Standard Process For Remedy of Sinus Congestion

Sinus congestion can be caused by a bacterial infection or allergies. The cause of your sinus congestion will determine how it is treated by your doctor. Therefore, typically, the first line of defense in remedying sinus congestion is to get a proper diagnosis. This is followed by using the appropriate treatments as recommended by your doctor.

Causes of Sinus Congestion

• The sinuses are moisturized air pockets, or cavities, within the bones of your face. Your frontal sinuses are located behind your eyebrows; the ethmoid sinuses are between your eyes; the sphenoid sinuses lie behind your ethmoid sinuses; and, finally, your maxillary sinuses are near the inside of each cheekbone. When you are healthy, your sinuses are filled with air. However, when you are congested, the sinuses become filled with mucus, increasing the chance for the development of a bacterial infection.

  Diagnosing sinus congestion and infection depends upon feeling the sinuses for pressure. If you are experiencing symptoms, such as a stuffy nose, pressure behind the eyes, or discomfort in the other sinus points, your doctor will examine your sinus pressure points as the first step in your line of treatment.

Bacterial Sinus Congestion

• Bacterial sinus congestion is normally caused by the common cold. If the mucus from a cold can be eliminated from your body, you can usually treat yourself using an over-the-counter decongestant. However, if the cold becomes worse and you are unable to clear the mucus from your sinuses, you may need to make an appointment to see your doctor. When mucus cannot be eliminated from the sinuses, it becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, often resulting in sinusitis.

  Sinusitis is a bacterial infection of the sinuses that must be treated with an antibiotic. A diagnosis of sinusitis is dependent upon the symptoms of the patient. The common symptoms associated with sinusitis include: a fever of 102 degrees or higher, bad breath, a headache, mucus discharge from the nose, a persistent cough that has lasted 10 to 14 days, pain in different areas of the face and teeth, and swelling in certain areas of the face where the sinuses are located.

  To treat sinusitis, doctors will prescribe an antibiotic to combat the infection. Normally, the antibiotic will have to be taken for a course of a few weeks. An over-the-counter decongestant may also be recommended.

Sinus Congestion and Allergies

• Allergies can cause a great deal of sinus congestion as well. Even when caused by allergies, though, if the mucus is not able to be eliminated from the body, the blocked sinuses filled with mucus become a breeding ground for bacteria. This can then result in sinusitis. Therefore, you should be sure to take an over-the-counter or prescription allergy medication when you feel the presence of sinus congestion. If your medication does not seem to be working and symptoms become worse, you see your doctor.