Online Dr Visit For Sinus Infection

Sinus Infection While Pregnant

Pregnancy comes with its own set of challenges that can make dealing with a sinus infection much harder than normal. For one, you are more likely to get sick, as pregnancy suppresses the immune system.

These natural changes in immunity exist to strike a balance between the mothers health and to protect the baby from disease. Additionally, certain parts of the immune system are suppressed to prevent the body from rejecting the fetus as something foreign.

While these are all natural functions, they unfortunately make sinusitis a pervasive threat, particularly for those who have been susceptible to infections in the past. Additionally, several conventional sinusitis treatments are unsafe for pregnant women, so it is important to know what you can and cannot use to treat your sinus infection while pregnant.

The good news is that, despite these challenges, a sinus infection will most likely not affect your unborn child. The first step is to determine whether or not you have sinusitis.

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What Is A Sinus Infection

Sinusitis or sinus disease, better known as a sinus infection, is a common problem treated at FastMed. It is commonly defined as inflammation, or the swelling of the sinuses. When the sinus openings become blocked, or too much mucus accumulates, sinusitis is the result.

There are three types of sinus disease: acute , sub-acute , and chronic sinusitis . Some of the symptoms associated with sinus infection are fever, headache, cough, nasal congestion, and pressure that causes facial or dental pain.If your sinus disease persists for more than a few days, visit one of the many FastMed locations in your area, and a qualified medical provider will examine you. The FastMed team should be able to determine whether the problem is indeed sinusitis. Tests may include looking in the nose for signs of mucus, or checking for signs of inflammation and pressure. Antibiotics are rarely prescribed when sinus infections occur, because they are ineffective in treating the viruses that cause most sinus infections.

How Does An Online Doctor Tell If It Is A Sinus Infection Or A Cold

Knowing the patients medical history and severity of symptoms are the most useful pieces of information when diagnosing a sinus infection online. Even in the office setting, one cannot see inside the sinuses, or obtain fluids from the sinuses to analyze further. Doctors on Amwell rely on the patients description of their symptoms and active participation in the visit to define our diagnosis and determine the best course of action.

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When To See A Doctor For Asinus Infection

Acute sinusitis often goes away on its own however, there are times when you should see your doctor for sinus infection treatment if self-care doesnt work. You should see a doctor if you still have sinusitis symptoms after a week or if they return more than a few times within a year. You should also see a doctor as soon as possible if the infection worsens. Signs of a worsening sinus infection include:

When To Call Your Doctor

If youâve been sick for 10 days or more with no improvement, or you got slightly better and then got sicker, itâs probably a bacterial infection. Again, youâll need to see your doctor to find out.

If itâs a bacterial sinus infection, you may need antibiotics. You may also get better without medicine, but antibiotics can help things move faster.

Other symptoms of sinusitis include congestion that makes it hard to breathe through your nose, and tenderness around your nose and eyes. If you cough up colored mucus or feel mucus drain down the back of your throat, you could have sinusitis.

You may also think you have a toothache when itâs really a sinus infection. Your upper back teeth are very close to your sinuses, so tooth pain is a very common symptom of a sinus infection. If youâre not sure, check with your doctor or dentist.

If you have any of the above symptoms, and over-the-counter treatments donât help, make a doctorâs appointment soon.

Contact your doctor immediately if you have any of these severe symptoms, which could be signs of a serious infection:

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Signs You Have A Sinus Infection

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How Can You Tell If You Have An Acute Sinus Infection

Its tempting to label every nasal issue as a sinus infection, but thats not always the case. Common symptoms of acute sinusitis include:

• Headaches and sometimes, toothaches

Many people believe that green snot means you have a bacterial sinus infection, curable only with antibiotics. Not true. Sage-colored mucus is common with viral infections and allergies and can happen when snot sits in your face for a while before being expelled.

A trip to your doctor may be necessary if you have a bacterial infection, but it can often be difficult to distinguish between that and a viral infection. If your symptoms last longer than 10 days or improve before worsening again, call your HCP.

If you suddenly experience any of these symptoms, its a sign to seek medical attention immediately, even if theyve been present for fewer than seven days:

• Abrupt vision changes

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Causes For Sinus Infection:

Acute bacterial sinusitis is often preceded by an acute viral upper respiratory tract infection. This leads to inflammation of the sinuses and mucous is formed as a part of our bodys defense mechanism. Formation of mucous blocks the sinuses making it difficult for them to drain.

• Viral and bacterial infection
• Blowing the nose during an acute viral infection tends to push infection into the sinuses.
• Air pollution, especially tobacco smoke
• Allergies to dust, pollen, chemicals and animal dander

Patients having nasal deformities like nasal polyps and deviated nasal septum are at higher risk for recurrent cold and cough infections.

Having a recent dental procedure can equally increase chances of having a sinus infection.

Although it is difficult to differentiate between bacterial and viral sinusitis viral sinusitis typically lasts for 7-10 days, while bacterial sinus infection is rather persistent.

Majority of acute sinus infections are caused by the following microorganisms:

• Streptococcus pneumonia
• Moraxella catarrhalis

What To Do For Chronic Sinusitis

If youre suffering from chronic sinusitis or you are getting frequent sinus infections you should see your doctor, says Dr. Sindwani.

Your doctor will swab your nose to collect mucus. Culturing it in a laboratory will reveal which type of bacteria is causing the infection so the right antibiotic can be prescribed.

