-
Everything You Need to Know About Gastric Sleeve Surgery 12 March 2024
-
Finding Hope: A Guide to Recovering from Addiction 22 January 2024
-
The Importance of Kids' Cardiac Testing: Why Your Child Needs It 17 November 2023
-
The Importance of On-Site Medical Support for Your Business 9 October 2023
-
Three Things That Can Cause A Fallen Arch In Your Foot 23 August 2023
What Can You Do To Alleviate Sinusitis Symptoms During Pregnancy?
Michelle Hopkins
Sinus infections are common during pregnancy. Some infections are directly related to the pregnancy, while others are the result of a bacterial or viral infection. Although sinusitis usually does not have any impact on an unborn child, it is still important to seek treatment. If you are suffering from sinusitis, here is what you need to know.
What Is Causing the Sinus Infection?
Pregnancy-related sinusitis occurs when the blood vessels in your nose swell. You more than likely will not experience other symptoms, but the condition can make it difficult for you to breathe.
In some instances, the sinusitis is the result of a bacterial or viral infection. If that is the case, you will likely experience a yellowish discharge from the nose and even develop a cough. You might even experience an earache or sore throat. Due to the symptoms, sinusitis is often misdiagnosed as solely an earache.
What Can You Do?
It is likely that the symptoms of the sinus infection will go away without any treatment. As your hormones fluctuate, so does the swelling. To help reduce the likelihood of swelling, you can take such steps as reducing your sodium intake and drinking more water. You also need to focus on eating a balanced diet.
If the sinus infection resulted from a viral infection, chances are your OB/GYN might take a wait-and-see approach. Viral infections tend to improve on their own. Until your condition improves, you can use home remedies and over-the-counter medications to treat the symptoms. Talk to your OB/GYN before taking any medications, such as a decongestant or antihistamine.
A bacterial infection might require the use of antibiotics to treat it. However, your doctor might be reluctant to prescribe antibiotics due to the potential for antibiotic resistance developing. As with the viral infection, you can use over-the-counter medications to treat symptoms.
What Home Remedies Can You Use?
If you are reluctant to use over-the-counter medications, there are home remedies that can offer you relief from symptoms. For instance, increasing your intake of citrus juices and broth can help with loosening mucus.
A humidifier can help to alleviate some of the pressure in your nasal cavity. You can also try sleeping with an additional pillow under your head at night.
Talk to your doctor if your symptoms are not improving or other conditions develop. He or she can help determine what course of treatment would be more effective in treating your condition.
Share