{"id":4005,"date":"2024-12-26T18:53:50","date_gmt":"2024-12-26T23:53:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/?p=4005"},"modified":"2024-12-26T18:57:10","modified_gmt":"2024-12-26T23:57:10","slug":"breathe-easy-this-winter-simple-steps-to-prevent-sinus-infections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/breathe-easy-this-winter-simple-steps-to-prevent-sinus-infections\/","title":{"rendered":"Breathe Easy This Winter: Simple Steps to Prevent Sinus Infections"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Winter can be rough on your sinuses. The cold air, dry indoor conditions  and surge in seasonal illnesses like colds and the flu can make sinus infections more common. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, happens when the tissues lining your <a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/ent\/sinusitis\/\">sinuses become inflamed<\/a>. Let\u2019s dive into some practical tips to keep your sinuses healthy this season.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"stay-hydrated-and-humidify\">Stay Hydrated and Humidify<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Sick-woman-resting-on-sofa-drinking-hot-tea-and-massaging-her-nose-1.jpg\" alt=\"Sick woman resting on sofa drinking hot tea and massaging her nose.\" class=\"wp-image-4011\" width=\"-352\" height=\"-234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Sick-woman-resting-on-sofa-drinking-hot-tea-and-massaging-her-nose-1.jpg 1253w, https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/Sick-woman-resting-on-sofa-drinking-hot-tea-and-massaging-her-nose-1-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1253px) 100vw, 1253px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Dry air\u2014both indoors and outdoors\u2014is a significant winter issue. When your sinuses dry out, they\u2019re more prone to irritation and infection. Dehydration from holiday drinks or travel can also make things worse. A few ways to combat winter dehydration include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Drink more water, herbal teas and soups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep indoor humidity levels between 40% and 60%<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Minimize alcohol intake<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Good hydration helps your sinuses stay moist and functional, reducing your risk of infections.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"stay-ahead-of-seasonal-bugs\">Stay Ahead of Seasonal Bugs<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>While sinus infections aren\u2019t contagious, <a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/17701-sinusitis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">the conditions, like colds and other infections, that cause them are<\/a>. Social gatherings and holiday celebrations at The Hoppy Gnome are great\u2014but they also increase your exposure to viruses and bacteria. This is why it\u2019s common to catch bugs after big events with a lot of people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A few ways you can reduce your risk of sinus infections include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Avoid sharing utensils, drinks or personal items<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider wearing a mask in crowded areas<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Good hygiene isn\u2019t just about staying germ-free; it can be a significant step towards keeping your sinuses clear and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"tackle-indoor-allergens\">Tackle Indoor Allergens<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>When winter weather keeps you indoors, <a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/ent\/allergy-types\/\">allergens<\/a> like dust mites, mold and pet dander can irritate your sinuses, increasing your chances of an infection. Take the following steps to minimize your allergen exposure this winter:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Wash bedding weekly, vacuum carpets and wipe down hard surfaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use a dehumidifier or exhaust fan in humid areas like bathrooms and basements<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Replace HVAC filters every 2-3 months to reduce airborne allergens<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wash your pets regularly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This simple cleaning routine can make a big difference in keeping your sinuses happy.<\/p>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-should-i-try-to-prevent-sinus-infections\">Why Should I Try to Prevent Sinus Infections?<\/h2>\n\n\n<p>Sinus infections can affect your sleep, energy, breathing and overall quality of life. By taking proactive steps, you can reduce the likelihood of dealing with sinus issues all winter long. Whether it\u2019s improving hygiene, managing allergens or staying hydrated, these small changes can have a big impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If sinus infections keep coming back despite your best efforts, contact <span class=\"company-name \">Ear, Nose &amp; Throat Associates<\/span> to make an appointment with one of our sinus specialists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><ul class=\"related-posts\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/how-to-beat-congestion-and-enjoy-a-delicious-thanksgiving\/\" class=\"related-post\">How to Beat Congestion and Enjoy a Delicious Thanksgiving<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/whats-causing-that-tightness-in-my-throat\/\" class=\"related-post\">What\u2019s Causing That Tightness in My Throat?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/exploring-allergies-how-they-affect-the-ears-nose-and-throat\/\" class=\"related-post\">Exploring Allergies: How They Affect the Ears, Nose and Throat<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Winter can be rough on your sinuses. The cold air, dry indoor conditions and surge in seasonal illnesses like colds and the flu can make sinus infections more common. A sinus infection, or sinusitis, happens when the tissues lining your sinuses become inflamed. Let\u2019s dive into some practical tips to keep your sinuses healthy this&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4011,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","schema":"","fname":"","lname":"","position":"","credentials":"","placeID":"","no_match":false,"name":"","company":"","review":"","address":"","city":"","state":"","zip":"","lat":"","lng":"","phone1":"","phone2":"","fax":"","mon1":"","mon2":"","tue1":"","tue2":"","wed1":"","wed2":"","thu1":"","thu2":"","fri1":"","fri2":"","sat1":"","sat2":"","sun1":"","sun2":"","hours-note":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4005","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allergy","category-sinus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4005"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4015,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4005\/revisions\/4015"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4011"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4005"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4005"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/entfortwayne.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4005"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}