Have you ever heard of a sinus infection caused by vitamins? Actually, this is a very common occurrence. When you take certain vitamins, they can cause stuffy nose or sinusitis because they contain some of the harmful bacteria that can cause bad breath and even sinusitis.
Are you suffering from sinusitis? The good news is that most symptoms of sinus infection can be treated by taking daily vitamins. Here are the best vitamin c supplements to help you naturally relieve symptoms such as congestion and post-nasal drip. Read on to learn more about how to combat a stuffy nose caused by sinusitis.
Are you suffering with sinus infection? Do you have difficulty breathing and face a lot of pain in your nose? You can get rid of these symptoms by taking vitamin C.
vitamins for sinus
Sinusitis – A sinus infection is an inflammation of the mucous membranes lining the nose and sinuses. It usually results from bacterial or viral infections. The cause of these infections is mostly common bacteria, viruses, and fungi that enter through a person’s nasal passages. Symptoms include stuffy nose, headache, fever and loss of appetite.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that are located in the sinuses. An infection can develop resulting in a stuffy nose or pain behind one or both eyes. Symptoms include a runny nose and mucus (clear, yellow discharge). You should see a doctor if you have persistent or severe pain in your head, face or ears.
sinusitis is a severe swelling or an infection of one or more of the sinuses. It is caused mostly by viruses and has many medical names such as rhinosinusitis, Allergic Rhinosinusitis, and viral lower respiratory tract infection (VLRDI).
how much vitamin c to take for sinus infection
In general practice many of the patients come with a problem of allergic rhinitis and having history of taking medicines like levocetrizine or cetrizine with or without use nasal steroidal spray but the problem persists since several years with little or no improvements. As per my clinical practice I used some new approach with the conventional prescriptions on more than 50 patients who are having problems of allergic rhinitis for more than 5 years. Supplementing with Vitamin E may help relieve some of the symptoms associated with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory condition of the nose, throat, sinuses, and eyes. People with allergic rhinitis may have eye and nose itchiness, nasal stuffiness, episodes of sneezing, and a runny nose. Ear infections and chronic sinusitis may result from long-standing allergic rhinitis, as the passages to the ears and the sinuses become blocked. Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, can calm portions of the immune system that are involved in allergic reactions. Cod Liver oil is high in Vitamins A & D which are natural anti-inflammatory to reduce inflammation of the mucus membranes. Vitamin C reduces inflammation and allergic responses. Fish oil may help to decrease the dryness of the lining of the respiratory tract and retain moisture in the the nasal passages. So based on these facts I used a combination of drugs containing Vitamin D, Cod liver oil and High dose of Vitamin B Complex with Monteleukast Sodium & levocetrizine and nasal spray containing Fluticasone Propionate IP with Azelastine Hydrochloride. This therapy gives around >80% relief in symptoms and the frequency of attack significantly reduced. Out of 53 patients 16 have complete relief in three month of therapy than they are switched to multivitamin and multi mineral combinations. Final Conclusion is that in the treatment of allergic rhinitis the role of Vitamins (specially E, C) and Cod liver oil is very significant.
You can go weeks without food and days without water. But you won’t last even a few minutes without breathing. Even so, we tend to forget how important air is. Winter respiratory infections, sinus congestion, allergies, pollution, asthma, and even stress and tension can make it hard to breathe easily. If your breathing is anything less than deep and full, try these seven tips to breathe better now.
- Hydrate and humidify.
Cold air and indoor heating can dry out delicate respiratory tissues, exacerbating respiratory illness, and asthma, and increasing the risk of sinus congestion and upper respiratory tract infections. In winter months, or if you live in a dry climate, use a humidifier—the warm, moist air helps clear excess mucus from the lungs and sinuses and lessens irritation of the respiratory tract. Steam vaporizers are inexpensive and easy to maintain and can be used with essential oils. Just add a few drops of eucalyptus, peppermint, pine, or spruce essential oil to the medicine cup on the mister, and infuse your bedroom or office with healing scents.
