Sinusitis treatment that can be done at home can be very helpful in relieving symptoms due to inflammation of the sinuses. The sinuses are small, air-filled cavities behind the cheekbones and forehead.
Sinusitis can cause pain around the cheeks and forehead. When experiencing these symptoms, there are several sinusitis treatments that you can do yourself at home to relieve it.
Sinus pain is caused by pressure in the sinus cavities. When inflamed, the mucous membranes of the sinus cavities swell, so that the fluid in the sinuses that should be drained out accumulates and compresses the sinus cavities.
Sinusitis Treatment at Home
Generally, sinusitis will heal on its own within 2-3 weeks. However, to relieve the symptoms, there are several independent sinusitis treatments that you can do at home, namely:
1. Drink lots of water
If you have sinus problems, drink plenty of water or fruit juices. Adequate fluid intake can thin the mucus and make it easier to get out of the swollen sinus cavity.
In addition, as much as possible reduce the consumption of caffeine and alcohol, because drinks containing caffeine or alcohol can cause you to become dehydrated. Alcohol can even increase the swelling of the sinuses.
2. Do a nose rinse
Sinusitis treatment, also known as nasal irrigation, can clear the sinuses of mucus and dirt that irritates the sinuses, thereby reducing swelling. Here's how to wash your nose to treat sinusitis:
- Make a salt solution consisting of 1 liter of lukewarm water and 1 teaspoon of salt. Add teaspoonbaking sodaif you want to reduce the salty taste.
- Put the solution in a neti pot (you can buy it at the pharmacy) or a small teapot you have at home. Make sure the neti pot or teapot is clean.
- Lean against the sink and tilt your head.
- Pour the saline solution into one nostril.
- Allow the solution to drain out through the other nostril. Use your mouth to breathe as the solution flows through your nose.
3. Keep the air humidity in the room
Install a humidifier or humidifier in the room or place you spend most of your time in daily can relieve sinusitis symptoms.
This is because inhaling dry air can irritate the sinuses, while inhaling moist air can reduce nasal congestion.
4. Breathe in warm steam
Inhaling warm steam 3 times a day can also help relieve sinusitis. You can inhale the warm steam from a bowl or basin of hot water. However, remember, do not inhale the steam from the water that is still cooking on the stove.
In addition to hot water, you can also use a towel compress that has been soaked in warm water. Place the compress around the nose to the forehead. After that, breathe normally to inhale the moisture produced from the compress.
5. Eat nutritious food
There is a delicious way to treat sinusitis at home, which is to eat warm and nutritious foods, such as warm chicken soup. The warm steam and protein, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties of chicken soup are known to help relieve symptoms of sinusitis and colds.
Therefore, make sure the chicken soup contains nutritious food ingredients. You can also add herbs or spices that have antibacterial properties, such as garlic, ginger, and onions, to your chicken soup.
6. Free the house from cigarette smoke
Cigarette smoke is the main substance that must be avoided by sinusitis sufferers. If a family member or guest smokes, ask them to smoke outside.
Cigarettes cause various negative impacts on the body, even for people who only inhale the smoke. In patients with sinusitis, cigarette smoke can worsen the condition of sinusitis that is currently relapsing and make it recur more often.
7. Open the ventilation in the house
Closing the house tightly can cause the air in the room to be not fresh and stuffy, so there is a risk of worsening your sinusitis condition. Therefore, open the ventilation and windows in the house wide every morning, so that the air in the house remains fresh.
8. Consumption of drugs that do not require a prescription
To relieve the symptoms of sinusitis, you can also take medicines that do not require a doctor's prescription. If your sinusitis is causing pain, you can buy pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol.
In addition, you can also use decongestant-type drugs to reduce swelling in the sinuses, so that mucus buildup can be reduced and the nose becomes more relieved.
How to make sinusitis not easy to recur
If your sinusitis has healed, there are several ways you can do so that sinusitis does not recur easily, including:
- Avoid smoking or inhaling secondhand smoke.
- Diligently wash hands with running water and soap. Avoid touching your face without washing your hands first.
- Stay away from things that can trigger allergies if you have allergies.
- Bathe your pet regularly if you have pets at home.
Sinusitis can be controlled with a healthy and clean lifestyle. Try to go through how to deal with sinusitis at home as described above. However, if the sinusitis symptoms you experience do not improve or get worse after 2 weeks, you should immediately consult a doctor.