Symptoms of sinusitis typically include sinus congestion, sinus discharge, sinus pressure, and facial pain or headaches due to sinus pressure. The nasal and sinus membranes have similar responses to viruses, allergic rations and common bacterial infections. Membranes become swollen and congested. This congestion causes pain and pressure and mucus production increases during inflammation, resulting in a drippy, runny nose. Because many sufferers do not recognize that they are experiencing sinusitis and confuse their symptoms with cold symptoms, they do not seek proper diagnosis or treatment. For treatment of these symptoms, oftentimes, we turn to sinus symptom medications, which at times enhance the problem by means of side effects. Sinus medication does not completely cure the symptoms as the real causes go unnoticed. Sinus medication, both prescribed and over-the-counter, has a wide range of benefits for treating sinusitis. These benefits sometimes come with unpleasant side effects. It is important to learn about the possible side effects of sinus medicines before taking them. Some common sinus medications are antibiotics, decongestants, mucolytics, nasal corticosteroids and antihistamines. Antibiotics Antibiotics help kill bacteria and stop sinus infection from progressing to a more serious complication. Overusing antibiotics can cause some types of bacteria to become resistant. As a result, you will need more powerful antibiotics to knock out those bacteria. Another downside of antibiotics is that they also destroy the friendly bacteria in your respiratory tracts, which may lead to yeast and fungal overgrowth in your nasal passage. Some other possible side effects of sinus antibiotics are upset stomach, nausea and diarrhea. Decongestants Sinus decongestants are available in two forms: oral sinus medication and nasal spray. Both of these can possibly cause serious side effects. The oral form can cause agitation, insomnia, urinary retention and irregular heartbeat. The nasal decongestant spray is safer to use, though some people may experience a temporary stinging or burning sensation in their nose after using it. If you overuse the nasal spray, it will become ineffective or even worsen the congestion, which is known as the rebound effect. Mucolytics Mucolytics are not commonly used to treat sinusitis, but sometimes doctors may prescribe them to patients who have a lot of mucus in their lungs and nasal passage. Mucolytics help thin the mucus, allowing patients to cough it up out of the lungs more easily. The possible side effects of mucolytics are mild stomach upset, drowsiness, nausea and tightness in the chest. Nasal Corticosteroids They are also known as nasal steroid sprays, which can effectively relieve sinus congestion, caused by rhinitis or hay fever. They help reduce inflammation and make the mucous lining in the nose react less severely to allergens. The possible side effects of nasal corticosteroids include a stinging or burning sensation in the nose, headache, sneezing and nose bleed. Antihistamines Antihistamines are not ideal for treating sinusitis, as they dry out the mucus in the nasal cavities and make it easier for bacteria to breed. The only time you should use antihistamines to relieve sinus problems is when you have severe allergies. Possible antihistamine side effects are drowsiness, stomach pain, headache, dizziness and loss of appetite. For more information, visit http://www.sinusdynamics.com/
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