Prevention of sinusitis: in adults at home, traditional medicine

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses always begins suddenly. First, a runny nose, and when it is neglected, the development of sinusitis. And measures that include the prevention of sinusitis in adults and children will save you from the consequences of the disease. You need to know about it in detail so that sinus inflammation does not recur and does not become chronic.

Sinusitis is classified as one of the types of sinusitis, when inflammation spreads to the sinuses located on both sides of the nose in the maxillary bones.

The cavities communicate through narrow passages with the nose. They are lined with epithelium and serve to:

equalize the pressure between the cavities inside the skull and the atmosphere;
humidify the air moving further into the bronchi and lungs;
participate in voice formation.

Typically, sinusitis begins with a runny nose that occurs against the background of respiratory diseases or influenza.

Its occurrence is provoked by anomalies in the structure of the nasal septum and the proliferation of adenoids. Any untreated infection from the nasal cavity spreads to the maxillary sinuses. Usually those who suffer from this are those who do not think about the prevention and treatment of sinusitis.

Complications of sinusitis

Since the borders of the maxillary sinuses pass next to the bones of the orbit, the infection can spread to the organ of vision, causing the appearance of conjunctivitis and osteoperiostitis.

The nerves passing through the maxillary sinuses are also susceptible to infection. And their defeat is just a matter of time.

After sinusitis, inflammation of the meninges in the form of meningitis, meningoencephalitis, and brain abscess can also be a complication.

From the maxillary sinuses, inflammation penetrates into the bones of the upper jaws, leading to their destruction, hence osteomyelitis and periostitis.

To avoid serious complications of sinusitis, measures must be taken to prevent it.

How to prevent the development of sinusitis with a runny nose?

When they catch a cold, they don’t think about its consequences and take treatment lightly. But rhinitis is not considered a serious problem, arguing that whether you treat it or don’t treat it, it will go away in a week. This is where the danger lies, especially for a child.

To prevent swelling and purulent substrate from occurring in the maxillary sinus, follow the doctor’s simple recommendations:

To cleanse the nose of accumulated secretions, bacteria and viruses, the cavity is washed with isotonic or hypertonic solutions: Aquamaris, No-salt, as well as saline, taking a teaspoon of table salt per glass of boiled water. It is useful to rinse the cavities with an infusion of spring primrose. It is prepared from ten grams of raw materials per glass of hot water.
At the early stage of rhinitis, it is necessary to eliminate swelling of the nasal mucosa and restore natural breathing. Effective vasoconstrictor drugs are nasal drops for children or sprays - Nazivin, Sanorin, Nazol. But they should be used no more than five days.

Prevention of sinusitis with a runny nose includes warming up, which gives results at the initial stage of inflammation and at normal body temperature. Heated bags of salt and millet are placed on the area of the affected sinuses, and a hot boiled egg is applied. Foot baths with the addition of mustard powder will help prevent sinusitis.
If the appearance of a runny nose is associated with viral infections, then after the addition of a bacterial infection, swelling and inflammation spread to all the paranasal sinuses. If the immune system is weakened, taking vitamins and eating a balanced diet will stop the infection. Among medications, Sinupret and Imudon strengthen the immune system.
For the treatment of colds, rhinitis, and the initial stage of sinusitis in a child, inhalations over boiled potatoes and infusions of herbs - chamomile, mint and linden flowers - are relevant. Traditional methods include inhaling the vapors of onion and garlic juice. Oregano powder, which is snorted every day, relieves symptoms of a runny nose.
During severe nasal congestion, instilling aloe juice three times a day will help; for children, Kalanchoe.

Every adult knows how to avoid sinusitis when signs of a cold appear. All that remains is to apply them, saving yourself and your loved ones from infection.

Fighting viruses and bacteria

To prevent infection from entering the sinuses, not only antiviral agents are used. Often a runny nose occurs like a cold. Characterized by fever, weakness, and headaches. To reduce intoxication it is necessary:

When the body temperature is above 38 degrees.

It is advisable to take an antipyretic: one tablet of aspirin or paracetamol or powder form ( Fervex, Theraflu, Antigrippin

At low-grade fever (below 38).

