You can usually manage sinusitis at home by following the advice of your healthcare provider. They will often recommend the following treatments to keep your sinuses well drained and lower swelling:

• Nasal saline rinse: You can rinse your sinuses using a squeeze bottle and a mixture of saline and distilled (purified) water. Kits are available at your local pharmacy. It can be uncomfortable at first, but with practice, saline rinses work very well to drain built-up mucus from your sinuses.

  Follow the package instructions carefully. Use only distilled water and do not use tap water as a nasal rinse. Tap water can make your sinusitis worse. Saline rinse devices that look like teapots are not recommended by specialists.

  Go to Saline Nasal Washes for Sinusitis to learn more.

• Nasal spray: You can get a nasal decongestant spray at your local pharmacy without a prescription. Or your healthcare provider may give you a prescription for a stronger nasal spray. Nasal sprays come as a pump, squeeze bottle, or canister. Do not use nasal decongestant sprays for more than two days. Follow the instructions carefully.

  Go to Decongestant Spray - Nasal to learn more.

• Antibiotics: Your healthcare provider will only prescribe antibiotics if you have an infection.

• Surgery: If sinusitis is very infected or becomes a chronic (long-term) condition, your healthcare provider may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist (otolaryngologist) and you may have surgery. This is rare.