Caffeine is a stimulant that will keep you awake, so it makes sense to cut it off before 2 p.m. Also, caffeine is dehydrating, so it will make your sinus pain and congestion worse. Instead, choose water or decaffeinated and herbal teas in the afternoon and evening to quench your thirst. Keep nasal passages moist.
Avoid drinking alcohol (especially wine) and caffeine before bed. Both can make you dehydrated, which can aggravate your sinuses. On that same note, do what you can to stay hydrated.
Try to avoid coffee, as this can make symptoms worse. Breathe in steam – Steam can open up your nasal passages and allow mucus to drain. Take a hot shower, breathe in the steam from a homecooked meal or sip some warm, caffeine-free tea. Do this a few times a day for the best results.
Moreover, green tea and non-sugar-added juices are good fluids, helping you thin out mucus and drain it from irritated sinuses. However, stay away from alcohol, sugary beverages, caffeine, and smoking. Since these tend to dehydrate your system and clog already inflamed airways with thick mucus.
Food to Avoid
Also, try to avoid refined sugar as it is pro-inflammatory and increases the production of mucus. Other foods to avoid include tomatoes (contain histamines), chocolate, cheese, gluten, and fruits like bananas, which can cause congestion.
Hot liquids like tea and broth can help open the nasal passages, allowing you to breathe easier. They also contain nutrients linked to better immunity. Try to avoid foods that cause inflammation when you have a sinus infection. Examples include sugar-sweetened beverages, processed meat, and alcohol.
Colds and allergies may cause too much mucus to be made or block the opening of the sinuses. A deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or nasal polyps may block the opening of the sinuses. Chronic infection can cause mucosal swelling and inflammation.
Seasonal allergies, cologne, perfume, smoke, and other airborne particulates can mess with your sinuses, especially when suffering from a sinus infection. Unfortunately, other than staying in a hermetically sealed room, there's not much you can do about some of these.
Coffee contains histamines in low amounts, but for people who are sensitive to them, it contains plenty to get a reaction out of them. While the natural histamine content in coffee is low, some coffee processes can increase histamine levels.
As you lay down on your back or side, gravity helps your blood circulate easier to the head. An increased blood flow to the brain for eight or more hours at night can certainly lead to sinus congestion, and in some cases, sinus pain.
As mentioned, caffeine contains histamine which, when coupled with the immune system's response to allergens, can exacerbate symptoms like inflammation and congestion. This means it's best to cut down or avoid caffeine altogether if your allergic rhinitis symptoms feel particularly severe.
When sinus infections won't seem to go away or continue to return, there may be a more serious problem going on. These particularly painful infections are known as chronic sinusitis and they need more attention and care than just over-the-counter medications.
Sinusitis is swelling of the sinuses, usually caused by an infection. It's common and usually clears up on its own within 2 to 3 weeks. But medicines can help if it's taking a long time to go away.
The amazing blend of eucalyptus, lavender and lemon essential oils works as a natural decongestant aid. The strong anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of eucalyptus oil help in lessening the inflammation and combats infection.
If you have a weak immune system , you are more likely to develop sinus infection from bacteria or mold. Other things that can cause sinus infections are colds, seasonal allergies, nasal polyps or a deviated septum.
Stress and anxiety can affect your sinuses indirectly by increasing your susceptibility to a range of health issues that, in turn, worsen your sinus problems. Sustained stress can weaken your body's immune system, making you more vulnerable to the effects of allergens, as well as germs, bacteria, viruses, infections.
If you feel that you are blocked up but are not really producing mucus, then this is more indicative of a physical abnormality, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum. It is quite common for people to complain of having a blocked nose on one side.
As much as it is recommended to eat a banana for a healthy body, it is also advised to stay away from bananas during cold or flu. If you have sinus issues then don't eat bananas after sunset. It has a cooling nature and causes congestion, sore throat.
While there are still some question marks, studies generally find an anti-inflammatory effect of coffee, but not of caffeine intake itself, says Newgent.Decaffeinated coffee retains most of the beneficial compounds that are found in regular coffee, including powerful antioxidants, although in smaller quantities, says ...
In most cases, having coffee while taking a first-generation antihistamine like Benadryl is often acceptable. However, it's best to avoid caffeine if you're taking a second-generation antihistamine like Zyrtec or Allegra.