I solve my sinus problems?

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Most people probably don’t give their sinuses much thought — that is, until there’s a problem.

What are the causes of sniffles and congestion?

Sinus problems are fairly common, especially those caused by allergies, which affect some 40% of American adults, says Dr. Laidlaw, who is also an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Most often, sinus-related troubles manifest as stuffiness, congestion, or a reduced sense of smell. They typically fall into three main categories, she says.

It may be an acute form of sinusitis

Environmental allergies affect some 50 million Americans and may cause nasal congestion and other symptoms, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. You may experience symptoms year-round, or just in certain seasons. Common triggers are tree or grass pollens, mold, or indoor dust mites during the winter months.

Recurrent sinus infections

If allergies are at the root of your problem, you can often treat the problem at home.

To control symptoms, start with an over-the-counter antihistamine. It’s best to choose a non-drowsy antihistamine, such as fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), or loratadine (Claritin). Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) isn’t advised during the day because it can cause drowsiness that may affect your driving, says Dr. Laidlaw. Take the antihistamine as needed when you are experiencing symptoms, following the directions on the box. You can also add a nasal steroid spray. These sprays, such as fluticasone propionate (Flonase), triamcinolone acetonide (Nasacort), and budesonide (Rhinocort), can be purchased over the counter. They are not a quick fix, but rather something you use over a period of time to get relief.

If your allergies are triggered by pollen, reduce your exposure. In addition, it can be helpful to cleanse your sinuses of allergy-inducing irritants by regularly doing nasal irrigation. To avoid introducing harmful bacteria or other organisms to your sinuses, use distilled water, or boil tap water for one to three minutes (be sure to let it cool first).

If these strategies don’t help, see your doctor or a specialist who can prescribe a stronger allergy medication or get you started on allergy shots, which can be very effective.

“Allergy shots are the closest thing we have to a cure,” says Dr. Laidlaw. They may be even more effective if they are started at a younger age.

How to treat sinus infection

Most sinus infections are caused by viruses and will clear up on their own. But if you have a sinus infection that hasn’t gone away after two weeks, it could indicate a bacterial infection that your doctor might want to treat with antibiotics.

“It’s difficult even for doctors to tell if your sinus infection is viral or bacterial,” says Dr. Laidlaw. “So generally, we don’t recommend antibiotics at all for at least 14 days.”

It’s better to avoid antibiotics unless you really need them. Overusing antibiotics can make your sinus problems worse by impairing your immune system. Antibiotics can harm the balance of microorganisms living in your gut, in your nose, and on your skin, which play an important role in immunity. You are more likely to get sick if those populations are disrupted, says Dr. Laidlaw.

“We know that when young children use antibiotics too frequently it affects their long-term immune function,” she says.

Using antibiotics more than once a year is considered frequent use.

How to find help for recurring sinus problems

For some people, sinus infections are chronic. You should see your doctor if you experience repeated sinus infections that last for two or three weeks each time.

The same is true if you have a sinus infection accompanied by pneumonia, says Dr. Laidlaw. If your doctor determines that you are having chronic sinus infections, she or he can help you manage your condition using such strategies as prescribing preventive antibiotics to ward off infection or providing you with an antibody treatment to bolster your immune response, she says.

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The Law of Sines

The Law of Sines (or Sine Rule ) is very useful for solving triangles:

a sin A = b sin B = c sin C

It works for any triangle:

And it says that:

When we divide side a by the sine of angle A it is equal to side b divided by the sine of angle B , and also equal to side c divided by the sine of angle C

Well, let's do the calculations for a triangle I prepared earlier:

a sin A = 8 sin(62.2°) = 8 0.885... = 9.04...

b sin B = 5 sin(33.5°) = 5 0.552... = 9.06...

c sin C = 9 sin(84.3°) = 9 0.995... = 9.04...

The answers are almost the same! (They would be exactly the same if we used perfect accuracy).

So now you can see that:

Is This Magic?

Not really, look at this general triangle and imagine it is two right-angled triangles sharing the side h :

The sine of an angle is the opposite divided by the hypotenuse, so:

a sin(B) and b sin(A) both equal h , so we get:

a sin(B) = b sin(A)

Which can be rearranged to:

a sin A = b sin B

We can follow similar steps to include c/sin(C)

How Do We Use It?

Let us see an example:

Example: Calculate side "c"

Now we use our algebra skills to rearrange and solve:

Finding an Unknown Angle

In the previous example we found an unknown side ...

... but we can also use the Law of Sines to find an unknown angle .

