PORTALS

Lifestyle and environment

Certain things in your environment or daily habits can make ongoing sinus problems worse. Changing some of these could help you feel better, especially if your symptoms are hard to control.

First of all, it is important to understand how certain triggers can worsen your symptoms.

  • Active or passive smoking/vaping: Smoke irritates your nose, sinuses, and airways making your symptoms worse. Talk to your doctor to discuss (help with) quitting.
  • Irritants at work or within your life environment: If your job involves working around dust, strong smells, or chemicals, try wearing a mask to keep these from bothering your nose and sinuses. Strictly follow safety instructions at your workplace. You might also encounter irritants during your hobby or in your living place (for example, gardening, painting, woodworking). If workplace irritants are causing you to have breathing problems and/or wheezing, you need to see a pulmonologist quickly.
  • Polluted air: Small particles in the air can trigger symptoms. Especially in-door, these particles can accumulate. Proper in-door ventilation is the best way to keep this in check.
  • Allergens: When you are allergic to certain triggers, try to avoid them as much as possible. Making your home allergy-free can be a big job. Be sure to check out this excellent guide on how to do this properly.
  • Alcohol: Some people with CRS may notice that they cannot tolerate alcohol. Drinking alcohol might make their nose and sinuses feel blocked or stuffy. Although this might look like an allergy, it is not the same as allergies for pet dander, mould, or pollen.
  • Recreational drug use: Snorting drugs can seriously harm your nose and sinuses. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor.
  • Common cold: Typical viral infections can cause many of the typical symptoms of CRS but should normally resolve within a week. However, viral infections can also make your CRS worse (which is called an exacerbation). You can reduce the risk of viral infections by wearing a mask in environments where people are close together, like elevators, shops, concerts, buses, trains, and planes.

Prevention checklist

Now that you better understand what might be worsening your symptoms, let us have a look at some more practical prevention tips to take care of your sinuses.

Avoid things that make symptoms worse

  • Quit smoking and stay away from smoke if others around you smoke.
  • Wear a mask if you are around dust, chemicals, or strong smells, or closed environments with people.
  • Open windows or use fans to ventilate and bring fresh air into your home regularly. Use an air purifier if possible and make sure to clean it often. If your home is situated at a busy street, ventilate at the opposite side.
  • Avoid using strong-smelling sprays or cleaners.

Take care of your sinuses

  • Rinse your nose every day (ideally twice a day) with a salt water solution.

Try to have an active and healthy lifestyle

  • Eat a varied and balanced diet, including foods like fruit and vegetables, to help your body fight off sickness.
  • Exercise regularly to boost your immune system and health.
  • Avoid excessive alcohol consumption and do not use recreational drugs.
  • Reduce stress and prioritize sleep to keep your immune system strong and healthy.

Take care of any allergies

  • Avoid triggers by staying away and making your home allergy-free from pollen, pet dander, dust mites, or mould. (Mayo Clinic guide)
  • Keep your home clean by washing bedding often and vacuum regularly using a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
  • Use allergy medication as directed by your doctor or pharmacist to keep symptoms under control.

Try to avoid getting viral respiratory infections

  • Wear masks.
  • Wash your hands often so you do not catch viruses that cause the common cold or the flu.
  • Try to stay away from people who have the cold or the flu.

Talk to your doctor

  • Tell your doctor if your symptoms do not get better or if they get worse.

Disclaimer

This website does not provide medical advice.

The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. EUFOREA is not a medical organisation and cannot provide specific medical advice to patients via the Internet and/or E-mail. All patients are encouraged to direct their specific questions to their personal physicians. EUFOREA presents this information to patients so that patients can understand and participate in their own medical care. EUFOREA strongly emphasises that the information contained on this website is not a substitute for thorough evaluation and treatment by a qualified healthcare provider.

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