| Life-style or Behavioral related risks |
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Swimming
Swimming in water that has been purified by chemicals (such as chlorine) can lead to sinusitis.
These chemicals damage the mucus membrane lining in your nasal passages and sinus cavities, causes the cilia cells in the mucous membrane to beat poorly which reduces mucus drainage causing bacteria and viruses to infect your sinuses.
Chlorine may inflame the mucous lining which make one more susceptible to an Acute Bacterial infection.
| Bacterial Sinus Infection |
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Diving and Deep-Sea (scuba) Diving
Diving to low altitudes can cause a pressure increases in your sinuses. As a diver goes deeper into the water, the weight of the water on the diver causes the air in the sinuses to expand. Without proper training (breathing techniques) this increase in pressure can cause barotraumas, damage and inflammation of the mucous membranes and Sinusitis. |
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Smoking
Smoking can result in the slowing down of the cilia (sweeping motion). These tiny cilia are responsible for transporting mucus through the sinuses and nose. If these cilia become damaged the mucus will not be able to drain, leading to blockages, congestion, bacteria and sinusitis.
Exposure to secondhand smoke can be strongly linked with a higher incidence of asthma and respiratory infections. This results in a collection and thickening of the mucus which can lead to an infection or Post-Nasal Drip.
Click here to view our Remedies. |
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Air travel
A condition known as Aerosinusitis is caused when atmospheric pressure increases or decreases dramatically due to an aeroplanes ascent or descent. This condition usually follows a cold, flu, chest infection or an allergy (the mucous membranes were previously aggravated). As the plane ascends, pressure in the sinuses increases therefore causing inflammation and pain. On the planes descent, pressure in the sinuses decreases therefore causing a squeeze or vacuum. The lining inside the sinuses becomes squeezed and inflamed and moves inward (on either side) towards each other. This causes pain, bleeding and later on may lead to an infection (sinusitis). |
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Diet - Eating certain foods
Chocolates, foods that contain MGS (Monosodium glutamate), cakes, biscuits and cheese are all delicious treats, but these foods cause the glands in the mucus membrane lining of the nose and sinuses to produce thick, viscid mucus. This thick mucus does not drain properly therefore becoming a perfect place for bacteria to flourish and may then infect your system and cause Sinusitis.
On numerous occasions, people who have an allergy to certain foods such as fish (sea food), peanuts or milk may be tempted to eat them. This then causes an allergic reaction with symptoms such as an itchy nose (irritated mucus membranes), itchy palate and tongue, itchy ears, itchy skin (rash) and a runny nose (swollen, inflamed mucous membranes). This inflammation and irritation in the nose can cause blockages and predispose one to developing sinusitis.
Refined foods and dairy products can cause problems because they may trigger allergic reactions and swelling of mucous membranes. The mucous membrane then produces more mucus. |
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Having Pets
Pet hair and pet dander (dry skin) can cause allergic reactions in certain people. Allergens cause inflammation and irritation to the mucous membranes that line the nose and sinuses. This inflammation blocks the sinus openings and can leads to sinusitis. Constant allergy attacks and untreated allergies can also damage the mucous membrane lining which leads to sinusitis. |
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Mountain climbing
Climbing to high altitudes can cause Aerosinusitis or sinus Barotrauma. |
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Smoking
Smoking can result in the slowing down of the cilia (sweeping motion). These tiny cilia are responsible for transporting mucus through the sinuses and nose. If these cilia become damaged the mucus will not be able to drain, leading to blockages, congestion, bacteria and sinusitis.
Exposure to secondhand smoke can be strongly linked with a higher incidence of asthma and respiratory infections. This results in a collection and thickening of the mucus which can lead to an infection or Post-Nasal Drip.
Click here to view our Remedies. |
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Alcohol and drug abuse
Alcohol and drug abuse is not only deadly to your lungs, kidneys and heart but can also cause complications to your sinuses. Alcohol consumption can cause the lining in your nose and sinuses to swell. Alcohol also dries out your sinuses causing thick mucus production. This causes blockages and increases the likely hood of bacteria multiplying in the sinus cavities causing a sinus infection (sinusitis). Certain drugs also cause inflammation, congestion and mucous membrane damage which results in sinusitis. |
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Stress
With so many things to do daily and so many things to worry about, our systems become weak and fatigued and cannot cope. When our immune system becomes weak, bacterium and viruses can easily invade our body without any resistance causing sinusitis, colds and flu. |
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| Constant use of nasal decongestants sprays
People often use decongestant sprays, nasal steroids and camphor sprays to unblock their sinuses when they feel congested and stuffy. What they don’t realize is that constant use of these sprays can cause rebound congestion (a cycle of congestion).
Decongestants and nasal steroids dry out the nasal passages and sinus cavities therefore causing their mucus to become even thicker and harder to remove. This then becomes a perfect place for bacteria to live in causing sinusitis.
Camphor sprays irritate the mucus membranes in the nose rather than clear congestion; and makes one use more camphor to treat the irritation, resulting in even more congestion.
The main idea for treating congestion before it develops into sinusitis is to thin thick mucus so that it can drain more easily. This way congestion is alleviated, eliminating stagnant mucus which causes sinusitis. Ways to help thin your mucus:
- Drink lots of water to thin mucus and keep sinuses moist.
- Inhale steam (infused with essential oils such as eucalyptus and calamine) to thin mucus and to help thick mucus drain.
- Use a netti pot to flush out stagnant mucus. Remember to use a solution that has no preservatives. Using a solution with preservatives damages the mucus membrane and causes rebound congestion.
We practice these behavioral causes of sinusitis on a daily basis with and without knowing the consequences. Until we change our behavior or develop better ways to deal with them we will continue to get recurrent sinus infections and associated conditions.
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