You should refrain from such drugs, allowing your immune system to fight the infection. But it can be helped by strengthening the walls of blood vessels and reducing their permeability, thereby reducing the production of secretions in the nasal cavity.

Vitamin “C” copes with this very well, helping in the prevention of sinusitis. The daily dose of ascorbic acid for adults with a runny nose is 200 mg; additionally, fresh fruits and berries with vitamin C are recommended: citrus fruits, black currants, rose hips.

To prevent complications and effectively fight infection, nasal drops containing interferon are used, these are Grippferon, Genferon, Interferon, Nazoferon

. Natural antiseptics that have been proven over the years: onions and garlic have an excellent effect.

For young children,
we recommend protargol - drops with silver ions.

How to prevent sinusitis and rhinitis?

During the period of seasonal colds and flu, prevention of sinusitis at home is carried out taking into account simple rules. It is important to form competent behavior for those who have already encountered the problem of acute sinusitis. General measures to prevent inflammation of the maxillary sinuses include special requirements:

Hypothermia is one of the ways a viral infection spreads. You should not show off in winter without a hat and with an open neck. In severe frosts, you need to cover your ears and forehead to avoid catching a cold.
The risk group for sinusitis includes those who have a weakened immune system. Gradual hardening, contrast showers and water procedures lead to strengthening the immune system. And physical education, sports, and visiting the pool will make a person strong and resilient.

When epidemic outbreaks of influenza and ARVI arise, they begin to take preventive measures. And you need to pay attention to the possibility of complications in advance. You can protect yourself from the unpleasant consequences of sinusitis by timely vaccination against infections.
Prevention of sinusitis includes timely treatment of infections of the oral cavity, teeth, and upper respiratory tract.
Include black elderberry flower tea in your diet every day.
The functions of the maxillary sinuses are impaired if the humidity in the room is minimal. It is necessary to avoid drying out the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. From them. Increase indoor humidity through regular cleaning and use of store-bought appliances. A vase of water placed in the room will saturate the air with moisture vapor.

Simple steps in the timely treatment of rhinitis, sinusitis, and its prevention will help you stay healthy for a long time and not experience discomfort while breathing and communicating with others.

Relevance of the problem

Sinusitis is one of those diseases that are not age-selective and can develop in people of absolutely any age.

If the problem already exists, then it is too late to talk about starting any kind of prevention. But if a person has a tendency to frequent colds against the background of a low immune status, then he should take care to prevent the development of sinusitis.

It is important to remember that sinusitis is not a banal runny nose, which can arise spontaneously and also disappear spontaneously, but a serious disease that requires due attention.

Below we will consider the main and most important aspects, without which, the prevention of sinusitis will become a pointless exercise and will not bring the expected result.

Steps to Prevent Sinusitis in Children

Chronic runny nose in children is a common occurrence, the result of hypothermia in the child. While walking, children’s feet get wet and they don’t tie their hats or scarves well. And when visiting children's institutions, the infection hovers in the air, getting into children's organisms that are weak in terms of immunity.

With chronic inflammation of the tonsils, proliferation of adenoids, curvature of the nose and its septum, sinusitis develops more often.

To prevent swelling of the paranasal cavities, you must:

teach your child to wash their hands before eating and after walking;
during flu epidemics and the off-season, rinse the nasal cavity with saline solutions;
put basic hygiene rules into children's heads, which include using only their own items for washing, combing and eating.

Irritation of the maxillary sinus by exogenous or endogenous factors is manifested by inflammation -. Against the background of pathological disorders, the tissue structure of the mucous membrane changes, nasal drainage is disrupted, so it is more difficult to relieve the disease than ordinary rhinitis.

How to prevent sinusitis with a runny nose? Prevention of damage to the maxillary sinuses consists of preventive measures during the cold season, timely treatment and treatment of respiratory diseases.

They communicate with the nasal cavity through excretory canals, which close when damaged, causing an inflammatory process

. The increased amount of serous discharge does not find a way out and begins to accumulate in the maxillary projections.

The accumulation of mucus creates favorable conditions for the reproduction and development of pathogenic microflora

The edematous-catarrhal process covers the periosteum and the bone itself. In the absence of adequate therapy, inflammation spreads to the submucosal layer and bone walls of the maxillary cavity. So the catarrhal stage of the pathology migrates to a chronic or purulent form

Important!
Based on the location, sinusitis is differentiated into unilateral and bilateral.