To prevent the growth of bacteria and mold, be sure to clean your humidifier properly—use equal parts of warm water and vinegar, scrub off the residue with a soft brush—and be careful not to over humidify, which can lead to mold growth. Stay well-hydrated to keep the respiratory tract moist. If you’re sick of chugging water, try spiking it with juice, lemon or cucumber slices, or electrolyte-enhanced drink tablets or powders.
- Flush with nasal irrigation.
Nasal irrigation, a traditional Ayurvedic treatment, has been used for thousands of years to treat congestion and sinus problems by removing mucus and debris from the nasal cavities. You can find a variety of nasal irrigation devices at natural grocers or pharmacies. Try a neti pot, a small ceramic pot specially designed to irrigate sinuses, or a squeeze bottle. Fill either one with 1 pint of lukewarm distilled water mixed with 1 teaspoon of sea salt. Check the health department guidelines in your area; your tap water may contain low levels of bacteria and protozoa that can stay alive in the nasal passages and cause potentially serious infections in some individuals. During the day, keep nasal cavities clear with sprays designed to moisturize and soothe sinuses. Look for formulas made with xylitol, a sugar alcohol derived from fruits and vegetables that’s been shown to reduce the risk of sinus infections.
Healthy Tip! One of the easiest ways to breathe better is to retrain your body to breathe in a way that improves respiratory function.
- Use healing herbs.
A variety of herbs and supplements can ease congestion, combat allergies, fight respiratory infections, and help you breathe easier. Butterbur, a shrub that grows in Europe and North America, has been used for hundreds of years in traditional medicine to treat cough, asthma, and breathing difficulties, and it’s been shown in studies to ease allergic rhinitis and other respiratory issues. Look for tinctures and capsules standardized for petasin and isopetasin, and choose a formula certified and labeled “PA-free,” meaning it doesn’t contain liver-harming pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs).
Additionally, medicinal mushrooms, can help promote healthy respiratory and lung function. And eucalyptus contains myrtol and cineole, compounds that have been shown to treat sinusitis and bronchitis; look for it in combination formulas with other respiratory herbs such as grindelia, dong quai, skullcap, mullein, ginger, peppermint, and wild cherry bark. Or make your own breathe-easy beverage: combine fenugreek, hyssop, juniper, and licorice, and sip as a soothing tea.
- Get moving.
Exercise may not sound appealing when you’re feeling like it’s hard to breathe, but moving your body can improve lung function and capacity, and clear congestion. Start small: take gentle walks or ride your bike. An elliptical trainer or step machine is a great way to exercise inside when cold weather may exacerbate your symptoms. Work your way up to more vigorous exercises, such as skiing, racquetball, jogging, or dancing. Aerobic exercise increases breathing rate and works the heart and lungs, improving their endurance and helping the body use oxygen more efficiently—which, in time, improves breathing. Running and other aerobic exercises also improve the tone of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, which improves breathing. If you’re short of breath from a virus, wait until you’re well before exercising. - Eat to breathe.
A Mediterranean diet—rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, with moderate amounts of dairy, fish, and poultry—has been shown to protect against allergic respiratory diseases, and diets rich in fruits and vegetables have been shown to reduce asthma symptoms.
Foods that boost respiratory health:
Omega-3 fatty acids in fish, walnuts, flax, and hemp are associated with improved lung function and decreased symptoms of asthma.
Apples, onions, citrus fruits, and tea are high in quercetin, an antioxidant that reduces inflammation and helps prevent sinus problems.
Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that helps reduce asthma symptoms and improves pulmonary function.
Cayenne pepper, garlic, onion, ginger, and horseradish break up congestion, thin mucus, and clear excess mucus.
- Take your vitamins.
A handful of common vitamins are critical in preventing respiratory infections, reducing the risk of allergies and asthma, and improving pulmonary function.
What vitamins are good for the respiratory system?
