Sinus, food poisoning, and vomiting

Resolved question:

I am having sinus problem for the last 2 weeks. Still its irritating me as headache and pressure on face while sleeping. I was under food poison and highly vomiting happened and most of time vomiting moved through nose also. Steaming process doing on daily basis but no change happened. Please help me..

Submitted: 4 Days
Category: Sexologist

Expert:  Dr. John Monheit replied 4 Days.

Thank you for using Ask a Doctor Service from Doctor Spring.

Firstly,I would suggest you to consult a ENT physician and go for an X-ray of paranasal sinus. It will be wise to start on antibiotic treatment only after obtaining an X-ray and understanding the problem in your sinus. However, there are certain home remedies that you can try that can help you to clear sinus.

Drinking plenty of fluids and getting lots of rest when needed is still the best bit of advice to ease the discomforts of the common cold. Water is the best fluid and helps lubricate the mucus membranes.

Chicken soup does, indeed, help congestion and aches. The hot steam from the soup may be its chief advantage, although laboratory studies have actually reported that ingredients in the soup may have anti-inflammatory effects. In fact, any hot beverage may have similar soothing effects from steam. Ginger tea, fruit juice, and hot tea with honey and lemon may all be helpful.

Spicy foods that contain hot peppers or horseradish may help clear sinuses.

Inhaling steam 2 - 4 times a day is extremely helpful, costs nothing, and requires no expensive equipment. The patient should sit comfortably and lean over a bowl of boiling hot water (no one should ever inhale steam from water as it boils) while covering the head and the bowl with a towel so the steam remains under the cloth. The steam should be inhaled continuously for 10 minutes. A mentholated or other aromatic preparation may be added to the water. Long, steamy showers, vaporizers, and facial saunas are alternatives.

A nasal wash can be helpful for removing mucus from the nose. A saline solution can be purchased in a spray bottle at a drug store or made at home. (Mix 1 teaspoon of table, Kosher, or sea salt with 2 cups of warm water. Some people add a pinch of baking soda.) Perform the nasal wash several times a day. Researchers have reported that daily irrigation of the nasal passages with a hypertonic saline solution relieves sinusitis symptoms and also reduces antibiotic use and the occurrence of acute exacerbations.

A simple method for administering a nasal wash is:

Lean over the sink head down.

Pour some solution into the palm of the hand and inhale it through the nose, one nostril at a time.

Spit out the remaining solution.

Gently blow the nose.

You can also try nasal decongestant spray or antihistamine drug like levo cetirizine 5 mg two times daily after meal for 7 days to clear the sinuses.

Hope this helps. feel free to ask if you need further help

Thank you

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