How to Prevent Sinus Problems – Part 2

by Dr Chen Tai Ho | Feb 18, 2015

Hi everyone, hope you are all enjoying the Chinese New Year holidays with your family and friends. In my previous post, I wrote about the causes of sinus infections and pains, and how to prevent them. You can read the original post by clicking here.

Today, I will continue to look at potential causes and ways to avoid them. Read on to find out more!

Dry Air

If the air surrounding you lacks moisture or is very dry in general, this may be the start of potential sinusitis. This is because mucus becomes stuck in the nasal passageways for extended periods of time, and the dryness of the air will cause it to thicken due to gradual water loss. When it hardens, it will block your sinuses and cause discomfort or even pain. You can prevent this by ensuring your nose gets as much moisture as possible. Drink plenty of water or other liquids, but do avoid caffeinated beverages. To keep the air indoors moist, you can use an air humidifier – this should help immensely.

Dry air can quickly clog up your sinuses (pic from medicinabih.info)

Flying

When travelling abroad, chances are that most people will opt for a flight as it is the quickest way to get from point A to point B; however, this could potentially affect your sinuses. As the plane goes higher, the in-flight cabin air pressure will reduce which in turn builds up the pressure in your head. This might result in your sinuses becoming blocked, as well as your air passageways, giving rise to symptoms associated with colds. You are most likely to suffer from this during take-off or landing, so be wary! Missing your flight is not an option, so try using a nasal drop or inhaler to clear your sinuses before the flight – this might save you several hours of being miserable.

The reduced air pressure during a flight may affect your sinuses (pic from yahoo.com)

Polyps

You may be wondering “What are polyps?” These are little growths that may develop from the tissue of your nose or sinuses, and may potentially cause the sinus passages to become congested and blocked. This prevents the drainage or mucus which may eventually result in sinus infection. The growths are benign, but are a nuisance and they may even constrict air passageways, resulting in less air entering your body, giving away to headaches. If you have polyps, you can treat this with a nasal spray or even steroids administered orally. If the problems persist, surgery may be required. Do check with your doctor to find out the root of the problem.

Nasal sprays may help alleviate sinus problems caused by polyps (pic from womensbrainhealth.org)

Other General Methods of Prevention

If you are susceptible to random bouts of sinus infections without any knowledge of what causes it, you may want to try the following to prevent it as best as possible:

Breathe in steam (you can do this by leaving the hot water in the shower running)
Cleanse your nose with saltwater solution (similar to when you have a blocked nose)
Wash your face with a cloth that has been soaked in warm water
Use a saline nasal spray a few times daily

Hopefully these tips will help to prevent further bouts of sinus infections and pain. They may be a nuisance, but the good news is that it’s not something that cannot be prevented. Until next time, stay healthy!

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How to Prevent Sinus Problems – Part 2

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