Vitamin E is important for immunity and has been shown to reduce allergic airway inflammation and improve pulmonary function. In the Women’s Health Study of 38,597 women, the risk of developing chronic lung disease was reduced by 10 percent in women using vitamin E supplements.
Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant, has been linked to asthma prevention; studies also show increased vitamin C can reduce wheezing, improve lung function, and protect against bronchitis and sinusitis.
Flavonoids, a group of antioxidants found in many fruits, vegetables, coffees, and teas, have anti-inflammatory properties and can reduce the prevalence and severity of asthma and allergies. Pycnogenol, a supplement that contains a mixture of flavonoids, can be especially effective, and has been shown to increase lung function and improve breathing.
Vitamin D protects against respiratory infections and sinusitis, and low levels of vitamin D have been shown to impair normal lung function and exacerbate symptoms of asthma.
- Practice breathing exercises.
One of the easiest, fastest ways to breathe better is to … breathe better by retraining your body to breathe in a way that increases lung capacity and improves respiratory function. Try this simple exercise: lie down in a comfortable position, and place your hands on your upper and lower belly. Then breathe in slowly through your nose to the count of five, letting your belly rise and fully expand as you inhale. Slowly breathe out, letting your belly deflate and releasing all the air. Do this for at least 10 full rounds of inhaling and exhaling, gradually working your way up to 5 minutes, morning and night. While lying down is best, you can also practice this technique at your desk, or even standing in line at the grocery store. The idea is to make it a habit—so you’re breathing better all day long.
If your sinuses are infected by a virus or bacteria, the result is inflammation – which is also called sinusitis. But what are the sinuses and what purpose do they have? The sinuses are small cavities found in the skull, specifically inside the cheekbones and forehead. There are four cavities altogether:
The maxillary sinuses are the largest, measuring around an inch in width (these are found in the cheekbones and are the sinuses most commonly affected by sinusitis).
The frontal sinuses are in the lower part of the centre of the forehead (the frontal sinuses are the second largest cavities).
The ethmoid sinuses are situated between the eyes at the bridge of the nose.
The sphenoid sinuses are in bones behind the nasal cavity.
What do they do?
The sinuses are lined with mucosa, which is a soft pink tissue, similar to that which lines the inside of the nose. Connected to the nose via smaller openings called ostia, they are thought to help humidify the air we breathe before it gets to the lungs – though this is just a theory, as many believe the purpose of our sinuses isn’t that clear.
We do know, however, that sinuses produce mucous secretions that drain into the nose, where they filter out dust, bacteria and other pollutants. In fact, you may be surprised to learn that the nose and sinuses are thought to produce around a pint and a half of mucous secretions every day (i) – but you probably won’t be aware of it, as this is a normal bodily function.
However, when the sinus linings become swollen as a result of inflammation, it blocks the passage of mucous from the sinuses to the nose, which can make it hard for you to breathe clearly. Other symptoms of sinusitis include a thick green or yellow discharge from your nose; a dull, throbbing pain in the top part of your face (also called a sinus headache) or a feeling of pressure around the area of your cheeks, eyes or forehead; toothache; bad breath; reduced sense of smell; a high temperature and post-nasal drip (nasal fluid releasing into the back of the throat).
There are two types of sinusitis:
Acute sinusitis
This may cause mild to severe symptoms, often similar to those of the common cold, which usually lasts for up to three weeks (though sometimes the symptoms can last. According to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), acute sinusitis affects up to 15 per cent of adults (children are less likely to have sinusitis because their sinuses are not fully developed) (ii).
Chronic sinusitis
This is sinusitis that becomes persistent and lasts for longer than 12 weeks. It’s also common, and is thought to affect one in 10 UK adults (ii).
Causes of sinusitis
Sinusitis can be caused by several things, including the following:
Infections
Acute sinusitis often follows a cold or flu when the virus that causes the cold or flu spreads through the upper airways into the sinuses (viral sinus infection). According to Patient, a small number of cases are also caused by bacteria infecting the sinuses (bacterial sinus infection) (iii). Bacterial sinus infections often last longer than the viral type, and the symptoms may be more severe too. You’ll know your sinuses have become infected when you have a cold or flu, because the discharge from your nose will turn from clear and thin to thicker and yellow or green.
