Preventing Sinus Pain

While sinus pain and sinusitis can be viral and bacterial, they are preventable depending on the precautions taken, such as:

• Treat any cold which causes nasal congestion – including colds and allergies – as quickly as possible. By retarding the symptoms the patient may often stop the bacterial infection from developing inside the sinuses in the first place.
• Stay away from friends, coworkers, and family that have exhibited or have come down with colds and viral upper respiratory infections. If contact is unavoidable then makes sure that you wash your hands as often as possible when in contact and if possible disinfect using hand sanitizers such as Purell.
• Stay away from tobaccos, especially cigars, pipes and cigarettes while at home or in the workplace as smoke often irritates the membranes, inflaming the nose and sinuses.
• If the patient is allergic then they should avoid coming into contact with things that cause allergy attacks such as grass, milk or other symptom inducing allergenics. The patient should, if possible, contact their primary care physician regarding allergy shots.
• Avoid breathing dry, arid air if at all possible using a humidifier so as to increase the ambient moisture in the air, especially in the sleeping area of your home.