Diseases & Conditions > Disease > Diseases > Sinusitis > Sinus Infections
Sinus Congestion
Sinus Congestion

Sinus congestion can be due to a cold, the flu, or allergies. A sinus congestion may also be the result of various sinus problems. A sinus congestion is when the nasal passages are blocked this could be from mucus or from inflammation of the blood vessels. If the cause of the sinus congestion is a cold, the flu, or allergies, there might not be much one can do in order to treat these conditions but one can attempt to treat the symptoms. If the cause of the sinus congestion is sinus problems then a doctor will likely have to diagnose the sinus problem and provide appropriate treatment. There are several home remedies or over the counter medications that might help relieve some sinus pressure, but these are temporary, as there really is not permanent cure if the cause is a cold or allergies. Some home remedies to relieve sinus congestion include using humidifier or vaporizer, drinking plenty of fluids in order to thin out the mucus that is stuck in the nasal passages, breathing in steam, from either a long hot shower or from a steaming pot, spraying salt water into the nose so that it does not dry out, and it is important to avoid drinking alcohol because this dries out the nasal passages and causes more congestion. These are simple home remedies, there are also over the counter decongestants that one can buy for sinus congestion. Decongestants come in tablets, liquids, or nasal sprays, and they will provide temporary relief from sinus congestion, it is important to read the directions and warning labels and to follow the correct dosage. If the sinus congestion is due to allergies one can also try allergy medicine that should help alleviate some of the symptoms. If the sinus congestion is causing pain one can take painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen for the pain but it will not help with the sinus congestion. A sinus congestion is not a life threatening symptom, however, if a person experiences that their sinus congestion lasts more than two weeks they might want to consult with a doctor because there may be a nasal problem, instead of a cold, flu, or allergy. If this is the case, the doctor will diagnose and treat it accordingly.

Some parents may ask their doctors, are sinus infections contagious, because they may think their children might had gotten the sinus infection from some other child. If one is wondering, are sinus infections contagious, the answer is no. A sinus infection is not contagious because it is not a sickness or illness, but it is a symptom. A sinus infection is simply an inflammation of the nasal passages so there is no need to call the doctor, worrying about, are sinus infections contagious. Some people may experience more sinus congestion than others but this may be due to them being more prone to allergies, while others may not have any allergies at all.

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