Allergies
If you have allergies that cause inflammation inside the nose, it can block the drainage channels between the nose and the sinuses. This makes the sinuses susceptible to becoming infected because the mucous produced by the mucosa in the sinuses can build up. Related allergies include allergic rhinitis (including hay fever) and asthma.
In some cases, an infection from a tooth can spread to the maxillary sinus (that is, the large sinus cavities in the cheekbones).
Irritants
If you’re sensitive to things like air pollution, cigarette smoke and chemicals found in household cleaning products and other similar products, it can cause inflammation inside the nasal cavity, which can also block the drainage channels between the nose and the sinuses.
Obstructions
Structural problems in the nasal cavity can block or narrow the passages between the nose and sinuses too, including growths called nasal polyps as well as congenital abnormalities in children. A deviated nasal septum (where the wall between the nostrils becomes crooked) can also restrict or block the nose-to-sinus passages.
Sinusitis may also be likely to develop in some people more than others, including those with asthma, cystic fibrosis or an inflammatory disorder such as Wegener’s granulomatosis or sarcoidosis; those who have suffered a trauma or injury to the face (such as a fractured facial bone): and people who have a weakened immune system (including those who are having chemotherapy treatment or who have an immune disorder such as HIV).
Pregnancy may also make you more likely to suffer from nasal inflammation, which can lead to sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is also linked with diabetes, Kartagener’s syndrome and sniffing illegal recreational drugs such as cocaine.
Sinusitis treatments
If you have sinusitis following a cold (acute sinusitis), it should clear up on its own without any treatment. But if your symptoms don’t improve – or you have chronic sinusitis – you may need to see your GP. According to the NHS, you should see a doctor if your symptoms don’t start to improve after a week, or if your symptoms are severe or getting worse (iv). The treatments you may be recommended to use include the following:
Antibiotics
Most cases of acute sinusitis are caused by a viral infection. But if your GP suspects your sinusitis is the result of a bacterial infection, you may be prescribed a course of antibiotic tablets. This is because antibiotics kill bacteria, but they are ineffective against viruses. If you’ve been prescribed antibiotics you may need to take them for a week or longer. There are, however, some possible side effects associated with taking antibiotics, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, skin rashes, fungal infections (such as thrush) and stomach pain.
Corticosteroids
Steroid sprays and drops are often used to treat persistent sinusitis as they may help to reduce inflammation in the sinuses. You may need to use a steroid spray or drops for three months or longer, and the possible side effects include a sore throat, irritation in your nasal passages and nosebleeds. Your GP may also prescribe steroid tablets rather than a spray or drops, especially if your symptoms are severe.
If you’ve tried corticosteroids and/or antibiotics, and your symptoms don’t improve, you may be referred to an ENT (ear, nose and throat) specialist for surgery. The most common type of surgery used for chronic sinusitis is called functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). This is usually performed under general anaesthetic, and includes a thin tube called an endoscope being inserted into your nose. The end of the tube that goes into your nose has a lens that helps the surgeon to look at your sinuses and to remove any tissue that’s blocking them.
Another option is that a tiny balloon is placed into your sinuses’ drainage passages to widen them (a procedure called balloon catheter dilation or balloon sinuplasty). Once the sinus drainage channel has been widened, the balloon is removed and the sinus is allowed to drain.
If you have nasal polyps or other structural problems inside the nose (such as a deviated septum), you may also need surgery to correct them.
Self-help for sinusitis
If you have acute sinusitis, there are several things you can do yourself to relieve your symptoms:
Pain relief: Taking simple over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen may help to relieve the pain of sinusitis, as well as a high temperature. You may also want to try applying a warm pack to your face, as this can help with pain as well as make it easier for your sinuses to drain.
