What are sinuses? what is sinusitis?

There are 8 sinuses or cavities in the normal head,all of them are lined with mucus membranes and they are found about your nose,a little bit larger than a lead pencil these holes are found in the forehead,between the eyebrows, both sides of the nostrils and under the eyes.

Although healthy sinuses are sterile and contain no bacteria, they are potential sites for infections as mucus secretions are allowed to drain from them and air to circulate into the nasal passage.

Sinusitis is an uncommonly bad but all so common cold, characterized with inflamation of the sinus membranes that is caused by a virus/bacterial infection or by allegies.

When irritated, sinuses become blocked with mucus and can become infected.

To combat that, nature has a wonderful solution for it- we blow our nose to clear the snot!

This forcible expulsion of air through your nasal cavity creates a vacuum that sucks out the mucus from your sinuses.

Yearly,over 30 million people get acute sinusitis that lasts from 2-8 weeks or suffer from chronic sinusitis,whereby the symptoms linger a while longer than the acute attack.

When a sinusitis attack occurs,Imagine your sinuses as a roadway that becomes jammed with traffic that steadily builds up with nowhere to go.The irritated mucus membranes produce alot of mucus that become stagnated,and the pressure build up from this causes the pain and other symptoms associated with sinusitis, this in turn becomes a fertile breeding ground for bacteria or viruses.

That is the reason why sinusitis usually occurs after respiratory infections, such as colds or allergies.

When a cold doesnt get well or worsens after a week you may already have sinusitis, symptoms include:

1.Loss of smell and bad breathe

2.Fatigue and general maliase

3.Fever

4. Cough- usually worse at night

5.headaches brought about by pressure like pain behind the eyes and facial tenderness

6.Sore throat

7. Post nasal drip

8.Nasal congestion and nasal discharge

Most sinus infections respond well to medication but it is always prudent to prevent your sinuses from clogging up. here are some tips on how to do that.

1.Avoid Smoking- smoking inhibits the body's natural cleansing systems and it also irritates the mucus membranes.

2. Drink lots of liqiuds- No alcohol based drinks here as it will further irritate your mucus membranes. instead drink hot or cold liquids throughout the day, this will help thin out the mucus and makes it flow easier. Herbal teas usually helps too.

3.Press for pain relief- Massaging your painful sinuses usually brings relief and fresh blood into the affected areas. Press your thumbs firmly on both sides of your nose and hold it for a couple of seconds( 10-20 seconds does wonders)

4. Maintain a constant room temperature- Air conditioning usually makes the symptoms worse but maintaining a constant humidity level of 45 - 50 degrees helps alot.

5. Get a hot footbath- A hot footbath by itself is said to be effictive in opening up nasal passages.

Always remember to consult with your healthcare professionals if symptoms get worse or doesnt go away after a few days.