Holiday Season Can Play Havoc With Sinuses

While some “sinus sufferers” find significant relief as the hot and humid Memphis summer winds down, others are troubled by new health challenges that come along with the holiday season.

Many pollen and mold levels begin to drop when it gets cooler and drier, but our lifestyles also change, and this can also predispose some of us to sinus infections, We also tend to spend more time in-doors and in closer contact with our family and friends.

Fortunately, there are some simple things you can do to offset these effects. Remember these 10 easy tips to make sure you and your sinuses survive the winter:

1. Check your home air filter and replace it if it’s nearing or past the expiration date. The added time spent indoors during the holiday season makes it crucial to insure you are breathing quality air in your house, but most of us forget to change the filter regularly.
2. If you’re allergic to mold, make sure you don’t spend too much time in closed, damp indoor areas. This is especially important if your house has a basement. You could spend a whole weekend working from home in your basement office, and that could tip off a sinus infection.
3. Use a room humidifier. Indoor air can be very dry, especially when the heat is on. When the nasal and sinus passages dry out, they are prone to inflammation and infection. Using a humidifier, at least in your bedroom at night, can help to prevent this.
4. For the same reasons as above, you may also find relief in using saline nasal spray. This can be purchased over the counter in almost any drug or grocery store. Just two puffs in each nostril four times during the day can be enough to keep the nose moist. Moisture helps the nasal membranes to clear bacteria, dust, and other allergens that collect in the nose.
5. The winter is also cold and flu season. Simple measures that prevent the spread of these conditions include frequently washing your hands and covering your mouth while sneezing or coughing. In fact, most sinus infections are kicked off by a common viral cold.
6. Don’t forget to take your medications. This seems like common sense, but many people travel or get busy with family and forget to bring or use them. Some medications, like nasal steroid sprays, work better when used every day because they cause gradual long-term changes in the nasal/sinus membranes.
7. Ask your family doctor or an ear, nose and throat specialist how to perform nasal irrigations. If you’re doing much holiday traveling, the re-circulated air on airplanes can cause excessive dust, allergens, or pollutants to collect in your nose. Nasal irrigation can be a great way to flush out your nose after a flight.
8. If you smoke, make this your year to quit. The chemicals in first and second-hand smoke can also injure your sinus membranes, setting you up for inflammation and infections. Great American Smokeout Day is November 18. If you have a loved one who smokes, your encouragement and support may make all the difference.
9. Diabetics need to monitor their blood sugar carefully. If it gets out of control, it can predispose you to sinus infections.
10. Stay active. When the weather gets cold, many of us are less likely to walk from one place to the other. Don’t neglect yourself when it comes to exercise. Just 20 minutes or so of walking three or four times a week can help you feel more energetic and less fatigued.

The holidays should be a time of family, friends, and good cheer. Taking these few simple steps can protect your sinuses and health overall. This, in turn, will help you to enjoy the season to its fullest.

For more information, call UT Medical Group at 901-347-8220