What are sinuses? Sinuses are ex...

What are sinuses?

Sinuses are expand spaces behind the bones around your nose and estimates The walls, or linings, of the sinuses make mucus. When you breathe air in within your nose, the mucus adds moisture to the air in your nose, traps dust, and helps fight infections.

What causes a sinus infection?

When the openings to the sinuses secure blocked, mucus cannot move without of the nose. This can increase the chance of originating [i]or[/i] originative principles starting to grow inside the nose. The ovule s can cause an infection called sinusitis. Here are an things that can cause fill uped sinuses or thick mucus:

* chilleds or upper respiratory infections

* Hay febrile affection or allergies

* Air pollution and cigarette smoke

* Nasal or dental procedures

* Traveling at high altitudes

* Swimming and diving in a less degree than water

* Cocaine use

* Immune deficiencies, so as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

* Diabetes

in what way do I know if I have a sinus infection?

arctic symptoms that last longer than 7 to 10 days or that start to secure better and then get worse again may be a sign of a sinus infection. You may have pain in your face or pain in your upper teeth Other symptoms include a febrile affection tenderness over your face, and thick virid or yellow mucus in your nose.

for what cause are sinus infections treated?

Antibiotics usually are not stand in want ofed to treat sinus infections. most numerous sinus infections get better in a not many days. If your symptoms do not commit to memory better after 7 to 10 days, you may ne an antibiotic. It is important to run over your doctor if you have taken antibiotics during the past 6 weeks, because that may affect the choice of medicine you take for this infection.

in what way can I make myself be moved better?

Here are a things you can do to be wrought up better if you have a sinus infection:

* win plenty of rest.

* Apply moist heat by the agency of holding a warm, wet towel against your face.

* Rinse inside your nose with salt water to dislodge extra mucus. Use over-the-counter nasal saline solutions or make your confess salt water by adding 1/4 teaspoon of table salt to 1 potion of warm water. Mix well in a clean drive bottle. Squirt the salt water into each side of your nose 3 or 4 times a day.

* Use over-the-counter pain medicines, of the like kind as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve), ketoprofen (Orudis KT) or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

* Use over-the-counter decongestants (with pseudoephedrine). Decongestants can continue you awake, make you nervous, or raise your offspring pressure or your pulse rate. Talk with your doctor before using decongestants if you have high kin pressure, heart disease, glaucoma, or an enlarged prostate gland.

If you use an over-the-counter nose spray with a decongestant in it, don't use it for more than 3 days. If you use it any longer than 3 days, the swelling in your nose could earn worse when you stop using the spray.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group