Stuffed up Sinuses | Home Remedies for Sinusitis

Posted on June 28, 2009 by mkr in Health Advice Live Chat Help

Stuffed up Sinuses

Stuffed up or blocked sinuses is a dominant symptom of sinusitis which means inflammation or infection of para-nasal sinuses. It may be acute or chronic. The maxillary sinuses are most frequently affected. The frontal sinuses are affected less frequently while the ethimoidal or sphenoid sinuses are infected very rarely.

What Causes Sinusitis or blocked Sinuses

Predisposing factors

  1. Nasal infections – most common being flu and common cold which spread infection to sinuses.
  2. Nasal allergy may lead to blocking of nose and obstruction to the drainage of sinuses.
  3. Habits like forceful blowing of nose pushes infection from nose to sinuses.
  4. Swimming - water may enter nose forcibly especially during diving.
  5. Dental infection may spread to sinuses in approximately 8% of cases.
  6. Neighboring infection like tonsillitis may also lead to sinusitis.
  7. Chill and exposure lower the resistance causing sinusitis.
  8. Atmospheric pollution promotes nasal infection.

Causative organisms include streptococci, pneumococci, H. influenzae.

Symptoms of blocked Sinuses

  • Initially discomfort in naso-pharyngeal region may be present.
  • Pain may be present at the affected sinus region which is aggravated by bending down, coughing and sneezing.
  • Nasal discharge which may be mucoid or purulent is seen.
  • Blocking of nose on affected side due to congestion and edema of nasal mucosa is common.
  • Dry cough may be present due to post-nasal discharge.
  • Patient may have constitutional symptom like malaise, headache and fever.

How to Prevent Sinusitis

  • Avoid going out in chilled atmosphere if you are easily prone to infections.
  • Avoid head-baths and rain showers during acute phase.
  • Correct way of blowing nose should be followed i.e. to blow through one nostril at one time after blocking the other nostril.
  • Take immediate treatment for dental infections and other nasal infections, also for tonsillitis.

Home Remedies for Sinusitis

  1. Steam inhalation is the best known remedy for blocked and stuffed sinuses. This provides fomentation and thins the secretions which then flow-out easily. Additives like menthol and eucalyptus oil may be added to it.
  2. External fomentation with warm cloth is also very beneficial.
  3. Commonly used home remedies are garlic, onion and black pepper.
  • Fresh juice of 2 to 3 cloves of garlic with one teaspoon of honey should be taken twice daily. It acts as an anti-bacterial and analgesic.
  • Fresh juice of onion and mixed with honey is also of great help.
  • For recurrent attacks use black pepper finely powdered with warm milk.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.