Treat early sinus infection symptoms with rest, hydration and over-the-counter sprays and decongestants. But dont look for an antibiotic unless your illness extends beyond a week, he says. Then check in with your doctor for a prescription and let him or her know if your condition worsens.

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Aside from skill performance evaluation, you need a CDL medical card to qualify to drive and operate a commercial motor vehicle. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, qualified drivers can help prevent CMVrelated fatalities and injuries. However, some commercial trucking drivers fail their DOT physicals. A medical examiner

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Can Sinusitis Be Prevented

Simple changes in your lifestyle or home environment can help lower the risk of sinusitis. For example, during the winter, use a humidifier to keep home humidity at 45%50%. This will stop dry air from irritating the sinuses and make them less of a target for infection. Clean your humidifier often to prevent mold growth.

What Factors Contribute To The Development Of A Sinus Infection

An infection of the sinuses is caused either by bacteria or by a virus. The treatment plan will differ depending on which organism is responsible for your infection. Your doctor can assist you in determining the cause of the illness and prescribing the most appropriate course of treatment.

Can antibiotics be purchased over the counter to treat a sinus infection?

Antibiotics are not available over-the-counter in the United States instead, you must obtain a prescription from your doctor. On the other hand, you can speak with a doctor at K Health for less than the cost of a copay, and they can prescribe you the medication you need.

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What Your Doctor Needs To Know

To find out if youâve got more than a bad cold, you need to learn the cause of your symptoms. Your doctor can help you figure out whether you have sinusitis or something else.

Tell your doctor how long youâve had sinus symptoms, and whether theyâve gotten worse or stayed the same. If youâve had them for less than 10 days and theyâre not getting worse, you probably have a viral infection. It will likely go away on its own.

Over-the-counter treatments like saline sprays, acetaminophen, or ibuprofen may help ease symptoms along the way. might reduce the swelling and inflammation temporarily. If you use them, read the directions carefully and only use as directed. Using nasal decongestant sprays for more than a few days could make the congestion worse.

Other Remedies For Symptom Relief

Staying hydrated can help thin mucus to ease congestion.

Drinking hot liquids such as tea and broth may help relieve your symptoms. Breathing in moist air may also help relieve the discomfort that comes with nasal congestion. Try breathing in steam from the shower, a bowl of hot water, or a mug of tea.

If your voice is hoarse, rest it by avoiding yelling, whispering, and singing.

Placing a warm compress over the inflamed area can help reduce pressure and provide relief.

damages the natural protective elements of your nose, mouth, throat, and respiratory system.

If you smoke, consider quitting. Ask a doctor if you need help or are interested in quitting. Quitting may help prevent future episodes of both acute and chronic sinusitis.

Wash your hands frequently, especially during cold and flu seasons, to keep your sinuses from becoming irritated or infected by viruses or bacteria on your hands.

Using a humidifier during the cooler, dryer months may also help prevent sinus infections.

Talk with a doctor to see if allergies are causing your sinusitis. If youre allergic to something that causes persistent sinus symptoms, you will likely need to treat your allergies to relieve your sinus infection.

You may need to seek an allergy specialist to determine the cause of the allergy. The specialist may suggest:

• avoiding the allergen

Keeping your allergies under control can help prevent repeated episodes of sinusitis.

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Get A Prescription To Treat Your Sinus Infection

We set up Lemonaid to make it simple to get the convenient affordable medical care you need regardless of insurance, and sinus infections are one of the most common health problems.

With our sinus treatment service you can have a same day online visit. Our doctors or nurse practitioners can work out if youve got a sinus infection. Most sinus infections are caused by viruses, but some are caused by bacteria. Viral infections typically get better within a week without treatment. If we think you have a bacterial infection thats safe to treat online, we can give you a prescription.

Signs Of Sinus Infection

If you are experiencing a sinus infection, you may have some or all of the most common symptoms listed below. But just because you only have one or two of these symptoms does not mean you do not have a sinus infection.

Its important to take inventory of your body, noting where you are experiencing pain or irritation, how severe your pain or irritation is, and how you are feeling in general. Once you have self-monitored for a short time, youll know if your sinus infection is something you can treat at home or if its time to see a doctor.

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Sinus Infection Treatment At Home

It isnt possible for you to tell at home if sinusitis is caused by a bacteria, virus or fungus, but there are some steps you can take to help relieve sinus infections symptoms. They include:

• Moisturizing the room air with a humidifier or vaporizer

• Increasing your fluid intake to ensure you are well hydrated

• Using saline sprays or nasal irrigations

• Using nasal spray decongestants for 2 or 3 days at the most

• Applying warm compresses to your face to help relieve pain and pressure

• Sleeping with your head elevated. If sleeping on a pile of pillows isnt comfortable, place blocks under the two legs at the head of your bed to elevate it.

• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen

Otolaryngologist In Austin Tx

Sinus infections are common and can happen to anyone, anywhere. Rest, home remedies, and over-the-counter medications should be enough to treat you, and your symptoms should be gone in a few days. However, if you exhibit symptoms for more than ten days, you should visit an otolaryngologist. They can help by educating you about sinus infections and what you can do to avoid having sinus infections. They can also diagnose other conditions which may be causing your recurrent sinus infections.

You can find certified and highly experienced otolaryngologists here at the Nasal & Sinus Center of Austin. We treat chronic allergies and sinusitis to help people breathe freely and live better. To schedule an appointment in any of our locations, please fill out our online form. For more queries about our services, please call our main office in Austin at 648-8499. Our staff and doctors are always ready to improve your breathing.

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