In this case it is best to turn the fractions upside down ( sin A/a instead of a/sin A , etc):

sin A a = sin B b = sin C c

Example: Calculate angle B

Sometimes there are two answers .

There is one very tricky thing we have to look out for:

Two possible answers.

This only happens in the " Two Sides and an Angle not between " case, and even then not always, but we have to watch out for it.

Just think "could I swing that side the other way to also make a correct answer?"

Example: Calculate angle R

The first thing to notice is that this triangle has different labels: PQR instead of ABC. But that's OK. We just use P,Q and R instead of A, B and C in The Law of Sines.

But wait! There's another angle that also has a sine equal to 0.9215...

The calculator won't tell you this but sin(112.9°) is also equal to 0.9215...

So, how do we discover the value 112.9°?

Easy ... take 67.1° away from 180°, like this:

180° − 67.1° = 112.9°

So there are two possible answers for R: 67.1° and 112.9° :

Both are possible! Each one has the 39° angle, and sides of 41 and 28.

So, always check to see whether the alternative answer makes sense.

• ... sometimes it will (like above) and there are two solutions
• ... sometimes it won't (like below) and there is one solution

For example this triangle from before.

As you can see, we can try swinging the "5.5" line around, but no other solution makes sense.

So this has only one solution.

How do I solve my sinus problems?

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Most people probably don’t give their sinuses much thought — that is, until there’s a problem.

What are the causes of sniffles and congestion?

Sinus problems are fairly common, especially those caused by allergies, which affect some 40% of American adults, says Dr. Laidlaw, who is also an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.

Most often, sinus-related troubles manifest as stuffiness, congestion, or a reduced sense of smell. They typically fall into three main categories, she says.

It may be an acute form of sinusitis

Environmental allergies affect some 50 million Americans and may cause nasal congestion and other symptoms, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. You may experience symptoms year-round, or just in certain seasons. Common triggers are tree or grass pollens, mold, or indoor dust mites during the winter months.

Recurrent sinus infections

If allergies are at the root of your problem, you can often treat the problem at home.

To control symptoms, start with an over-the-counter antihistamine. It’s best to choose a non-drowsy antihistamine, such as fexofenadine (Allegra), cetirizine (Zyrtec), or loratadine (Claritin). Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) isn’t advised during the day because it can cause drowsiness that may affect your driving, says Dr. Laidlaw. Take the antihistamine as needed when you are experiencing symptoms, following the directions on the box. You can also add a nasal steroid spray. These sprays, such as fluticasone propionate (Flonase), triamcinolone acetonide (Nasacort), and budesonide (Rhinocort), can be purchased over the counter. They are not a quick fix, but rather something you use over a period of time to get relief.

If your allergies are triggered by pollen, reduce your exposure. In addition, it can be helpful to cleanse your sinuses of allergy-inducing irritants by regularly doing nasal irrigation. To avoid introducing harmful bacteria or other organisms to your sinuses, use distilled water, or boil tap water for one to three minutes (be sure to let it cool first).

If these strategies don’t help, see your doctor or a specialist who can prescribe a stronger allergy medication or get you started on allergy shots, which can be very effective.

“Allergy shots are the closest thing we have to a cure,” says Dr. Laidlaw. They may be even more effective if they are started at a younger age.

How to treat sinus infection

Most sinus infections are caused by viruses and will clear up on their own. But if you have a sinus infection that hasn’t gone away after two weeks, it could indicate a bacterial infection that your doctor might want to treat with antibiotics.

“It’s difficult even for doctors to tell if your sinus infection is viral or bacterial,” says Dr. Laidlaw. “So generally, we don’t recommend antibiotics at all for at least 14 days.”

It’s better to avoid antibiotics unless you really need them. Overusing antibiotics can make your sinus problems worse by impairing your immune system. Antibiotics can harm the balance of microorganisms living in your gut, in your nose, and on your skin, which play an important role in immunity. You are more likely to get sick if those populations are disrupted, says Dr. Laidlaw.

“We know that when young children use antibiotics too frequently it affects their long-term immune function,” she says.

Using antibiotics more than once a year is considered frequent use.

How to find help for recurring sinus problems

For some people, sinus infections are chronic. You should see your doctor if you experience repeated sinus infections that last for two or three weeks each time.

The same is true if you have a sinus infection accompanied by pneumonia, says Dr. Laidlaw. If your doctor determines that you are having chronic sinus infections, she or he can help you manage your condition using such strategies as prescribing preventive antibiotics to ward off infection or providing you with an antibody treatment to bolster your immune response, she says.

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