By Hadley Gavin
When you have a sinus infection, you w ill feel facial pain, pressure, and discomfort. If you are like some people, you may think that if you have unclear sinus drainage, you have a sinus infection. However, this is not the case since the majority of common cold viruses may also cause yellow or green coloring to the drainage. Sinus infection symptoms can include sinus pressure, runny or stuffy nose, discolored nasal drainage, fever, headache, tooth pain, bad breath, and others. If you think you have a sinus infection, below are some treatment options you can consider:
Over-the-Counter (OTC) Remedies
Typically, any OTC medicines used for colds can also help in treating a sinus infection. This is because viruses cause more than 80 percent of symptoms. OTC remedies such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol work well for symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle aches, and sore throat. Cough drops or throat sprays can also help with post-nasal drip symptoms.
Antihistamine
Antihistamines like Claritin, Sudafed, and Zyrtec can provide relief for sinus infection symptoms. Although such medicines specifically target allergy symptoms, these symptoms can be similar to the symptoms of sinus infections. Thus, antihistamines are worth trying.
Sinus Rinses
Sinus rinses work well for nasal congestion that includes one from allergies, sinus infections, or cold. They help with nasal irrigation and clear sinus drainage from the nose so that you can easily breathe and feel less stuffy. Also, they also thin the mucus and let the nose’s natural defenses clear the nasal discharge, flushing out any potential irritants or allergens. Saline rinses require the use of sterile water that you can boil or buy.
Antibiotics
A lot of patients seek medical treatment sooner instead of later as the symptoms of their sinus congestion are not comfortable. However, because the majority of sinus infections are caused by viruses, antibiotics are usually not recommended for treatment. However, it can be necessary to take antibiotics if you have more concerning symptoms that last longer than ten days, especially if you have a high fever. Because resistance rates to antibiotics are climbing, you must use antibiotics as a sinus infection treatment only when necessary.
Aromatherapy
This is a natural sinus infection treatment. It can involve the use of scents such as peppermint and eucalyptus that can potentially help in opening up the respiratory tract. You can put these essential oils into the humidifier in your home to diffuse the scent.
