If you are feeling nasal congestion, having a runny nose, or experiencing intense pressure in your head, you might be quick to write your sickness off as the common cold. However, sinusitis is also a common condition that can cause these types of symptoms, and it’s a condition that is often misdiagnosed.
To help you better the symptoms of sinusitis and how to choose the right course of treatment, here is some information about how to distinguish sinusitis from other nasal conditions and tips for natural treatment approaches.
What is Sinusitus?
Your sinuses are cavities filled with air that are located in the forehead and cheekbone region of the head. Sinusitis forms when the sinus lining becomes inflamed, often caused by a viral infection. The symptoms of this condition form when swelling forms in the lining of the sinuses and prevents mucous from flowing normally through the nose.
A tell-tale sign of sinusitis is mucous that is green or dark yellow in color. When you have sinusitis, you’ll often have a headache, pain in the cheeks and forehead, tooth pain, stuffy nose, or a fever. It may take a good two to three weeks for sinusitis to fully go away, and people with chronic sinusitis may have these symptoms for several months at a time.
Other Nasal Conditions
Certain other conditions can mimic sinusitis, leading to misdiagnosed conditions and pursuit of ineffective treatment strategies.
For example, allergic rhinitis, more commonly known as hay fever, presents similar symptoms due to triggers in the air. However, rhinitis usually causes clear mucous while sinusitis-related mucous is yellow or green.
Your sickness may be just a common cold if the symptoms resolve within three to five days. However, sinusitis tends to take 10 days or more to resolve and show improvements.
Natural Sinus Treatments
Although many doctors are quick to prescribe antibiotics for any type of nasal condition a patient comes in for, they are often not effective for sinusitis. This is because sinusitis is often the cause of a viral infection rather than bacteria.
Natural treatments for sinusitis include rinsing the nose with a saline spray or rinse to wash out irritants and excess mucous. We recommend Seagate Olive Leaf Nasal Spray for immediate relief without the rebound effect of over-the-counter antihistamines or side effects. This is an effective homeopathic product that can be used during the early stages of initial congestion and sinus irritation, as well as for prevention during cold season and before exposure to crowds or airplane travel.
Other natural sinus treatments include steam inhalation to open up the nasal passages, drinking more water throughout the day, and acupressure in target areas of the body to relieve sinus pain. It may also help to apply a warm washcloth to the sinus region of the face, use menthol essential oil in a diffuser, and drink Olive Leaf mint herbal tea support sinus and overall health.