Breathe more freely: If you have a blocked nose you could also try using over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays or drops. These can help you to breathe more easily in the short term, but they don’t cure the underlying cause of your sinusitis. Also be careful not to use decongestant nasal sprays or drops for longer than a week at a time, as if used for longer periods they can make your symptoms worse.
Clean your nasal passages
Rinsing your nose with saline nasal drops or a nasal rinse can help unblock your nasal passages by removing mucous. There are several nasal rinse/wash products you can buy, or you could make your own. The following home remedy is recommended by the NHS (v):
Mix up a saline solution by mixing a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda in a pint of boiling water that has been left to cool.
Now rinse your nose one nostril at a time. Stand over a sink and pour some of the saline solution into your cupped hand, sniffing the water into each nostril separately.
Repeat until your nose feels more comfortable. If you need to rinse your nose again, you can use the same solution if it has been made during the same day (make a fresh batch of the solution each day, don’t use any that’s more than a day old).
Drink plenty of fluid
Make sure you don’t become dehydrated, as this can make your sinuses worse. Have plenty of drinks, especially water.
Eat healthily
Many nutritional experts believe eating a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables can be beneficial if you have sinusitis. Certain foods are also thought to help break up mucous and relieve congestion, so consider adding ingredients such as ginger, garlic, horseradish and chillies to your meals.
Avoid smoke and other irritants
Nasal irritants such as cigarette smoke and chemicals from household sprays can aggravate sinusitis symptoms, so avoid them wherever possible, especially if you’re sensitive to them. If you’re a smoker, consider giving up and look into the various forms of stop-smoking help that’s available, such as patches, gum and lozenges that may help with nicotine cravings. Find out more about our tips to stop smoking.
Natural remedies for sinusitis
Even a mild case of sinusitis can make you feel rotten. Thankfully, there are some natural supplements that may help relieve your symptoms by providing immune support and easing inflammation:
Vitamins C and D
Vitamin C (vi) and vitamin D (vii) may help to improve your immune function, which may be particularly helpful if you have chronic sinusitis as a result of having a weakened immune system
The recommended form of vitamin D is vitamin D3 or cholecalciferol, as it’s the natural form of vitamin D that the body makes when it’s exposed to sunlight. Vitamin D3 supplements are available in tablet form, and now you can get them in veggie-friendly drops too.
However most vitamin D3 supplements are made from the fat of lamb’s wool, which means they’re unsuitable for vegans. The good news is that vegan vitamin D3 supplements sourced from lichen are now more widely available.
Zinc
The mineral zinc is also thought to be important for immune function (viii), with one report suggesting both vitamin C and zinc help to relieve the symptoms of respiratory tract infections as well as shorten their duration (ix).
Multivitamins
One way to get the required level of all three nutrients is to take a high-strength multivitamin and mineral supplement.
Elderberry
Another supplement that may be useful for immune health is elderberry extract, thanks to the fact it contains powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins.
There is also evidence to suggest that black elderberry extract may increase the body’s production of chemical messengers within the immune system called cytokines, suggesting it has an immune-enhancing function (x).
Fish Oils
Since inflammation of the sinuses causes sinusitis, nutritional supplements that reduce inflammation may be helpful. The omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) found in oily fish are widely accepted to have an anti-inflammatory action, with experts writing in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition suggesting omega-3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory properties and therefore might be useful in the management of inflammatory diseases (xi).
If you’re not keen on eating oily fish such as salmon, herring, mackerel and sardines, you can get an adequate intake of EPA and DHA by taking a good-quality fish oil supplement. However if you’re a vegetarian or vegan you can still benefit from an omega-3 supplement, thanks to the availability of products that contain the natural triglyceride (TG) form of omega-3. This is sourced from plant organisms called microalgae rather than fish oils.
Managing sinusitis can seem daunting, but following the steps above should help to ease some symptoms. For even more information on a range of other health conditions, visit our health library.