Sinusitis is more commonly contracted by people who already have structural differences in their nasal cavities. These include developing polyps, having narrow drainage ducts or even deficiencies in their immune system. Structurally narrow drainage ducts are much easier to clog than normal sized ones; hence they are easier to irritate and swell up. Deficiencies in the immune system could make someone more likely to catch a cold and cause a blockage in the drainage ducts.
That said, having a cold and a blocked nasal cavity would make a nasal passage prone to irritation, which makes it more likely to swell up.
Children are much more likely to develop sinusitis from their allergies or exposure to foreign substances. Illnesses they catch from other kids could also cause sinusitis. Bottle drinking on their back and exposure to secondhand smoke should also be avoided.
For adults, prior infections, whether viral or bacterial, smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke could put you at risk.
Prevention
How Do You Prevent Sinusitis?
Since it is quite common and easy to catch, there’s no surefire way to prevent sinusitis besides trying to lower the risk levels. This means that you should avoid smoking and allergens, and practice good hygiene.
To begin with, avoid smoking and pollution, in general. This could keep you from irritating your nasal cavity and lower your risk level. Washing your hands, especially when it’s flu season, will work wonders in preventing sinusitis. Staying away from known allergies and unpleasant scents or sensitizing smells will also help to curb sinusitis.
Treatment
Sinusitis Treatment
Sinusitis treatment will vary depending on what caused the condition. For most simple sinus infections, decongestants and saline nasal washes are effective. It’s important to know, though, that you shouldn’t use over the counter decongestants for more than three days. Topical decongestants (i.e. Oxymetazoline nasal spray) should not be used for more than three days. They can cause rebound congestion (also called rhinitis medicamentosa).
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