Allergies & sinus problems

Allergies & sinus problems, in two minutes

A short narrated explainer. Subtitles are on by default and can be turned off in the player; the full transcript is alongside.

Pharmacist review pending60 verified passagesUpdated 2026-10-22

Narration: synthetic voice (Microsoft neural TTS, en-US-AvaNeural). Visuals are diagrams built from the same verified figures as the site.

Transcript

Allergies and sinus problems: reduce exposure, choose the right medicine, rinse safely, and know when antibiotics help.
In 2021, about a quarter of U.S. adults had a seasonal allergy.
The best first step is reducing exposure. On high-pollen days, shower before bed to wash allergens off your skin and hair.
Steroid nasal sprays are the most effective treatment, used every day. Some antihistamines cause less sleepiness than others.
Using a decongestant spray for more than three days can make congestion rebound.
Most sinus infections are viral and clear without antibiotics. See a provider for severe pain or symptoms lasting more than 10 days.
If you rinse your sinuses, use only distilled, sterile or boiled and cooled water. Never plain tap water.
Trouble breathing or swelling after a trigger is an emergency. Use epinephrine if you have it, and call 911.
Your next steps: name your trigger, cut your exposure, and use your steroid spray every day.
This is a ProperHealth review edition. It has not yet been approved by a pharmacist.