It’s football season, and whether you like playing in the park with your friends or attending a Beaumont Renegades game at the arena, one thing you don’t want getting in the way of your enjoyment is a sinus infection.
How Can a Sinus Infection Interrupt Game Day?
A sinus infection, or sinusitis, can cause a stuffy nose, facial pain and sometimes a fever or tooth pain. If congestion is interrupting your breathing, you may not feel inclined to join the weekly touch football game. Likewise, if facial pain and a fever pop up in the morning, you might find yourself selling your Beaumont Renegades tickets before the afternoon.
What Causes Sinus Infections?
Anything that inflames the sinuses’ tissues can cause or increase your likelihood of developing sinus infections. Common examples include:
- Allergies
- Colds and flu
- Bacterial infections
- Nasal polyps (benign, tear-shaped growths in the nose)
- Deviated septum
- Asthma
- Smoking
How Can I Manage Sinus Infections?
Managing your sinus infections early and paying attention to the underlying cause can help you enjoy every game this season. A few game-day management tips include:
- Use a steamer. An electric facial steamer can hydrate the sinuses, ease inflammation and allow mucus to drain. If you don’t have a steamer, you can use a bowl of hot water with a towel draped over your head.
- Drink plenty of fluids. Water, coconut water, fruit juice and herbal tea will thin the mucus to promote drainage. Aim for at least eight cups a day, tapering off as you get closer to bedtime.
- Use a warm compress. A warm compress reduces sinus inflammation. Put a damp towel in the microwave for 10-second intervals until warm and drape it over your cheeks, eyes and forehead. Repeat as necessary.
- Take medication. Cold and flu or allergy medication can provide short-term symptom relief.
- Seek ENT help. If you develop chronic sinus infections (lasting twelve weeks or longer), there’s likely an underlying cause like severe allergies or a deviated septum. We can identify the cause and find the right treatment.
If sinus pain threatens to get in the way of your favorite sport, contact Southeast Texas Ear, Nose & Throat, LLP today to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted specialists.
