Although the weather in the North has just entered the beginning of summer, medical facilities have recorded an increasing trend in the number of people coming for examination for sinusitis symptoms. One of the common causes is the familiar heat relief habit of many people: abusing air conditioners.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Hoai An - Director of An Viet Hospital - said that the demand for air conditioning increases during hot sunny days. Many people tend to lower their temperatures and direct the wind directly into their bodies to create a feeling of coolness quickly, but this is a mistake that potentially causes disease.
The case of Ms. Mai Dung (35 years old, Phu Tho) is a typical example. Due to hot weather, she is almost in an air-conditioned room all day, from work to home. In recent days, she has shown symptoms such as thick yellow nasal discharge, stuffy nose, cough, insomnia, accompanied by pain in the forehead and cheeks. The pain is getting worse, even spreading to the top of her head, causing her to go to the hospital for examination and was diagnosed with sinusitis.
According to Assoc. Prof. Hoai An, when using air conditioning, the air in the room often loses its natural moisture and becomes drier. This causes the nasal mucosa to become dry, reducing the ability to self-clean, creating favorable conditions for bacteria and viruses to invade and cause respiratory diseases, especially sinusitis.
Not only that, the dry air environment also causes mucus in the sinuses to become thick and difficult to circulate. This condition easily leads to stagnation of fluid in the nasal cavity and sinuses, causing patients to feel uncomfortable and prolonged nasal congestion.
Another factor that also contributes to increasing the risk of sinusitis is not regularly cleaning air conditioners. Devices accumulating dirt, bacteria, and mold can become sources of pathogens in closed spaces, increasing the risk of sinusitis recurrence.
To limit the risk of getting sick, experts recommend that people use air conditioning reasonably. Room temperature should be maintained at 26–27 degrees Celsius, avoid sudden temperature changes and should not enter a cold room immediately after going outdoors in the sun. In addition, it is necessary to clean the air conditioner periodically to ensure air quality.
In addition, you can place a basin of water or use a humidifier in the room to balance humidity. Drinking enough water is also very important, helping to thin mucus and supporting airway circulation.
People at risk of sinusitis should limit the use of ice, cold foods, avoid spicy and hot foods, and avoid exposure to smoke and dust and keep their nose and throat clean. Following treatment instructions from doctors also plays an important role in disease control.
Sinusitis is a common disease with symptoms such as pain in the forehead, both sides of the nose, upper jaw or between the eyes; runny nose, stuffy nose, cough, fever, ear pain, toothache, facial swelling and bad breath. If not treated promptly, the disease not only affects the quality of life but can also progress to chronic, causing dangerous complications such as orbital infection, cavernous sinus thrombosis, cerebral abscess, meningitis, threatening life.
