How to Prevent Sinus Infections

Sinus infections are fairly common and easy to treat. While a host of medicinal, surgical and herbal remedies exist, the best way to fight sinus infections is to take steps to prevent them from occurring.

Things You'll Need

• Humidifier
• Electrostatic filters
• Water
• Steam treatments

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Instructions

• 1

  Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. This can help to keep plenty of moisture within your body and to ease the drainage of mucous that's commonly associated with sinus infections.

• 2

  Use an electric humidifier to moisten the air in your home. Breathing dry air can add to the pain and discomfort of sinus infections. Your sinuses will be able to drain more completely when the air is full of moisture.

• 3

  Attach electrostatic filters to your air conditioning vents. These specially designed filters can prevent allergens from being circulated throughout your home.

• 4

  Avoid chemicals or environmental elements that can irritate your sinuses. Stay away from pollen or cigarette smoke. Avoid cleaning chemicals that can aggravate the inner linings of your sinuses.

• 5

  Limit your alcohol intake. Even modest amounts of alcohol can cause swelling within the sinus membranes. Once these tender linings have been inflamed, you'll be much more susceptible to sinus infections.

• 6

  Treat any symptoms of the common cold as soon as possible. One illness can quickly lead to another. Drink plenty of fluids, eat chicken soup and spend plenty of time relaxing in bed to keep a common cold from developing into a sinus infection.

• 7

  Travel by car when possible to limit your time on airplanes. The pressure changes in an airplane's ascent and descent can cause pain within your sinuses and can lead to the clogging of the Eustachian tubes that connect your ears to the pharynx. Use inhalers or decongestant nasal sprays when you must fly.

• 8

  Stay out of the pool. Chlorine and other chemicals found in pools can cause harm to your sinuses and contribute to infections.

• 9

  Limit your diary intake. While delicious and nutritious, dairy products can thicken mucous within your sinuses and create drainage problems. In turn, this can contribute to headaches and sinus pressure.

• 10

  Give yourself regular steam treatments to help break up sinus congestion. For extra healing power, try infusing some herbal remedies, such as eucalyptus, peppermint or garlic, into your treatment plan.

• 11

  Try to avoid exposing yourself to extreme climates. Exceptionally hot or cold weather can irritate the sinuses, leading to the development of sinus infections. Sudden temperature changes are especially harmful.