There are several factors that violate the integrity of the maxillary sinus:

epithelial hypertrophy;
deformation of the nasal septum;
viruses and bacteria.

A characteristic sign of sinusitis

is a systematic pain syndrome in the projection of the forehead, zygomatic region and temporal part. Unpleasant sensations intensify when tilting the head or palpation.

As rhinitis progresses, patients may experience increased lacrimation and swelling in the nose and eyeballs

The overall clinical picture is complemented by

runny nose, nasal congestion, increased body temperature and intoxication of the body.

Development of the disease

Causes of sinusitis

Allergic reactions often cause sinusitis.
In frequent cases, when a disease occurs, the cause may be an infection that enters the nasal cavity through breathing or blood. It is also possible to identify several primary conditions during which breathing through the nose is disrupted. Some of the root causes include:

Anatomical change (deviated nasal septum);
Hypertrophic rhinitis (enlarged turbinates);
Vasomotor rhinitis;
Allergic disease of the nose;
Adenoids.

Experts warn that untimely or inadequate treatment of acute respiratory infections, colds, and rhinitis can cause complications such as sinusitis.

When taking a swab from the patient’s nose, he often has staphylococcus, which has long been established in the nasopharynx. If the patient is not diagnosed, he will never know that he is a carrier of the bacteria. For some time, these pests may not cause damage to health at all. But if you suffer from a common cold, staphylococcus activates and exhibits its pathogenic properties.

Symptoms of the disease

With sinusitis, an increased temperature is observed.
As signs of sinusitis, one can note the appearance of pain in the patient in the nasal area and in the adnexal region, which gradually increases. The pain is least pronounced in the morning, and it worsens in the evening. Then the patient cannot determine exactly where the unpleasant sensations arise, and a headache begins. If the process is unilateral, then pain is expressed on one side.

The patient suffers from a constant runny nose. In this case, a transparent mucous or purulent yellow or green discharge is observed. When the nose is too stuffy, this symptom does not occur.

With sinusitis, an increased temperature of up to 38 degrees is observed, often higher. This temperature occurs when the patient is susceptible to acute sinusitis. When the form is chronic, an increase in temperature does not always occur.

The patient feels unwell, which is expressed in weakness. Then the person refuses to eat, and sleep disturbance occurs.

Basically, treatment of sinusitis is carried out using conventional pharmacological agents, which are necessarily prescribed by the attending physician after diagnosis. Also appropriate in this case, treatment is rinsing the paranasal sinuses, but no puncture is required. It is performed when there is severe nasal discharge or pain.

To date, laser therapy has proven its effectiveness, eliminating the inflammatory process and enhancing drug treatment.

How to prevent sinusitis at an early stage

The edematous-catarrhal process can develop asymptomatically for a long time

. This fact explains the anatomical structure of the respiratory organ. The walls of the maxillary sinus are lined with ciliated epithelium with a low concentration of goblet cells, choroid plexuses and nerve endings.

Diagnosis of sinusitis at the initial stage is complicated by similar symptoms to respiratory diseases

To reduce the risk of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses, it is necessary to create unfavorable conditions for irritants. Effective therapeutic and preventive measures come down to comprehensive recommendations.

Nasal rinsing

Mechanical cleansing of the paranasal sinuses helps remove accumulations of nasal secretions and foreign agents, improves the outflow of muconasal secretions, moisturizes the epithelium, and enhances the therapeutic properties of pharmacological products.

The procedure is performed using preparations based on isotonic and hypertonic solutions ("", "Humera", "No-Salts"), mineral-herbal complex "" or (1 tbsp. water + 1 tsp salt).

Elimination of puffiness

Sympathomimetic drugs will help to avoid sinusitis. The pharmacological series is represented by "", "Sanorin", "", "Nazol", "". The active components act on alpha-adrenergic receptors, providing an anti-edematous and vasoconstrictor effect

The drugs relieve rhinorrhea, reduce hyperemia, and restore natural breathing through the nose.

