Best Remedy for Allergy/Sinus Headaches

From LadyIsis:


Sinus Infection Treatment Self-Care at Home
Home care can help open the sinuses and alleviate their dryness.

Promote drainage

• Drink plenty of water and hydrating beverages. Hot tea is often recommended.
• Inhale steam 2-4 times per day by leaning over a bowl of boiling hot water (not while the water is on the stove) or using a steam vaporizer with a towel over the head and bowl to prevent the escape of the steam. Inhale the steam for about 10 minutes. Taking a hot, steamy shower may also work. Mentholated preparations, such as Vicks Vapo-Rub, can be added to the water or vaporizer to aid in opening the passageways.

Thin the mucus: Expectorants are drugs that help to expel mucus from the lungs and respiratory passages. They help to thin mucous secretions, enhancing drainage from the sinuses. The most common is guaifenesin (contained in Robitussin, for example). Over-the-counter (OTC) liquid cough medications or prescription tablets can also combine decongestants and cough suppressants to reduce symptoms as well as to eliminate the need for the use of many medications. Read label ingredients to find the right combination of ingredients or ask the pharmacist for help.

Relieve pain: Pain medication such as ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil are examples), aspirin, and acetaminophen (Tylenol is in this category) can reduce pain and inflammation. These medications help to open the airways by reducing swelling.

Medical Treatment

The main goals in treating a sinus infection or sinusitis involve reducing the swelling or inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses, eliminating the infection, promoting drainage from the sinuses, and maintaining open sinuses.

Medications

Reduce inflammation
Blood cells and lining cells of the mucosa in the sinuses can normally fight off foreign invaders. However, when overwhelmed by viruses and bacteria, coupled with a depressed immune system or over-reactivity to allergens, the result is the inflammation associated with sinusitis. With appropriate therapy, a short-lived infection can be treated effectively. Because foreign substances trigger numerous reactions, many treatments are available that can treat the symptoms of inflammation.

Decongestants help to reduce airway obstruction and are important in the initial treatment to alleviate symptoms.

• OTC nasal sprays (Afrin, Neo-Synephrine, Naphcon Forte, Otrivin, for example) work the fastest—within 1-3 minutes. However, these agents should not be used for more than 3 days because they become less effective and more frequent applications become necessary to attain the same clarity in breathing. This "rebound" phenomenon can be reduced by alternating between nostrils and using the medicine less frequently. Unfortunately, some people overtreat their nasal congestion with nasal spray and become dependent on it in order to breathe more easily. Overcoming the dependency requires a difficult withdrawal program that involves oral decongestants, saline, steroid nasal sprays, or a combination thereof.
• OTC oral decongestants (in tablet or liquid form) contain the active ingredients pseudoephedrine, phenylephrine, or phenylpropanolamine. (CAUTION: Phenylpropanolamine has recently been recalled from the market. Do not use products that contain this ingredient.) Most drug stores offer a wide variety of oral decongestants. All offer similar results, so price may be the deciding factor. The brand name medications are more expensive but release the drug slower, so they can be taken less frequently. Generics are less expensive and are to be taken every 4-6 hours or as needed. They work much slower than nasal sprays do. Usually, oral decongestants achieve their effect within 15-30 minutes. As with the nasal preparations, oral decongestants may become less effective with prolonged use. The rebound phenomenon exists but is not nearly as severe.
• Both nasal and oral decongestants have side effects, including general stimulation causing increased heart rate and blood pressure, insomnia, nervousness, anxiety, tremor,dry mouth, blurry vision, and headache. They may also cause an inability to urinate. Therefore, persons with a history of cardiac disease, high blood pressure, anxiety, or urinary problems should consult a physician before using decongestants. In addition, combining decongestants with other over-the-counter or prescribed medicines with similar side effects may cause dangerous complications.