Why Do I Get Recurring Sinus Infections

Routines To Avoid Getting Sinus Infections

Avoid over-exposure to household products

There are avoidance routines that you can carry out that may help prevent another sinus infection from reoccurring. Always try to avoid contact with cigarette and cigar smoke from people around you. Another way is avoiding common household products, like hairspray and cleaning products that give off fumes or strong odors. Fumes are known to be irritants to your sinuses and can make your sinus problems worse. You can also avoid exposure to very dry environments. If possible, try to avoid mass transportation, by bus, train and air. When traveling an enclosed area with many people, bacteria and viruses commonly spread and dry air increases the rate they enter your nose. Air travel can also cause significant pressure and blockage to your sinuses. Avoid extended periods of swimming pools with chlorine and activities such as diving if you are prone to sinusitis. Chlorine in the nose irritates the lining of the sinuses and nose. Diving may force water into the sinuses from the nasal passageways. These are some or the ways you can avoid the recurrence of sinus infections or from having the worsening of existing infections.

Why Do My Sinuses Keep Getting Infected

Here comes the sneezing, runny nose, and headaches..again. You can tell that its probably a sinus infection by that inflamed clogged feeling behind your nose.

Repeated sinus infections can be a considerable problem for people that cope with them, resulting in miserable days in bed . As unpleasant as a sinus infection is, it cant always be treated with antibiotics.

Ingredients In Sinuvil Sinus Formula

Sinuvil Sinus Formula contains natural ingredients from plants, trees or herbs.Sinuvil’s gentle herbal formula helps stimulate the immune system and activate natural killer cells enabling the body’s own defense mechanism.*

Recommended Reading: Face Is Swollen From Tooth Infection

What Happens When A Sinus Infection Goes Untreated

Although it may seem like it, your sinuses are not just contributing to your infections. They have many other functions like regulating air temperature, producing mucus to fight infections, and assist in communication. The sinuses are very important to your overall health and contribute to many different bodily functions.

Many sufferers are able to let their body clear up the infection on its own. They can suffer through their symptoms for a few days or even a week with only over-the-counter medication and feel better fairly soon. When sinus infections wonât seem to go away or continue to return, there may be a more serious problem going on. These particularly painful infections are known as chronic sinusitis and they need more attention and care than just over-the-counter medications.

Frequent sinus infections have been known to take a toll on all aspects of sufferersâ lives. When headaches, congestion, fatigue, facial pain, bad breath and much more continue, it can contribute to other serious issues such as:

• Relationship problems
• And much more

When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider About Chronic Sinusitis

Remember, your health is your business. You do not have to put up with feeling ill for long periods of time. Pay attention to how long you have sinus symptoms because this is something that your care provider will ask you. Keep track of things that you have done to make yourself feel better. If medications are prescribed, make sure you store them and take them as instructed.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 06/04/2020.

References

Don’t Miss: Can I Infect Someone While On Prep

Finding The Solution Thats Right For You

If you are experiencing chronic sinus infections, there are solutions that generate reliefespecially via prevention. Your physician or surgeon will be able to help you determine which therapies and treatments will be the right fit for your symptoms and condition.

You dont have to go through another winter filled with constant sinus infections. You can get relief by talking to your doctor!

Lack Of Moisture Or Dry Air

When mucus is trapped in the nasal passages for long periods of time, it can lose water and thicken. The result? It worsens symptoms and makes sinusitis more likely.

Therefore, doctors recommend you keep your nose as moist as possible. Start by drinking lots of water and avoiding caffeine, and use a humidifier to keep indoor air moist during the winter.

The occasional use of nasal irrigation treatments, like saline sprays, may also help treat or prevent sinusitis symptoms.

Recommended Reading: Young Living Essential Oils For Urinary Tract Infection

Sinus Surgery For Chronic Infections

If medical therapies dont clear up chronic sinusitis, your doctor will usually recommend surgery.

Several surgical approaches can enlarge the sinus cavities to make breathing and drainage easier. In the past, sinus surgeries required bone and tissue removal. Recent advancements mean this isnt the case.

What Can I Do To Find Relief From A Sinus Infection

• Place a warm compress over your face to help relieve pressure.
• Breathe in steam by placing a towel over your head and leaning over a bowl or sink full of hot water to allow the steam to relieve congestion. WARNING: Make sure that the water is not too hot because steam can cause burns.
• Rinse the sinuses. Dr. Takashima recommends using the squeeze bottle over the neti pot for effective nasal irrigation.
• Keep the nasal passages moist by using a saline nasal spray.
• Rest.
• Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air.

