The nasal passages are the pathways for airflow to the sinuses. Think of the nasal passages as the hallways and sinuses as the attached rooms. If the hallway is blocked, there is no access into the rooms.

Sinus symptoms imply that something is wrong with the nose. The nose has problems before the sinuses do. Rarely are the sinuses independently diseased.

If the Nose is the Problem, What’s Wrong with It?

But there’s good news. There are lots of treatments available for both sinus infections and asthma. And studies show that treating one condition often helps relieve the symptoms of the other. The key is to treat both conditions aggressively.

What is sinusitis?

While there are many sinuses in your body, the term is often used to refer to the paranasal sinuses. These are a group of four hollow cavities in your face, near the cheeks and eyes. They’re connected to the nasal passageways and help warm up, moisten and filter the air you breathe in. Sinusitis is the swelling or infection of these sinuses.

Just like the lining of your nose, the sinuses can become irritated and swollen by allergens, viruses, or bacterial infection. Common triggers of sinusitis include:

• A cold or viral infection
• Air pollution, smog
• Airborne allergens
• Dry or cold air
• Ozone

When the tissue in the sinuses gets irritated, it produces mucus. If enough mucus and trapped air builds up, you feel painful pressure in the sinuses. These are the familiar signs of a sinus headache.

Symptoms of sinusitis vary, depending on which sinuses are affected. But some common signs are pain in these areas:

• Forehead
• Upper jaw and teeth
• Area around the eyes
• Neck, ear, and on the top of the head

Severe sinusitis can also cause:

• Thick yellow or green mucus
• Bad-tasting postnasal drip
• Sore throat
• Fever
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Cough

Usually, sinus infections are caused by viruses, like a cold virus. But if the sinuses have been blocked for too long, bacteria can invade, causing a secondary infection. Having multiple sinus infections can lead to chronic (long-term) sinusitis.

What’s the connection between sinusitis and asthma?

Many studies have shown a connection between sinus infections and asthma. One 2006 study showed that, when compared with those who only have asthma, people who have both sinusitis and asthma:

• Tend to have more severe asthma symptoms
• May have more severe asthma flares
• Are more likely to have disturbed sleep

The risks of developing sinusitis may not be the same for everyone with asthma. The same 2006 study showed that sinusitis coupled with asthma was more common in women than men. It also may be more common in whites than other racial groups. Acid reflux (GERD) and smoking may increase the risk of someone with asthma developing sinusitis, too.

The study also suggested that the more severe a person’s asthma is, the more debilitating the sinusitis. In people with severe asthma, sinusitis seems to make the asthma symptoms harder to control.

How are sinusitis and asthma treated?

Treatment is important in preventing sinusitis from worsening. Again, since the conditions are linked, treating sinusitis may have the added benefit of improving your asthma symptoms.

If you have sinusitis and asthma, your doctor might recommend that you use:

• Steroid nasal sprays to reduce the swelling. Easing the inflammation might allow the sinuses to drain normally.
• Decongestant or antihistamine medicines.
• Painkillers — if necessary — to reduce discomfort.

Always ask your doctor before using nasal spray decongestants. Sometimes, they can wind up leaving you more stuffed up. You might try spraying warm salt water into the nose, or breathing in steam.

If a secondary bacterial infection has developed in your sinuses, you’ll need antibiotics. Your doctor will probably prescribe them for about 10-14 days. Just remember that antibiotics will only work in cases of bacterial infection. They will not help with viruses.

Whether your headache symptoms can actually be attributed to the sinuses will need to be determined by your doctor. If your headache is truly caused by a sinus blockage, such as an infection, you will likely have a fever. CT scans or MRI along with a physical examination is usually conducted to determine if there is a blockage in your sinuses.

Sinus Headache Treatment

Treatment of sinus headaches is usually directed toward symptom relief and treating the infection. Treatment might include antibiotics for the infection, as well as a short period of antihistamines (such as Benadryl) or decongestants (such as Sudafed) to treat the symptoms. If you take decongestants, but do not have a true sinus headache, the medication could make your headache worse. Be sure to see your doctor before taking any medications.

Allergies that affect the nose, such as hay fever and indoor allergies, can cause the nasal membranes to swell, and the passages to the sinuses – hollow spaces within the bones around the nose – to become blocked. Mucus, which typically drains from the sinuses to the nose, can’t drain. The mucus builds up and provides a fertile ground for “bugs” to grow, leading to infection.  Others are more prone to sinus infections due to their anatomy, such as having narrow sinus passages.

Whatever the trigger, these five tips can help you alleviate your sinus problems.

Sinus Tip 1: Keep Your Cool

When the heat is on, the membranes get dry.  Mucus isn’t cleared as effectively, boosting the risk of infection and other sinus problems, such as sinus headache. In the winter months, you’re better off wearing a sweater and keeping it cooler than cranking up the heat so you are comfortable wearing only a T-shirt.

Let your nose guide your indoor temperature range. If you are not waking up with nosebleeds or congestion, that is probably a good temperature range.

Sinus Tip 2: Humidify Your Air

Strive for an indoor environment that’s not too dry and not too humid.  Dust mites love greater than 50% humidity. And if you’re allergic to dust mites, that’s bad news for your sinusitis risk.

A too-humid indoor environment can also encourage the growth of mold, which can also set off sinus problems.

Vaporizers can keep you more comfortable if you are in the midst of a sinus problem, but you need to have it close by. It doesn’t do any good to have a vaporizer on the other side of the room.  Make sure you clean the device daily to keep bacteria from growing in them and making you sicker.

Breathe the mist coming from vaporizers, but not the steam. Steam can easily burn you. Ten minutes at a time is often recommended.

Sinus Tip 3: Ventilate Your House

An energy-efficient house is not necessarily a sinus-friendly one. You seal up a house to make it more energy efficient, and you end up with stale air that aggravates sinus problems.

The solution: Opening up the house on a warmer day to clear the air is a good thing, providing it’s not a high-pollen day that will set off your allergies.

What You Need To Know: