How to Prevent Sinus Problems – Part 1
by Dr Chen Tai Ho | Feb 18, 2015
Hi everyone, Chinese New Year is nearly upon us and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our Chinese friends a Happy New Year!
For today’s topic, I would like to tackle the issue of sinus pains. These can often strike unannounced and out of the blue, creating a painful sensation in the air spaces behind the cheekbones, between the eyes or in the forehead. Read on to find out more.
The Common Cold
No one is entirely sure what your sinuses are for but we all know what it feels like when they are infected. One of the most prevalent causes of this pain is the common cold. As colds are caused by viruses, this results in the nasal tissue swelling up. Because of this, the passageways that are usually utilised by the body to drain your sinuses will become blocked. This is not something antibiotics can treat as they are only used to kill bacteria, not viruses. The only real way to prevent this is similar to what you would do to prevent a cold – washing your hands, not hanging around with people that have colds, or even getting a flu jab!
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| Colds often trigger sinus infections (pic from chicagonow.com) |
Allergies or Hay Fever
Allergies and hay fever can also trigger sinus infections; this is due to inflammation which can block the nasal passageways. As mentioned above, this disrupts the draining process and can result in sinus pains. If you are aware of what causes your allergies, avoid them! You should also avoid areas which may have plenty of dust mites, mould, pollen, dander or other similar allergens. Clean up your living environment regularly to ensure these do not build up; this will reduce the chances of suffering from an infected sinus.
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| Allergies can inflame your sinuses (pic from livehealthyosu.com) |
Swimming
Swimming and diving are an example of an outdoor activity that may trigger your sinus problems as well. Swimming pools are disinfected and kept clean with chlorine, but this may end up being a problem for individuals that regularly suffer from blocked sinuses or infections. You should try not to spend an extended period of time in the water as your nasal lining could become infected, leading to pains and discomfort. Similarly, diving into a pool has its problems as well. Depending on the height you dive from, the pressure might end up forcing some of the water into your sinus, which may cause irritation or inflammation.
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| The chlorine in pools can trigger sinus reactions (pic from therainmakerblog.com) |
Smoking
Yes, this can affect your sinuses as well. The smoke tends to damage the sinus system which is designed to clean naturally. If you smoke, there will be more impurities and foreign substances which will clog up and block these passageways, giving rise to sinus pains. You may want to avoid those cigarettes and cigars, especially if you find yourself suffering from sinus pains more than usual.
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| Smoking doesn’t just affect your lungs! (pic from cityam.com) |
In my next post, I will continue talking about this issue as it is a common one, and more people should know about the causes. Sinuses can make or break a day, so be sure to read the next part. Till next time!
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