Living with Rhinosinusitis

Rest. Rest helps the body to fight against the inflammation and recover sooner.

Drink fluids. Keeping well hydrated helps dilute the mucous discharge and promote drainage. However, avoid drinks with caffeine, as they can have a dehydrating effect.

Moisten the paranasal sinus cavities. Breathing in the warm, moist vapour from a bowl of hot water or when taking a hot shower is recommended to help alleviate pain and promote mucous discharge.

Apply warm compresses to the face. Place warm, moistened towels around the nose, cheeks and eyes to soothe any facial pain.

Flush the nasal cavities. Use a purpose-designed bottle or a saline solution container to flush the nasal cavities. Use clean water (distilled, sterile, boiled and previously cooled, or filtered through a filter with an absolute pore size of 1 µm or less) to prepare the irrigation solution.

Sleep with your head in an elevated position. This helps drain the paranasal sinuses and reduce congestion.

Avoid getting upper respiratory tract infections. Minimise contact with people who have colds. Wash your hands with soap and water on a frequent basis, especially before meals.

Maintain control over allergies. With your doctor’s help, try to keep the symptoms under control.

Use a humidifier. If the air in your home is dry, as in the case of homes with forced-air heating, humidifying it will help prevent rhinosinusitis. Clean the humidifier thoroughly and on a regular basis to ensure it is always clean and mould-free.

Refrain from drinking alcohol because it increases dehydration and can aggravate the inflammation of the lining of the paranasal sinuses and nose.

Tobacco and environmental pollutants directly exacerbate the symptoms because they contribute to the destruction of the mucus-transporting cilia, thus provoking nasal obstruction.