Sinusitis is one of the disorders that can appear during pregnancy. You need to know that sInusitis in pregnant women does not always need to be treated with drugs. There are several natural ways that can be applied at home to relieve or even prevent it.
Sinusitis in pregnant women is generally caused by the hormone progesterone which increases mucus production and makes the sinus passages swollen. In addition, sinusitis can also be caused by allergies, exposure to cigarette smoke and excessive dust, untreated dental infections, and respiratory infections.
When experiencing sinusitis, pregnant women will usually experience symptoms of a runny or stuffy nose, headache, facial pain, and sensations such as mucus or phlegm coming down from the nose to the throat in the mouth (post nasal drip).
Natural Ways to Overcome Sinusitis in Pregnant Women
If you are pregnant and experiencing sinusitis symptoms, here are some things you can do at home to treat it:
1. Drink warm water
Symptoms of sinusitis in pregnant women can be relieved by drinking enough water, which is at least 8 glasses or 2 liters a day. To help clear the nose and sinus cavities and loosen phlegm, you can also drink warm water.
2. Paste kwarm and cold compress
Place a warm compress on the nose, cheeks and forehead for 3-5 minutes. The goal is to facilitate air circulation in the sinus cavities and relieve breathing. After that, replace it with a cold compress and apply it for 30 seconds to relieve pain.
Do this combination of compresses 2-6 times a day, depending on your condition.
3. Get enough sleep
Adequate sleep is beneficial to increase endurance, so you can quickly recover from sinusitis. To help expedite breathing, you can stack several pillows to support your head while sleeping.
Make sure the room air is not too cold and dry. This aims to reduce irritation that occurs due to sinusitis.
4. Eating chicken soup
Chicken soup, especially when it's still warm, is best consumed to relieve sinusitis symptoms, such as nasal congestion and pain in the sinus cavities. If you feel a lack of appetite or nausea, you can work around this by consuming chicken soup in small portions, but often.
5. Eating spicy food
Eating spicy foods or those containing chilies can also reduce sinusitis symptoms in pregnant women. This is because chili has the effect of capsaicin which can thin the mucus.
6. Inhale warm steam
Put warm water in a bowl or basin and inhale the steam. This method can help relieve a blocked nose with mucus. If necessary, you can add eucalyptus, ginger, or clove oil to warm water.
7. Clean the nose with a neti pot
Neti pot is a special device for clearing mucus from the nose. This tool is often recommended for people with sinusitis.
The method is quite easy. Put boiled water and salt in neti pot, then pour it into one nostril, until the solution flows out the other nostril.
Tips for Preventing Sinusitis in Pregnant Women
Below are some ways to prevent sinusitis, so you can have a comfortable pregnancy:
Maintain cleanliness
The main thing that can be done to prevent sinusitis during pregnancy is to maintain body hygiene, such as regularly washing hands and bathing, and cleaning the room in the house.
This is important, because one of the triggering factors for sinusitis is exposure to dust, especially if you have a history of allergies. If necessary, you can use humidifier to keep the air moist and clean. However, make sure the tool is also cleaned regularly, yes.
Eating nutritious food
To keep the immune system strong, you can eat foods that are rich in protein, antioxidants, zinc, and vitamin C. Examples are fish, eggs, whole wheat bread, cashews, milk, yogurt, as well as fruits and vegetables, such as chilies, oranges, strawberries, mangoes, spinach, broccoli, and sweet potatoes.
Stay away from pollution, dust, and cigarette smoke
Exposure to pollution, dust, and cigarette smoke can also trigger a recurrence of sinusitis in pregnant women, even worsening the symptoms. Therefore, pregnant women should reduce activities outside the home. If you have to leave the house, wear a mask to protect yourself from pollution, dust, cigarette smoke, and germs.
Pregnancy can trigger the onset of symptoms and severity of sinusitis, especially in pregnant women who have allergies and asthma. By applying the tips to overcome and prevent sinusitis above, it is hoped that your health and that of your fetus will always be maintained.
However, if you experience sinusitis symptoms that do not improve even though they have been treated with the above methods, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.