Important!
In view of the possibility of developing tachyphylaxis, nasal adrenergic agonists are prescribed in a short course of 3 to 5 days.

Medicinal plants and herbs make you feel better and speed up the healing process.

Exposure to heat

Warming up will be effective in the early stages of sinusitis

. A prerequisite for carrying out manipulations is natural body temperature and the absence of a bacterial form of the disease.

The essence of the procedure is to activate blood microcirculation, accelerate the course of the inflammatory process, and quickly recover. Heat sessions are carried out at home using food products

: , foot baths with the addition of mustard powder.

Formation of immunoresistance

With a weakened immune system, the body's defenses are unable to repel the attack of pathogenic agents

. The functional activity of immunocytes can be increased by creating homeostasis of the internal microflora.

A healthy lifestyle and proper nutrition will help prevent the progression of inflammation of the maxillary sinuses. You need to start with your diet. The menu should be balanced, with a minimum content of carbohydrates and fatty foods.

Preference is given to lean meats, greens, fruits and vegetables, and whole grains. To compensate for the lack of nutrients, a vitamin complex is prescribed

Helps improve local immunity

. It helps prevent stagnation and the spread of edema to healthy tissues, and improve blood microcirculation.

Relieves congestion, facilitates nasal breathing, massage of acupressure points

Immunomodulatory drugs increase the resistance of immune cells

"Sinupret", "Immudon", "IRS-19".

The effect of pharmaceutical products is due to an increase in phagocytic activity, an increase in the production of blood cells responsible for plasma circulation in tissues to form immune defense against irritants.

Dosage forms are indicated for infections of the upper respiratory tract of an infectious-inflammatory nature. To achieve positive dynamics, a course of up to 10-14 days is prescribed, with a dosage of 1 tablet every 2-3 hours, for prevention - 1 sachet every 4 hours.

For reference!
A runny nose at an early stage is suppressed by antiviral drugs “Interferon”, “Nazoferon”, homeopaths “Vibrukol”, “Immunal”.

Reducing swelling and nasal irrigation

The next way is to reduce swelling and prevent occlusion of the canals, leading to sinusitis. The cause of edema is the expansion of capillaries, the effusion of blood plasma into the interstitial spaces. To prevent this from happening, vasoconstrictor drugs are needed. It is preferable to choose them in the form of sprays - in this form it is easier to choose the right dose.

It is important not to forget that the maximum course of treatment with them is no more than 7 days
, otherwise addiction to the drug may occur. Its further use is not only useless, but can also cause harm in the form of drying out of the mucous membrane.

The choice of vasoconstrictors is very large; they can be short, medium and long acting.

Drugs from the first group act for no more than 4–6 hours, these are Sanorin, Naphthyzin, Tizin;
For a longer period, up to 10 hours, the effect is observed when Rinorus, Rinostop, Galazolin, Xilen are instilled;
Nazol and Nazivin have the longest vasoconstrictive effect, 12–13 hours, they are used no more than 2 times a day for 3–4 days;
For children with a threat of sinusitis, peach or, which has an additional antiviral effect, is recommended.

Nasal rinsing.
The most important way to escape from sinusitis is to cleanse the nasal cavity of its contents. The freer the nasal cavity is, the less likely it is to develop sinusitis. For this purpose, rinsing with various solutions is used, the most useful are saline ones.

Such procedures can be easily carried out at home, 2-3 times a day until recovery. It is better to use sea salt (1 teaspoon per liter of warm water), but regular salt with the addition of 2 drops of iodine will do.

Warm compress.

You can avoid sinusitis with the help of a lot of folk recipes. For example, a napkin soaked in a warm decoction of bay leaves is applied to the bridge of the nose 3 times a day, the course is 6 days. Or mix beet juice with honey 5:1 and drop it into the nose 3-4 times a day, 5-7 days.

Painful sensations in the temples often accompany the disease

The appearance of an inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses is called sinusitis. In the majority of cases, the disease occurs after suffering a secondary runny nose or a common cold, which at one time were untimely or not completely cured. But besides a runny nose and colds, there is another reason: poor condition of the teeth (in particular the upper ones). The course of the disease is characterized by nasal congestion and accumulation of mucus in the nose. Over time, pus begins to be released.

