The human body is an extremely complex structure, doctors do not read for nothing. Even if we are not aware of it, there are countless mechanisms in place for our bodies to function properly. Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses, one of them, become blocked or inflamed due to many different reasons. If there is no advanced condition, sinusitis is not a major disease, but it can bother the exposed person for a long time.
If you are experiencing a long-term painful sinusitis, you should go to the nearest health institution and be examined by a specialist physician as soon as possible. However, since sinusitis is a common ailment, you can prevent this problem before it occurs or spreads by applying some simple methods before or during the discomfort. Let’s take a closer look at what sinusitis is and see the foods and methods that are good for sinusitis.
What is sinusitis, what are its causes and symptoms, what is good for sinusitis?
Let’s start with the basics; what is sinusitis?
The discomfort that occurs as a result of the obstruction and inflammation of the sinuses, which exist in different parts of our face and are connected to each other by thin channels, due to many different reasons, is called sinusitis. Sinuses maintain nasal health by producing a thin mucus. Under normal conditions, these sinuses are filled with air. However, they can become clogged, inflamed, and filled with fluid.
Types of sinus and sinusitis:
The sinuses located at four points on our face as paranasal sinuses are referred to by the following names;
- Ethmoid sinuses located between your eyes
- Maxillary sinuses located under your eyes
- Sphenoid sinuses located behind your eyes
- Frontal sinuses located above your eyes
There are some basic types of sinusitis, which occurs with the obstruction, inflammation and fluid filling of these sinuses, whose names we have mentioned;
- Acute bacterial sinusitis lasting longer than 10 days, recurring, causing facial pain, runny nose and congestion.
- Chronic sinusitis with nasal congestion, runny nose, facial pain, loss of smell for 12 weeks.
- Subacute sinusitis with symptoms lasting 4 to 12 weeks.
- Recurrent acute sinusitis experienced 4 or more times in a year.
What causes sinusitis?
Sinusitis, which occurs as a result of inflammation, fluid filling and obstruction of the sinuses that should be filled with air under normal conditions, can have many different causes. Some of the common causes of sinusitis are as follows;
- Common cold
- Mold allergy and similar seasonal allergies
- Growths called polyps
- The crookedness of the nasal cartilage called the septum
- Weakened immune system due to illness or medication
- Babies use pacifiers while lying down
- Feeding babies with a bottle while lying down
- Smoking
- Exposure to cigarette smoke , passive smoking
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
Sinusitis, which occurs as a result of blockage of your sinuses due to many different reasons, can sometimes be confused with different upper respiratory tract infections. Some of the symptoms you need to pay attention to in order to understand that your problem is sinusitis are as follows;
- Mucus running down the throat
- Yellow and green runny nose
- Nasal congestion
- Feeling pressure on the face, especially the nose, eyes, and forehead
- Headache hitting teeth and ears
- Intense bad breath
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Fever
Is sinusitis contagious?
Sinusitis is difficult to say definitively contagious, as it is a condition that occurs as a result of your sinuses being blocked due to many different reasons. For example; allergies, septum crookedness, or bacterial sinusitis are not contagious. However, viral sinusitis can be transmitted to other people while sneezing or coughing. Virus or not, do not cough or sneeze in the face of the nation anyway.
What is good for sinusitis?
- Drinking lots of water
- Eating pineapple
- Adding hot peppers to meals
- Eating garlic
- Taking probiotics
- Consuming foods rich in antioxidants
- Drinking ginger and turmeric tea
- Using coconut oil
Drinking plenty of water:
As with all ailments, it is extremely important to drink plenty of water during sinusitis. Considering that a large part of our body is made up of water, we cannot expect a dehydrated body to function properly. Water also contributes to the formation of mucus, which will remove the bacteria that cause discomfort.
Eating pineapple:
Pineapple is an extremely antioxidant-rich food. It directly reaches the sensitive mucous membranes and protects them from damage. At the same time, the enzymes in pineapple dissolve the inflammation accumulated in the sinuses and allow them to be excreted.
Adding hot peppers to meals:
When you eat something bitter, your nose starts to run immediately because hot and spicy foods relieve nasal congestion and cause a runny nose. The capsaicin component in cayenne pepper relieves pain and reduces inflammation. Even if it doesn’t cure it, it will at least clear your sinuses.
Eating garlic:
Garlic and onions, like hot peppers, strengthen the immune system, relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Garlic also has intense antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, do not neglect to consume plenty of garlic and onions during sinusitis or in your normal diet.
Taking probiotics:
There are countless microorganisms in our intestines. Some of these are helpful, some are harmful. Probiotics keep harmful and beneficial bacteria in balance. Since bacteria are among the most common causes of sinusitis, you should pay attention to taking probiotics during sinusitis or in your daily diet.
Consuming antioxidant-rich foods:
A condition called oxidation damage can exacerbate chronic sinusitis. Therefore, you should eliminate this damage by consuming foods rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants also protect mucous membranes. Fruits and vegetables such as citrus, kiwi, spinach, strawberries, and pumpkin are antioxidant-rich foods.
Drinking ginger and turmeric tea:
Both ginger and turmeric accelerate healing by reducing pain, swelling and congestion thanks to the antioxidants, natural antihistamines and anti-inflammatories they contain. Ginger and turmeric teas, which are also good for colds, are indispensable for many detox programs.
Using coconut oil:
Natural oils have a miraculous effect on many ailments, especially sinusitis, which occurs with sinus blockage. Coconut oil has the power to kill bacteria, viruses and fungi. Inhaling a light amount of coconut oil through your nose during sinusitis is an effective method.
We answered the curious questions such as what is sinusitis that occurs as a result of blockage of the sinuses due to many different reasons, what is good for sinusitis, and we talked about the details you need to know about the subject. What we describe is for informational purposes only. When you have such problems, you should definitely be examined by a specialist doctor.
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