There are different types of sinuses: frontal, maxillary, ethmoid, and sphenoid and the symptoms might differ when each one is affected; the symptoms also differ for acute and chronic sinusitis.

The role of the sinuses is not completely elucidated, scientists believing that the sinuses are important in absorbing impacts that occur from the front and preventing them from affecting the brain. They are also important in warming, moistening and filtering the inhaled air.

In the air there are numerous bacteria and when breathing we inhale them. If the cilia filter is malfunctioning, these bacteria can get blocked in the sinus cavities and produce an infection.

For acute sinusitis, that generally lasts 2-3 weeks, doctors recommend antibiotic treatment for 5 to 7 days. The chronic sinusitis lasts longer, about 6-8 weeks and it is more difficult to treat. Infectious sinusitis is generally caused by a bacteria; the non-infectious one is caused by pollutants and allergic factors.

The sinus infections affect every year 37 million Americans. Sinusitis also appears when the nasal membrane gets affected by pollutants, cold or dry air and becomes inflamed. People who have a weakened immune system (due to cancer, HIV, diabetes), children and elders can easily develop sinusitis. People who work in places exposed to infections, people who suffer of allergies, and smokers are more vulnerable to sinusitis than others.

If a patient has followed the classical antibiotic therapy and there were no signs of improvement the surgical therapy will be recommended because a complication could have occurred: the infection of the facial bones.

Some general symptoms of sinus infection are: headaches, fatigue, facial and upper jaw pains, and tenderness of the sinus area, sore throat, cough, colored nasal drainage, bad breath and swollen eye lids.

If symptoms last longer than 10 days you should call your doctor before any complications occur.

The doctor will diagnose sinusitis by looking inside the nose with an endoscope, then request for a computerized axial tomography, and even a MRI. Others might perform a rhinoscopy for looking into the back of the nasal passages.

Treating sinusitis is made with drugs prescribed by the doctor, and some home remedies.

The treatment must kill the bacteria, make facial pain and pressure disappear, clear up the nasal cavities and maintain intact the sinus and nasal tissues.

For keeping your cilia system intact and for avoiding or recovering more quickly after sinus infections you should drink hot tea. If you get hydrated, your cilia movements will improve and the mucus from your sinuses will be washed out, so you will cure faster. Chicken soup is also helpful.

Applying wet bandages on your face also helps. The compresses must be soaked in warm water in order to help the cilia move more efficiently. You must apply them three times a day and keep them for five minutes on your face. You can also use steam inhalations to minimize your nasal congestion.

The doctor will prescribe an antibiotic drug (oral or inhale drugs) if the sinusitis is caused by a bacterium; a decongestant, analgesics who will reduce the pain and corticosteroids to slow down the inflammation in the nasal cavities.

The most important thing is preventing sinus infections by keeping your nose clear, quitting smoking and treating well and as soon as possible any type of colds and allergies

You can visit http://www.sinus-infection-guide.com or http://www.sinus-infection-guide.com/home-remedies.htm for more home remedies information

The sinuses can cause many problems. The most common problem is a sinusitis infection. A sinusitis infection is caused by a blockage of bacteria and mucus in the sinus cavities. The blockage begins usually with a cold or allergy. The sinus cavity lining becomes swollen when a cold or allergy exists. When bacteria get into the sinus cavities, they attack the swollen lining which then causes greater inflammation. The cilia, which are tiny hairs in the sinuses, are used to flush out bacteria and mucus. When the inflammation from the bacteria occurs, the cilia can no longer flush out the bacteria and mucus therefore it becomes trapped and the sinusitis infection begins.

There are many symptoms which can take place with sinusitis. Commonly, a person may experience cough, congestion, facial pain and pressure, green nasal discharge, and postnasal drip. When the sinusitis infection lasts for twelve or more weeks it is considered chronic and can have additional symptoms such as loss of sense of taste and smell and the person may also become fatigued.

There are many forms of treatment for a sinusitis. Nasal sprays are one common treatment. Nasal sprays work by distributing saline solution up into the sinus cavities. Nasal sprays are meant to moisten the cilia so that the trapped bacteria and mucus can be washed out. The problem with nasal sprays however is that they have large particle sizes that cannot make it past the inflammation at the opening of the sinus cavities and up to the sinusitis infection. Oral antibiotics and other oral medications are also frequently used treatments. Oral antibiotics work on infections by flowing through the blood stream to the infected area. Oral antibiotics are usually ineffective when it comes to sinusitis infections due to the fact that there are only a small amount of blood vessels in the sinus cavities which makes it difficult for an efficient amount of antibiotic, along with anti-fungals and anti-inflammatories, to make it to the sinus infection. Another treatment that may be used is irrigation. Irrigation, like nasal sprays, is meant to moisten the cilia so that it can function properly. Also like nasal sprays, it is difficult for it to make it through the inflammation and to the sinuses. Irrigation is also usually a very messy treatment.

Surgery is a treatment option which is usually used when all other treatments have failed. Sinus surgery is painful and usually only offers short term relief since during the surgery they only remove a portion of the inflammation and infection which causes the infection to usually return. Many sinusitis suffers end up having several sinus surgeries in their lifetime.

Our sinuses have important functions and it is important to keep them clear from infection and preventing it from getting to the point of surgery. A sinusitis infection can become an inconvenience in many ways and also may cause future problems for the sinus cavities. It is best to take care of a sinusitis infection at the beginning and to prevent it from becoming chronic and from leading to surgery.

The sinuses can cause many problems. The most common problem is a sinusitis infection. A sinusitis infection is caused by a blockage of bacteria and mucus in the sinus cavities. The blockage begins usually with a cold or allergy. The sinus cavity lining becomes swollen when a cold or allergy exists. When bacteria get into the sinus cavities, they attack the swollen lining which then causes greater inflammation. The cilia are tiny hairs in the sinuses which are used to flush out bacteria and mucus. When the inflammation from the bacteria occurs, the cilia can no longer flush it out therefore the bacteria and mucus become trapped and the sinusitis infection begins.

There are many symptoms which can occur with sinusitis. Frequently, a person may experience cough, congestion, facial pain and pressure, green nasal discharge, and postnasal drip. When the sinusitis infection lasts for twelve or more weeks it is considered chronic and can have additional symptoms such as loss of sense of taste and smell and the person may also become fatigued.

There are many forms of treatment for a sinusitis infection. Nasal sprays are one common treatment. Nasal sprays work by distributing saline solution up into the sinus cavities. Nasal sprays are meant to moisten the cilia so that the trapped bacteria and mucus can be washed out. The problem with nasal sprays however is that they have large particle sizes that cannot make it past the inflammation at the opening of the sinus cavities and up to the sinusitis infection. Oral antibiotics and other oral medications are also frequently used treatments. Oral antibiotics work on infections by flowing through the blood stream to the infected area. Oral antibiotics are usually ineffective when it comes to sinusitis infections due to the fact that there are only a small amount of blood vessels in the sinus cavities which makes it difficult for an efficient amount of antibiotic, along with anti-fungals and anti-inflammatories, to make it to the sinus infection. Another treatment that may be used is irrigation. Irrigation, like nasal sprays, is meant to moisten the cilia so that it can function properly. Also like nasal sprays, it is difficult for it to make it through the inflammation and to the sinuses. Irrigation is also usually a very messy treatment.

Our sinuses have important functions and it is important to keep them clear from infection. A sinusitis infection can become an inconvenience in many ways and also may cause future problems for the sinus cavities. It is best to take care of a sinusitis infection at the beginning and to prevent it from becoming chronic and from leading to surgery.