Read Also: Old Root Canal Infection Symptoms

Importance Of Evaluating Recurrent Respiratory Infections

Respiratory infections are sometimes considered more of a nuisance, but it’s very important to take these seriously and have a thorough exam if there isn’t a clear explanation as to why they are occurring. Sometimes this will only require a careful history and physical examination other times a more intensive workup will be needed. Not only can repeated infections cause complications , but a delay in diagnosis is the norm rather than the exception when a cause such as immunodeficiency or lung cancer is present conditions that are most easily treated when caught early.

Throat Irritation And Cough

As discharge from your sinuses drains down the back of your throat, it can cause irritation, especially over a long period of time. This can lead to a persistent and annoying cough, which can be worse when lying down to sleep or first thing in the morning after getting up from bed.

It can also make sleeping difficult. Sleeping upright or with your head elevated can help reduce the frequency and intensity of your coughing.

Recommended Reading: How To Cure Throat Infection Without Antibiotics

How Can I Find Relief From Recurrent Sinusitis In The Dallas/fort Worth Area

While chronic cases of sinusitis can be frustrating and cause debilitating symptoms, the good news is that there are a number of treatments that can correct the underlying causes of recurrent sinusitis for effective, long-term relief. Patients with chronic sinusitis symptoms that dont improve after antibiotics or other medicinal treatments may be candidates for sinus surgery. DFW Sinus Select provides a wide range of procedures to combat various symptoms associated with chronic sinusitis, including the latest, minimally invasive procedures. Procedures for recurrent sinusitis offered at DFW Sinus Select include Balloon Sinuplasty, and .

How Can You Tell The Difference Between Chronic Sinusitis And Other Issues Like Migraine Headaches

You probably cant tell the difference between all of these things. So, in cases where you have a constant headache, or facial pain, or tooth pain, you should call your healthcare provider to get a diagnosis. This is especially true if you have tried different therapies and have not been able to find relief. Your primary healthcare provider might even find it difficult to diagnose you properly and might suggest you see a specialist. This would be an otolaryngologist, commonly called an ear, nose and throat doctor.

Also Check: What Antibiotic Is Good For Tooth Infection

What Is The Treatment For Chronic Sinus Infection

When it comes to treating chronic sinusitis, theres no one-size-fits-all solution. While several treatment options are available, what works for one person may not be appropriate for the other. Hence, we tailor the treatment to each individuals needs, symptoms, and whether or not other conditions are also at play.

The goals of treating chronic sinusitis are to address the allergic causes, minimize inflammation, promote free sinus drainage, and eradicate the infection .

Here are a few potential treatment options for chronic sinusitis. We will likely try out a combination of two or more of these options to see what works best for you.

When Antibiotics Are In Order

The main reason to prescribe antibiotics is for patient comfort, Dr. Sindwani says. The medical field used to be more convinced than it is today than untreated sinusitis would inevitably become a chronic issue, he says.

We dont think that way as much, he says. We dont know that an untreated acute sinusitis, if left untreated, will grumble along and cause people to have a chronic sinus infection.

Some people think thats two separate things, with chronic sinusitis more likely due to underlying issues like allergies or immune problems.

Read Also: Can An Infection In Your Tooth Spread

How Is Sinusitis Diagnosed

Often, your healthcare provider can diagnosis sinusitis based on your symptoms and a physical exam. Sometimes other tests are done. These may include:

• Cultures from the nose

• Sinus X-rays

• Sinus computed tomography . This imaging method uses X-rays and computer technology to make images of the body.

• Blood tests

Your healthcare provider will figure out the best care based on:

• How old you are

What Is The Best Treatment For Sinus Infection

For those who suffer chronic sinusitis, the symptoms of sinus infection are easily recognizable. Viral, fungal, and bacterial sinus infection symptoms can feel very similar. Because we share common symptoms, it is easy to believe that all sinus infections are the same and all sinus infections have similar treatments. The truth is, your sinus infection is unique and your treatment should be customized to meet your specific needs, achieve your individual goals, and fit within your budget.

The best treatment for your sinus infection is the one that is designed specifically for you. The most successful physicians understand this and take a comprehensive approach to design a treatment plan that makes use of a wide variety of tools. Depending on your health condition and your unique needs, these tools may include:

Read Also: Kidney And Bladder Infection At The Same Time

How Can I Stop Recurring Sinus Infections

Treatment for chronic sinus infections should be discussed with a doctor, but can include:

Lifestyle changes â Quitting smoking and limiting your exposure to allergens and pollution is extremely important if you suffer from recurrent sinusitis. These risk factors are particularly damaging for those who have damaged mucus membranes from repeated sinus infections. Getting an in-home air purifier or certain indoor plants is one way to purify your air at home if moving cities is not an option.

