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Head & Sinus Congestion

All human beings have one thing in common. They get congested! Head and sinus congestion affects us during flu season, when the pollen count is high, and for other reasons that are beyond our control. There are ways to relieve the annoyance of congestion if we have chronic congestive ailments.

  1. All Stuffed Up

    • Head and sinus congestion, also called nasal congestion, are symptoms that usually accompany the common cold, the flu or allergies. They are caused by increased mucus production in nasal passages as the body fights off a particular virus or allergen. We all experience congestion in our lifetimes, but particular people are more prone than others. Congestion is often partnered with a stuffy, runny nose and head pain. Dizziness can also be a symptom and a person can feel like she is amidst fog.

    Sinus Specific Congestion

    • Sinus congestion can lead to sinus headaches or sinusitis, which many people have but do not often diagnose. The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, made up primarily of head and neck surgeons, say that more than 37 million Americans suffer from sinusitis each year. They experience facial pain and pressure, as well as nasal congestion and discharge. Most people treat these symptoms as normal head congestion associated with the common cold without seeking medical attention for sinusitis.

    Remedies for Common Congestion

    • Head congestion due to cold or flu can often be cured with natural remedies. The Health Cold Remedies organization recommends fluids, vitamins, chicken soup and rest. The same solutions can also be applied to those suffering from sinus congestion, but Medline Plus adds onto the list the options of a humidifier, steam, hot washcloth pressed to the face and a nasal spray.

    Further Congestion Treatment

    • If your head congestion does not cure itself within seven to 10 days, then additional steps may need to be taken, as it is possible for your cold symptoms to turn into acute bacterial sinusitis. Antibiotics will be needed at this point to prevent worsening of the infection, as well as nasal and oral decongestants to ease discomfort. Common Cold, Inc. states that, with the use of an antibiotic, acute bacterial sinusitis is 90 percent curable, but if left to its own devices it can lead to a number of undesirable illnesses, such as bacterial meningitis, brain abscess and chronic sinus disease.

    Relentless Congestion

    • For those plagued by sinusitis, sinus surgery has become more common in recent years. With the use of CT scans and X-rays, doctors can find the underlying cause of the persistent congestion and use various techniques to make the sinuses healthy. The American Academy of Otolaryngology lists a number of ways to perform surgeries. The surgeries can be performed by entering through the patient's nose to clear out the mucus (Functional endoscopic sinus surgery) or even through the patient's upper jaw (Caldwell Luc). Image guidance endoscopic surgery is becoming a popular option, as well.

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