Stalling Sinusitis (written during COVID pandemic)
I finally got my first dose of the Moderna vaccine two weeks ago. A little soreness in my left arm where I got the shot but nothing to worry about. A couple of days later I ended up with a slight cold and sinus pressure, which I didn’t know whether or not it progressed to sinusitis by the end of the week (before we jump to conclusions, the vaccine is perfectly safe and not connected to my cold).
Sinusitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses (the air-filled cavities in the bones of the skull). Acute sinusitis is caused by the common cold. Breathing through your nose is brutal with this condition. The good news is that acute sinusitis usually lasts about a week or two and usually clears up on its own. But sinusitis that lasts more than 12 weeks is considered chronic sinusitis and requires further medical intervention, maybe even surgery.
What happens in acute sinusitis is that your sinus openings become blocked with sinus drainage, ventilation, and blood flow impaired. This causes bacteria in the sinuses to grow and cause an infection. The condition is a common reason for office visits to primary care physicians, allergists, otolaryngologists, and other specialists.
Some acute sinusitis symptoms include thick yellow greenish discharge, nasal blockage or congestion; difficulty breathing through your nose; pain or tenderness around your nose, cheeks, eyes, or forehead; aching in your teeth (believe it or not); cough; bad breath; and fatigue.
Again, acute sinusitis usually lasts a short period of time but you should see a physician if symptoms last longer than a week or if symptoms worsen instead of improving. You should have a thorough medical evaluation if you have bouts of sinusitis three or more times a year. About 28.9 million people have been diagnosed with sinusitis or 11.6 percent of adults annually. The condition can extract an overall direct annual health care cost of $5.8 billion.
You may be vulnerable to acute sinusitis if you have an abnormal nasal passage with nasal polyps or a deviated nasal septum, if you suffer from hay fever or allergies that could affect sinuses, other medical conditions like HIV or cystic fibrosis, and if you have been exposed to smoke.
Treatment options for sinusitis include decongestants (which encourage nasal drainage), nasal sprays, and over-the-counter pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen if needed. But in some cases, antibiotics if the condition advances to a bacterial infection. Untreated sinusitis can lead to other medical complications such as the infection spreading to other areas of your face and brain. But it is important to note these instances are rare.
There are some precautions you can take to prevent sinusitis in the future such as washing your hands well when necessary, using a humidifier or air purifier (have the purifier😊), irrigating your nose with a saline solution, and eating well and staying hydrated. It is crucial that you take measures to make sure your nasal passages are properly drained.
And speaking of eating well, you can boost up your circulation by increasing your intake of foods like garlic, ginger, and hot peppers. For instance, garlic is antibacterial, antimicrobial, and contains allicin, which some studies have shown is effective against certain types of bacteria. Also, some research indicates that traditionally ginger has been used to treat sinusitis. So go ahead and enjoy that soup with a boatload of garlic and/or ginger because the steam and ingredients will soothe your nasal passages.
In addition, don’t forget to stock up on antioxidants like vitamin C. One study from the Netherlands found that patients with chronic sinusitis had diminished levels of antioxidants. So feel free to indulge in this citrus and fennel salad.
Blessedly, my slight cold and sinus pressure subsided after a few days. And no, it was not sinusitis obviously since I healed quickly. But the sinus pressure was certainly intense for that brief period of time. I know that I have to be a little cautious with my allergy season happening as we speak. I just want to enjoy the spring time weather without worrying about the pollen count.
