Sinus Conditions and Problems

There are many different conditions that can affect the sinus, including an infection. Know which sinus issue you are facing can help to determine which sinus treatment method will work best for you. The following information is intended to be a general guide and is not intended as a medical examination. If you are experience sinus problems or signs of sinusitis, please consult your doctor.

The Common Cold

The common cold is, as its name suggests, one of the most common causes of sinus problems. The most prominent sinus symptoms of the common cold are a sore throat, a runny nose, nasal congestion, thin or clean mucous, mild muscle aches and fatigue. In most cases these symptoms will not persist for more than a week. Other less common symptoms include sore throat, cough, headache and a mild fever.

Treating the common cold the treating the sinus symptoms includes rest and taking in plenty of vitamins and minerals to help keep the body's immune system strong. People with colds should avoid strenuous exercise and should also avoid stressful situations as stress can exacerbate a cold.

Sinus Infection

A sinus infection is a mild form of sinusitis, and is also referred to as acute sinusitis. There are many sinusitis symptoms, some of which are more common than others. The most common signs include head congestions, thick green or yellow mucus, pain in the head and face and extreme fatigue. Other less common symptoms include sore throat, cough, fever and nasal congestion. Acute sinusitis can last for several months.

Treating a sinus infection is slightly harder than treating the common cold as the condition does not usually diffuse without specific treatment. People experiencing acute sinusitis should keep their nasal passage clean and well lubricated with saline nasal spray or a nasal wash. Decongestants and nasal corticosteroids can also be used for treating sinusitis. Aspirin is also given to some patients experiencing sinusitis, but a doctor should be consulted before starting an aspirin regimen.

Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis is classified in three different levels. These levels are known as Type I, Type II and Type III. Type I is a persistent low grade infection, while Type II is a recurrent sinus infection that last for long periods of time, disappears, and the comes back. Type III is actually less serious than Type I and II. People with chronic sinusitis Type II experience chronic inflammation but little or no infection.

Chronic sinusitis treatments are very similar to treatments for acute sinusitis, except that medication is often used to help prevent the infection, or inflammation from occurring again.

Allergies

Many allergies are seasonal, but a person can still develop them at almost any time of year. Sinus symptoms involving allergies include intermittent symptoms, depending on the allergy type, as well as nasal congestion, sneezing, symptoms treated by antihistamines and itching nose or eyes. Other symptoms that occur less commonly include postnasal drip, wheezing and skin rash.

Treating allergies is highly dependent on what the person is allergic too. Many people with allergies react well to antihistamine treatments. Allergy specific medications can also be prescribed to help patients deal with sinus symptoms