As a rule, the following symptoms are observed with sinusitis:

Feelings of heaviness in the head;
Loss or deterioration of sense of smell;
Soreness in the bridge of the nose and temples;
Increased temperature (up to 37-38 degrees).

In addition, the patient may complain of memory impairment, fatigue and decreased performance.

It is also worth noting that untimely treatment of sinusitis at the initial stage passes into the next form, a more complex one - purulent, which in turn provokes the appearance of other serious diseases.

Prevention of sinusitis using traditional methods

It is possible to stop the inflammatory process of the mucous membrane at the stage of acute rhinitis with the help of natural plant and food components. Steam inhalations have not lost their relevance

over hot potatoes or a decoction of medicinal herbs (chamomile, linden, mint), inhaling volatile onions and garlic.

Local therapy relieves the symptoms of rhinorrhea, facilitates the removal of sputum, reduces inflammation and swelling of soft tissues, and moisturizes the mucous membrane. Essential oils, juniper, pine, and menthol will be effective for a runny nose.

Vitaminized nasal drops help combat immunosuppression

.
To cleanse the nasal cavity of harmful toxins and speed up the epithelization process, 2-3 drops of agave juice are instilled into each adnexal cavity three times a day
for
up to 10 days
.

The presence of vitamins and amino acids inhibits the synthesis of pathogenic microorganisms and stimulates the production of immune cells.

Resistance to pathogenic agents is increased by vegetable juices made from carrots, beets, and honey.

. Treatment of the mucous membrane with garlic infusion will help cope with the symptoms of rhinitis.

An unconventional technique is a complement to conservative treatment of rhinitis

, acts as a preventive measure at the initial stage of inflammation of the upper respiratory tract.

When natural components interact with the body, an allergic reaction may develop.

. Before using the recipe, it is necessary to determine the sensitivity of the component to the components with a test dose.

Chamomile decoction will be effective in treating the initial stage of sinusitis.

Treating inflammation of the maxillary sinuses is more difficult than following general recommendations for preventing colds:

observe drinking regime;
monitor the condition of your teeth;
avoid overheating and hypothermia;
systematically carry out wet cleaning in the house;
maintain personal hygiene;
carry out vaccinations in a timely manner.

Business cards of the disease

1. Severe runny nose, malaise, fever

. The nature of the runny nose may change, especially when pus forms in the sinus. The feeling of nasal congestion goes away, but copious discharge appears, sometimes with an unpleasant odor. Often the discharge from one nostril predominates.

2. Headache and pain in the face.

It has its own distinctive features. In the afternoon, when the swelling of the nasal mucosa and the accumulation of pus in the maxillary sinuses increase, the headache noticeably intensifies. Sometimes in the evening the headache hurts so much that you can’t fall asleep without taking analgesics. Often the pain intensifies if you tilt your head forward. At the same time, an unpleasant feeling of heaviness in the face, especially in the cheeks and nose, increases. Sometimes it seems that the head is a vessel filled with water.

Find and neutralize

Sinusitis is very dangerous: purulent inflammation develops very close to the brain.

If the course of the disease is unfavorable, pus can penetrate from the maxillary sinuses into the surrounding tissues, affecting the orbit, teeth, and nerves passing nearby. In the most severe cases, the inflammatory process spreads to the meninges. The first task is to ensure the outflow of pus and free the maxillary sinuses. In order for the natural “window” between the nasal cavity and the maxillary sinus to open, the doctor inserts a special instrument into the nasal cavity, expands the closed hole - makes a “puncture”. The procedure is performed under anesthesia. Sometimes you have to do several punctures for a complete cure.

With this manipulation, you can not only clear the sinuses of pus, but also inject medications into them.

In recent years, special vacuum devices have been used to clean the maxillary sinuses. In this case, a rubber tube is placed into the nasal cavity, in which negative pressure is created. The contents of the sinuses are quickly and easily sucked out, solving the problem of cavities cleansing. With this procedure, even minor injury is excluded. If the disease has progressed far, especially if complications have begun, you cannot do without a hospital; surgical intervention will be required. Today it is carried out in the most gentle ways, using endoscopic technology. There is no need to be afraid of the operation - it is performed under anesthesia and is less traumatic than many others.