Lingering congestion? Might be a sinus infection…

If you’ve ever had sinusitis, then you’re no stranger to misery.

Sinus infections, which often develop after a cold or an allergy flare-up, result from your sinuses (hollow spaces within the bones surrounding the nose) becoming inflamed.

When sinuses are inflamed, they swell. This swelling blocks the drainage of mucus, causing symptoms such as:

• Runny nose or cold symptoms that last longer than 7 to 10 days, with mucus that can be green, yellow or clear
• Complaints of drainage in the throat from the nose
• Headaches
• Facial pain
• Bad breath
• Cough
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Swelling around the eyes

Getting diagnosed

You can quickly get your sinus infection diagnosed using one of our convenient urgent care options.

Your urgent care provider will start by asking about your symptoms and how long you have had them.

Then they may check for sinus tenderness by tapping certain points above and below your eyes or check your jawline for tender or painful lymph nodes. During a video visit, your provider will walk you through how to perform these steps yourself.

If you’ve had symptoms for more than 10 days without improvement, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic. Most of the time, however, they can guide you through how to manage symptoms on your own.

Home remedies

Home remedies to relieve pressure and congestion include:

• Use of saline sprays.
• Use of a neti pot (make sure the pot is clean, and use sterilized water).
• Drinking plenty of fluids to keep mucus thin, and avoiding alcohol.
• Applying a hot, damp towel to your face for 5 to 10 minutes several times a day.
• Using a humidifier in your home to increase moisture in the air.
• Gargling with saltwater.
• Blowing your nose gently, to avoid forcing mucus back into the sinuses.