Is Your Home to Blame for Sinus Pain?
The sniffling. The sneezing. The red, watery eyes. When our allergies act up and our sinuses get clogged, we often blame the great outdoors. But could the culprit actually be inside your own home? From dust mites to pet dander, there are countless allergens in the average household that can cause sinus pain and pressure.
"You can have an immaculately clean house and still have allergy problems," says Dr. D.J. Verret, a facial plastic surgeon at UT Southwestern Medical School. "There are dust mites on your blankets, on your bed linens, on your sofa, on pretty much everything."
Most of us are okay living with these allergens, but those who are sensitive to allergens usually end up running for the tissue box.
"When it comes to sinusitis, or sinus disease, what we've come to understand is that it's on a continuum with rhinitis or nasal allergies," says Verret. "Because the mucous of the lining of the nose also lines the sinuses, anything that irritates the nose will also irritate the sinuses and prevent them from working correctly."
The sinuses create mucous that should naturally drain, but if things aren't working correctly, they can get backed up. And that's when you start getting the pressure and the pain and the headaches.
If owners are allergic to their four-legged friends, pets can be an irritant. This can be the case even if a cat or dog resided in the home before they got there. Pet dander can get so ingrained in upholstery that you just have to remove everything of the previous owner's -- carpets, furniture, what have you -- and replace it to resolve the allergy problems, explains Verret. This time of year, air-conditioning systems can play a role in aggravating the ear, nose and throat. Verret recommends cleaning or changing filters on a regular basis to avoid irritation from dust mites and dander.
So you've vacuumed the rug, washed your linens in hot water and cleaned off that dirty air-conditioning filter, but somehow, you're still sneezing. And if getting rid of Fluffy isn't an option, you may need to use medication. Drugs like Claritin and Zyrtec provide over-the-counter relief, and nasal steroids such as Flonase and Nasonex can also provide relief.
Still, there is a natural remedy for sinusitis that may be effective without drugs.
"One of the best things that has been shown to help with allergies is nasal saline irrigation," says Verret.
You can buy a saltwater solution at your local pharmacy or simply mix up a tablespoon of regular table salt with a couple of cups of warm water. Verret recommends putting the solution into a blue suction bulb. Lean forward and insert the tip of the bulb into your nose but don't push it in all the way. Angle the tip toward the outer corner of your eye and slowly squeeze the bulb. Let the solution drain from your nostril. It may also come out your other nostril or your mouth. Repeat the procedure on your other nostril. Be sure to fill the bulb with fresh water to clean it and let it dry between uses.
"Do it in the morning when you're in the shower and really flush out your nose," says Verret.
A neti pot can also be used for nasal irrigation. A bulb is preferred by many people because it allows you to control the pressure while with the neti pot you just tilt your head to the side.
For those who still can't find relief from household allergens, allergy testing -- a process that helps identify specific irritants -- may be the next step. After that, patients can undergo desensitization shots.
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