Antibioticsâ Antibiotics are the first line of treatment for bacterial sinus infections. Bacterial sinus infections are typically diagnosed by the length of time youâve had symptoms without improvement. Bacterial sinus infections tend to last longer than viral infections. A doctor will prescribe you antibiotics after diagnosing your sinus infection as bacterial.

Home remediesâ When antibiotics and traditional methods have failed and you still suffer from frequent sinus infections, various home remedies exist with a lot of anecdotal, and in some case research-based, evidence to back them up. Essential oils in particular have been studied for antimicrobial properties, which may be powerful tools in solving the problem of recurrent infection.

Nasal wash â washing nasal passages with a large volume of saltwater using something called a neti pot is one method recommended in conventional and alternative treatments for sinusitis. This process is also known as sinus irrigation.

Treatment For Sinus Infection

Whether you have an acute sinus infection or a chronic infection, a number of treatment options can relieve your discomfort. If youre in the early stage of an acute sinus infection, it may be appropriate to start at-home treatments while you monitor your symptoms. If your sinusitis worsens, youll need to call your doctor for medication and further care. Even if youre receiving treatment from your doctor, at-home care can help ease your symptoms.

You May Like: How Do Adults Get Ear Infections

Will My Recurring Sinus Infections Go Away Untreated

Human bodies are efficiently equipped to fight sinus infections and can use their natural healing processes to get rid of about 75% of all sinus infections. Most of the time it takes the body 7-10 days to get rid of a sinus infection naturally. However, for people suffering with recurring sinus infections the symptoms can feel never ending. Chronic sinusitis can also lead to greater long-term health implications, some of which may be severe.Severe conditions such as, abscesses or brain infections, are very rare but the normal symptoms still impact your everyday life:

Career Performance: Sinus symptoms like fatigue and pain can impact anyone’s career. The symptoms can cause a lack of focus and lead to bad performance, accidents, and career loss.

School Performance: Kids already have enough distractions to deal with at school so when they are sick their focus is almost nonexistent. A child with recurring sinus infections will struggle to focus and suffer academically.

Relationship Impact: Chronic sinus symptoms can also impact relationships. Sinusitis can make it complicated to focus on children, partners, or family members. This could put a strain on a relationship and lead to a myriad of problems.

Ingredients In Sinuvil Sinus Relief

Sinuvil Sinus Relief is a homeopathic medicine that contains active ingredients that are listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopeia of the United States .

Active Ingredients:Apis mellifica, Baptisia tinctoria, Colocynthis, Hepar sulphuris calcareum, Histaminum hydrochloricum, Hydrastis canadensis, Ignatia amara, Kali bichromicum, Lemna minor, Mercurius vivus, Pulsatilla, Rhus toxicodendron, Sabadilla, Thuja occidentalis.

• Temporary relief of symptoms due to inflamed sinuses
• Cold and flu nasal symptoms
• Sinus pain and headache

You May Like: Acv For Urinary Tract Infection

Avoiding Persistent Sinus Infections

In order to stop the development of a sinus infection from developing, there are some things you can do around the house. Here are some of the most common and easiest:

• Drink a lot of water. Again hydration is key here: your mucus membranes wont dry out as easily when youre hydrated.
• Regularly clean clothing and surfaces completely.On the one hand, this helps eliminate germs. But perhaps, more importantly, vacuuming, washing your sheets, and all that can help keep allergens away. Youll breathe a lot easier if theres a minimum of pet dander or dust on your sheets. So your sinuses wont get plugged as frequently.
• Run a humidifier when you can. This will help keep that dry air away.
• Wash your hands regularly. Its good hygiene, and it can help counter the spread of germs that are responsible for infections.
• Take a warm shower with plenty of steam! This will help rejuvenate or relieve those mucus membranes when youre coping with that dry air.

Will Sinus Infections Resolve If Left Untreated

Lingering sinus infections should be treated before they escalate into a more serious issue. If a sinus infection is untreated, it may begin to impact the surrounding areas: the eyes and brain.

Untreated sinus infections can result in orbital and intracranial complications. Orbital refers to an infection that moves from the sinus into the eye. It can even result in an abscess in the eye area, which threatens vision.

Intracranial infections refer to infection in the brain. These can ultimately progress to become a brain abscess or meningitis if left untreated.

Because the sinuses are located close to the eye and brain, the most serious complications of an untreated sinus infection affect these important structures.

You May Like: Antibiotics For Viral Sinus Infection

How Is Chronic Sinusitis Diagnosed

Chronic sinusitis is diagnosed when symptoms of a sinus infection have continued for more than 12 weeks. In some cases, your doctor may use an endoscope .

A CT scan or MRI could also be used to look for structural issues. Structural problems usually include a deviated nasal septum or polyps .

In very few cases, your provider might order a biopsy to see if the infection has spread. Biopsies involve taking tissue or bone samples to example under the microscope.