Using an air humidifier or breathing in steam from a hot shower can help keep nasal passages open. | Pexels/Cottonbro
Using an air humidifier or breathing in steam from a hot shower can help keep nasal passages open. | Pexels/Cottonbro
• Sinus infections and other illnesses are more common during the winter months.
• 31 million Americans suffer from sinus infections each year.
• Using an air humidifier and frequently washing your hands can reduce your chances of getting a sinus infection.
Many Americans suffer from sinus infections every year, but a local doctor says the headaches and facial pain that go along with sinus infections will only go away once the root cause is treated.
Dr. Manish Khanna, a board-certified otolaryngologist at Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, explained that headaches are tied to inflammation and blockage of the sinus cavity.
"You really are not treating the headache; you want to treat the sinus so that headache goes away," Khanna told Montgomery News. "You can use medications like nasal steroids, sprays, moisture, steam. Keeping things nice and warm in the sinus cavities certainly helps. Then you get into medications like antibiotics and oral steroids. These can be necessary to really get rid of an acute sinus infection, which is causing a wicked headache."
Every year 31 million Americans report suffering from sinus infections with associated symptoms, including congestion, headaches, pressure in the ears and sinuses, or a cough, according to Insider.
Sinus infections are an issue, along with the flu and common colds, that tend to trend upwards during the winter months, Heritage First ENT noted. One likely connection is the drier air during the winter, which in turn can dry out the mucus linings in the nose, causing an increased risk of infection and congestion. Electric heaters and fireplaces can also irritate the nasal passages.
Alabama ENT offers some suggestions to help reduce the probability of sinus problems, which include: humidifiers, breathing in steam from a hot shower and frequent handwashing, particularly before eating. Decongestants or nasal sprays can be helpful but shouldn't be used too often, as overuse can cause swelling.
If you're interested in learning more about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
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