Clear Your Head

Sinuses stuffed? Top reasons why you shouldn't tough it out . . .

When it comes to sinus symptoms, it's smart to be a wimp. Really. Because if you feel like you're breathing through a straw, there's pressure around your nose, and your head is stuffier than a Victorian tea party, your sinuses may be trying to tell you something. They're trying to tell you that they need help.

That's right. Those little nasal pockets in your head that humidify and warm the air you breathe are struggling to do their job. And they want you to do something about it. Now. Before things get worse.

And they could. Get worse, that is. When you allow chronic sinus symptoms to hang around and don't bother to treat them, you risk more than the cost of a box of Kleenex and a few nights of sleep. In addition to a blocked schnoz, you could be facing:

• Pain -- from sinus headaches
• Chronic sore throats -- from postnasal drip
• Infections -- blocked sinuses create the perfect environment for 'em
• Chronic sinusitis -- where sinuses become chronically swollen and inflamed
• Lung problems -- like asthma

Luckily, it's easy to become an expert on your symptoms, so that you know exactly what to do -- and when to do it -- to make yourself feel better. Start by taking the RealAge Stuffy or Runny Nose Quiz to find out what's causing your problems.

Once you whiff out the culprit, snuffing out those sniffles will be a piece of cake.

Start feeling better right now by taking these sinus-soothing steps.

Dr. Michael Roizen