5 Tips for Sinus Health

Had enough with your stuffy nose and clogged sinuses? You’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are 29.4 million Americans who have been diagnosed with sinusitis.

Why are there so many people afflicted with this condition? This is partly due to the way our sinuses are constructed. Our nasal cavities contain mucus, which is good for the body because it traps and prevents bacteria from moving in.

However, when mucus does not drain as fast as it should, the nasal cavities clog up and pressure begins to build up. Once mucus is trapped inside the cavities, pain, pressure, and congestion begin to make their presence felt.

Waking up with a stuffy nose is one of the worst ways to start your day. However, you can prevent sinusitis from ruining the rest of your day (and your life) by doing the following five things:

Stay hydrated.

Drinking plenty of liquids ensures that the mucus produced in your sinuses flows smoothly. Drinking water helps thin out sticky mucus, making it easier to drain out of your nose.

Use a humidifier.

When the air becomes too dry, the mucus in your nose does not drain as well as it should, which will further irritate an already-inflamed sinus. Having a humidifier installed in the bedroom or living room keeps the sinuses moist. This machine turns water into moisture and increases the humidity level of a room, making it easier to breathe the air in.

Get help from nasal aids.

There are plenty of stuff you can buy from medical supplies stores and drugstores to help relieve your sinus, such as saline sprays, neti pots, decongestants, and antihistamines.

Know when to see a doctor.

If home remedies no longer work, it’s time to see a doctor to find out the root cause behind your sinus problems. It can be due to a deviated septum or nasal polyps. Whatever may be the cause, consulting with a sinus doctor allows you to seek more effective sinus treatments.

If your sinusitis is chronic, a more in-depth treatment such as a minimally invasive surgery may be needed to achieve long-term relief.

Undergo balloon sinuplasty.

One such surgery is called balloon sinuplasty. The surgery begins with a Los Angeles sinus doctor putting a balloon inside your nose using a catheter. Once inside, the balloon is inflated to push open the walls of your sinuses. A saline spray is used to flush out the mucus and soothe the inflamed tissue. Once the sinuses are all clear, the balloon is removed from the nose.

Because it is less painful than traditional sinus surgery, balloon sinuplasty can be done as an in-office or outpatient medical procedure. Recovery and healing times are also quicker than traditional sinus surgery. In fact, most of my patients here at the Institute were able to go home the same day and were able to return to normal activity within two days after surgery.

With these many options available, you can find the treatment that best works for you so that you can breathe freely again and go through life like a normal person would.