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Sinusitis - Prevention

Alternative Names

Acute sinusitis; Sinus infection; Sinusitis - acute

Prevention:

The best way to prevent sinusitis is to avoid or quickly treat flus and colds:

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which are rich in antioxidants and other chemicals that could boost your immune system and help your body resist infection.
Get an influenza vaccine each year.
Reduce stress.
Wash your hands often, particularly after shaking hands with others.

Other tips for preventing sinusitis:

Avoid smoke and pollutants.
Drink plenty of fluids to increase moisture in your body.
Take decongestants during an upper respiratory infection.
Treat allergies quickly and appropriately.
Use a humidifier to increase moisture in your nose and sinuses.

Sinuses

Sinusitis

Reviewed last on: 1/23/2008
Alden J. Pearl, MD, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Evidence-based care guideline for management of acute bacterial sinusitis in children 1 to 18 years of age. Cincinnati (OH): Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; 2006.

Slavin RG, et al. The diagnosis and management of sinusitis: a practice parameter update. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2005;116:S13-S47.

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