Will a Sinus Infection Heal On Its Own?

Sinus infections (or sinusitis) can often be healed on their own. In fact, sinusitis usually goes away on its own about 70% of the time.  They are often caused by bacterial infections or viruses and common symptoms include facial pain, headaches, nasal congestion, and a runny nose. If your symptoms do last for more than two weeks, see your physician as this could indicate a more serious problem.

If you are in the beginning stages of your sinus infection, there are several home remedy solutions available to help lessen your symptoms and heal faster.

Natural Home Remedies 

The following home remedies work to get rid of sinusitis naturally:

1. Apple Cider Vinegar
2. Probiotics
3. Vitamin C
4. Grapfruit Seed Extract
5. Fermented Cod Liver Oil
6. Echinacea Tea
7. Saline Spray
8. Raw Garlic

Essential Oil Remedies

The following essential oils contain anti-fungal, antiseptic, and anti-inflammatory properties that can help you heal faster:

1. Tea Tree Oil
2. Eucalyptus Oil
3. Peppermint Oil
4. Oregano Oil
5. Rosemary Oil
6. Thyme Oil

Alleviate Symptoms

There are several techniques you can try to help alleviate your symptoms:

1. Neti Pot helps to flush irritants and allergens from your system
2. Eating spicy foods helps to open your nasal passage
3. Steaming helps to alleviate your congestion
4. Using a humidifier keeps your nasal passages moist

Whichever remedy you decide to try, remember a natural solution may take a little longer to relieve your symptoms. Still, natural remedies rarely have side effects and are often a good option for many sinus infection sufferers.

If you experience sinus infections frequently or if your symptoms last for more than two weeks, call our office at 877-EAR-NOSE to schedule an appointment today.

The Most Likely Reason You Keep Getting Sinus Infections

You’re experiencing pain behind your eyes or cheeks…again. Your head feels as though it's going to explode from the pounding and you always seem to have a stuffy nose. If this happens to you a few times a year or more, you're suffering from recurrent sinus infections.

An occasional sinus infection is not uncommon, but if they plague you, your individual anatomy may be at fault.

Deviated Septum

A deviated septum, which is an abnormality in the shape of the nasal septum, allows bacteria to accumulate in the sinuses that help drain the mucous from your nose. Without adequate draining, the fluid buildup causes pain and makes for a cozy place for bacteria to flourish.

Growths in the Sinuses 

In other cases, the sinuses themselves may have smaller openings causing lack of drainage which leads to head or face pain and pounding headaches. The head pain can be relentless and is worsened by noise and bending down.

See a Specialist

When your sinuses cannot perform the job they are intended to do, sinus infections can bring misery. If they occur more than 3 times a year, see an ear, nose and throat specialist. An otolaryngologist will physically examine your nose and take a medical history.

The doctor may suggest having a CAT scan of the sinuses if they suspect an abnormality in the structure of your nasal septum. With the results of a CAT scan, a doctor can then determine if surgery is a viable option for you.

One type of surgery for chronic sinusitis is nasal septoplasty, where the septum is realigned. This alleviates chronic congestion caused by a deviated septum. Talk to your doctor as this is the most common reason for frequent sinus infections.

If you're looking for relief from chronic sinus infections, contact the Florida Ear Nose Throat Facial Plastic Surgery Center today.

Why Allergies Affect Your Eyes

Nasal Allergies Affecting Your Eyes? They're Connected.

It's a beautiful spring day for a family picnic. The children are playing frisbee, and you are just happy to spend time outside after a long, gloomy winter indoors. You sneeze once or twice and shrug it off to a dose of bright sunshine. Shortly thereafter, you are sniffling, have a stuffy nose, and feel like your head will explode. By the time the children are finished, you look like you have been crying all night and probably feel like it too. Why do nasal allergies commonly affect our eyes?

It's All Connected

Tears collect at the lower inner corners of our eyes in a pouch known as the lacrimal sac. When the pouch is full, overflow empties into channels or canaliculi. Ending points for these channels are located in our nose.

The Eyes and Nose are Entry Points for Many Substances

Our nose serves as the entry point for most of the air we breathe and has a built-in filtration system to keep harmful particles from entering our windpipe and lungs. The lining in our nose has direct communication with our immune system to release fighting agents when irritating or harmful substances are detected.

Our eyes are covered by a very similar type of lining known as the conjunctiva. This lining along with our eyelashes and blinking reflexes protect our eyes from particles and objects that can damage our eyes potentially affecting our vision. Much like the nose, the conjunctiva has its own means to trigger the immune system to fight off damaging substances.

An Overly Protective Immune System

Once an irritant or potential allergen is detected by the linings in our eyes and nose, fighting agents known as histamines are released into our systems. Histamines are not very selective, so both eyes and nose can be affected. These agents hasten blood flow to the areas causing swelling, redness and congestion. Our bodies produce more tears and mucous to help cleanse itself of the culprit. Our eyes become swollen, itchy, and red. Tears empty into our nose, which becomes congested, and our sinuses can swell creating pressure and fullness in our heads.

Nasal allergies can affect our eyes, and eye allergies can affect our noses. It's all connected.

How Allergies Work--& How to Fight Back

Allergies are the body's immune response to something that it views as a foreign substance. When any part of the body such as the eyes, ears, nose or skin comes in contact with such substances, the body reacts in ways that sometimes cause pain and discomfort. The most common allergies symptoms are sneezing, coughing, hives, runny nose, congestion and watery eyes. In some of the worst cases, allergy sufferers experience shortness of breath and asthma. If you suffer from allergy symptoms, you can try these tips to fight back:

Use HEPA Filters

HEPA filters can help you fight allergies if you have a problem with dust mites. They are special filters that trap allergens before they can get to your nose. These filters go inside of air conditioners, heaters and humidifiers. They can be a huge help because they trap dust, pet dander and other items that would normally set off an allergic reaction. HEPA filters are an inexpensive way to cut down on harmful reactions.

Try to Avoid Allergens

Another way that you can fight allergies is by avoiding things that make you have them. Dust mites are not the easiest to stay away from, but you can keep yourself away from pets and ragweed if you are allergic to those items.

Increase Your Intake of Vitamin C

Vitamin C can help to lower the number of histamines in your blood, which could lower the chances that you will have an allergic reaction. Increasing your Vitamin C is very easy to do. You can buy supplements, or you can get a big dose of Vitamin C in your meals and drinks. Orange juice, oranges, apples, apricots and grapefruits are all good sources of Vitamin C.

Partake in Immunology Treatment

If your allergic reactions are life threatening, you can schedule immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a process that is similar to a vaccination. You receive injections that build up your tolerance and decrease your sensitivity to allergens over time.

You don't have to suffer from allergies for the rest of your life. You can contact Florida ENT to get help. Call us to schedule an appointment for an evaluation. We serve the Orlando and Kissimmee areas. Our number is 877-EAR-NOSE, and you can have 100 percent trust in our efforts to help you to eliminate your allergies.