Lifestyle changes to treat sinusitis

More than half of Canadians with allergies suffer from sinusitis, and the number is growing. The good news is that easy-to-follow treatments done at home can bring welcome relief.

Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the tissue lining the sinuses, which causes symptoms such as runny, stuffy nose and facial pain. Fortunately, there are plenty of symptom-specific medications that really help. About half of acute sinus infections eventually clear up on their own, your doctor may want to take a wait-and-see approach for a few days before prescribing an antibiotic. During this time, there are a number of self-care measures — from inhaling steam to simply reducing stress — you can try at home.

• Bacterial sinusitis. While bacterial sinusitis can make you feel temporarily miserable, complications are rare.  However, if you develop swelling around an eye, impaired vision, a high fever or a change in mental status, it’s a sign that the infection has spread, and you should go to an emergency room immediately.
• Chronic sinusitis. Treating chronic sinusitis is more complex because of all the potential underlying causes. Here antibiotics and aggressive self-care measures are usually tried first, although they won't work if a polyp is causing your problem. If your condition persists, you'll probably be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist (otorhinolaryngologist).

There are numerous things you can do on your own to thin mucus and unclog your blocked sinus passages.

1. Steam inhalation. Perhaps the easiest method is steam inhalation. Simply boil some water, pour it into the basin and add 5 mL (one teaspoon) of a vapour chest rub. Then place a towel over your head and the water and slowly inhale the steam for 10 minutes morning and evening. Have tissues handy to blow your nose, but don't blow too vigorously — this can force infected mucus deeper into your sinuses.
2. Sinus irrigation. Another method that loosens mucus and reduces swelling in the nasal passages is sinus irrigation with a saline solution. You can do the irrigation using an ear-bulb syringe or a more unusual device called a neti pot available at health-food stores. Ask your doctor first. Irrigate at least three times a day for acute sinusitis and once or twice a day for a milder condition.
3. Drink plenty of clear liquids. It’s also important to drink plenty of clear liquids — eight to 10 glasses a day — to help keep nasal discharge thin. Very warm beverages can be quite soothing, and the steam from a mug of hot tea or chicken broth will temporarily open your nasal passages as well.
4. Exercise. Even though you might not feel like working out when you have sinusitis, it’s been shown that exercise can stimulate the flow of mucus and boost the production of infection-fighting white blood cells. So take a brisk walk, go for a bike ride or choose any other aerobic activity that you like. But don't do exercises, like toe-touches, where you lower your head — this will only increase sinus pressure. If exercise makes your congestion worse, stop.