Primary Care

Self-Care Tips | Sinusitis

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Sinusitis is an infection or inflammation of the sinuses.

Symptoms of sinusitis

• Sinus pressure and pain
• Stuffy nose
• Yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the throat
• Bad breath
• Fatigue
• Dental pain
• Headache
• Fever

What you can do

• Take hot baths and showers—the steam soothes your sinuses. Don't inhale steam from a kettle, you may get scalded.
• Use a vaporizer at night to keep your nasal passages from drying out.
• Control your allergies. Use air-filtering vacuum cleaners and HEPA filters.
• Drink more fluids; hot liquids can provide relief.
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers. 
• Saline sprays or washes may help loosen and clear secretions.
• Use an over-the-counter cold medicine only if recommended by your doctor. It could make your sinus infection worse.
• Get plenty of rest.

When to call your primary care provider

• If you've had a fever of 101°F or higher for three or four days
• You have a headache that doesn't go away with over-the-counter headache remedies
• You have cold symptoms that last more than 10 days
• You've had facial pain for more than a month

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