If having personal experience with sinus problems qualifies you to speak to the topic, I’m basically a medical doctor. All joking aside — I’ve suffered from regular sinus infections for as long as I can remember. Ask anyone else who deals with this and they’ll tell you, it’s a frustrating and unfair condition that can take you out for weeks at a time. I’ve been to both allergists and ENTs, and over the years I’ve learned a few good techniques that have helped me bounce back from extreme allergies and also minimize my cold symptoms when I have a virus. So keep this list handy for that moment when you feel a sore throat coming on, and stay well my friends!
featured image by pauly pholwises
image from fashionmenow
Take a shower and stay indoors.
The toughest thing about sinus problems is that we often don’t know what’s really causing them. So implementing a strategy of elimination is key to figuring out how to get well fast. If seasonal allergies are the culprit, then taking a shower and making a conscious effort to stay indoors will provide some relief.
image via webhostuniversity
Stop what you’re doing and get a good night’s sleep.
When you’re not getting enough sleep, you’re much more susceptible to contagious bugs and viruses because your immune system is weakened. Even if you’ve already caught a cold that you can feel in your head and throat, your symptoms will be much less severe if you stop what you’re doing and get a good night’s sleep.
image via countryliving
Try the neti pot.
Other cultures have been using the neti pot for centuries, but this ancient method of nasal irrigation has only recently caught on in the US. The neti looks like a little ceramic tea pot, and you use fill it with warm water and special salt to gently rinse your sinus passages. As a longtime sinus sufferer, the neti pot has been nothing short of life changing for me. The neti can’t prevent you from catching a cold or flu, but’s it’s very very good at staving off sinus infections and relieving sinus pressure when you’re already suffering from sinus congestion.
image from lazypacific
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
Staying hydrated is always important, but it’s especially crucial when your body is dealing with a virus or allergies. Drinking plenty of fluids can help prevent colds and allergies from turning into sinuses infections. OTC allergy medications and antihistamines are notorious for their dehydrating side effects, so if you’re taking any of those medications you’ll need to consume more water than usual. And if what’s got you feeling down ends up being the flu (gasp!) staying hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to take good care of yourself.
Make a bowl of Camille’s magical turmeric soup.
Turmeric powder contains curcumin, an active ingredient with powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. So Camille’s recipe for turmeric chicken soup isn’t just delicious — it’s also a healing remedy, too. A bowl of this soup followed by an early bedtime is a good recipe for getting well soon.
image via pinterest
Make a doctor’s appointment.
During flu season, it’s especially good to check in with your GP if you start feeling really sick. Over 35,000 people die from the flu every year in the United States, and they’re not all elderly people. Younger people sometimes make the mistake of ignoring worsening symptoms instead of going to the doctor or ER. Regardless of what’s causing your sinus problems, your doctor can help you figure out the best way to treat your symptoms and make sure you’re on the path to recovery.
