Maryland State Wire

As winter marches on, sinus experts are offering advice on how to prevent sinus infections during the cold-weather season.

The sinuses are hollow, air-filled cavities that can become inflamed for various reasons, including infection from viruses, bacteria or fungus. If the infection is viral, it can be passed to others.

To prevent sinus infections, experts recommend that people wash their hands thoroughly before eating and after coming in from outside. Clean your carpets and rugs often and keep furniture, bedding and surfaces clean. Avoid pet dander in your home, and keep the windows closed. Use a good humidifier for steam in your home. Drink enough water so that the sinuses won't dry out, and cover your face when going out in the cold, the Hindustan Times suggests.

Dr. Jamie Oberman | Frederick Breathe Free

"The nose is the entry point for all the pathogens that we're exposed to," Dr. Jamie Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Maryland State Wire. "Especially in this COVID era, we found that ... the epicenter of that virus' inoculation is the nose."

Common symptoms of a sinus infection include a runny nose, a severe headache, congestion, facial pain and even tooth pain.

If symptoms become chronic, Oberman recommends a nasal rinse.

"In addition to the medical management and surgical management, the solution to pollution is dilution," Oberman said. "That's where rinsing your nose with NeilMed rinses, NetiPots, those types of things that you've seen on the market, there's science behind them. They're really, truly rinsing out things that you are reacting to in your nose. So nasal hygiene is a big part of the toolkit that we discuss with our patients on a regular basis."

Ignoring symptoms of sinus infection for too long can worsen the symptoms and aggravate the pain.

"Early intervention is key because you can avoid the recurrent antibiotics that are developing the bacterial resistance," Oberman added. "So when you really need an antibiotic for a serious infection, it might not work anymore. So that's one aspect of getting on these things earlier."

It's important for patients to determine the nature of their symptoms to choose the best course of action to relieve pain. If you want to evaluate your symptoms and think you might benefit from seeing a doctor, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.