# Does dry heated air give you sinus problems? What seems to help? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 29, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456 "2011-11-29T15:39:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/1 "2011-11-29T15:39:16Z")
Got the first blast of winter right after Thanksgiving. ☹ I had to crank up the heat and the inside humidity is dropping fast. Originally this 50’s ranch had zero insulation. I had the attic blown and the vinyl siding installers added a foam board on the walls. Cut $75 a month off the heat bill. But the heated air in my house get so darn dry. I’ve already started getting sinus pressure and pain under both my cheeks. Zyrtec helps a lot. But then Zyrtec starts making my mouth and gums sore. :smack: I’m going to try the smaller 5mg dose instead of 10mg. When it gets even colder I’ll have to drag out the drugstore small humidifier. Like this. It’s a lifesaver when the inside humidity drops under 30. It will raise the rooms humidity about 5 points (from 27 to 32). [http://www.theonlinedrugstore.com/Sunmark-Humidifier-Cool-Mist-p/1311539.htm](http://www.theonlinedrugstore.com/Sunmark-Humidifier-Cool-Mist-p/1311539.htm) I may eventually get a big humidifier on my furnace. That’s big $$$$. :eek: Plus I wory about it creating mold. Anyone else suffer from dry heated air? What helps you the most? ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/2 "2011-11-29T20:26:16Z")
neutral saline sinus spray. Also neti pot the sinuses when I shower. I can’t use either of them for the next 8 days =( but on the positive side, I have a cold and am getting paid $160 for taking part in a medical study [I am pretty certain I have one of the 2 forms of guaifenesin instead of the placebo just from the way I am producing snot right now…] ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/3 "2011-11-29T20:34:03Z")
Ditto what aruvqan said. I use both. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/4 "2011-11-29T22:53:44Z")
Without a doubt, a huge help – arguably bigger than even a humidifier - is quality air filters. A lot of people (myself included!) mistakenly think it’s the dryness when it’s often just the fact you’re blowing DUST all around your house. Shitty fiberglass air filters are nothing compared to what I have now. Bonus points for rarely having to dust as well. I invested in these [puppies](http://www.amazon.com/3M-Filtrete-Allergen-Reduction-Filters/dp/B005F5D4W6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1316450857&sr=8-2) and they’re been a dream come true, literally. Notice that I linked to one size but the drop down box has all sizes. Get the subscribe and save price, then easily cancel afterwards. Almost as good as hot water baseboards, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2011, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/5 "2011-11-29T23:45:51Z")
I put on a jacket and sat outside for about an hour. Breathing that moist chilly air helped a lot. At least my cheeks aren’t throbbing right now. Going down to Walgreens in a few minutes to see if they have that saline sinus spray aruvqan mentioned. I’ll look into those allergy air filters too. Anything that helps I’ll try. 😉 There’s just something about heat that messes me up. I use central air no problem. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/6 "2011-11-30T00:32:25Z")
Good luck! Also, when was the last time your carpets\rugs were cleaned? If it’s been longer than a year, get some good _truck-mounted steam cleaning_ - none of that grocery store rental crap. Google for specials or just go with Sears. ---
**Author:** ![sitchensis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sitchensis/32/4892_2.png) [@sitchensis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sitchensis)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/7 "2011-11-30T00:37:42Z")
Put a large pot of water on the stove and turn the stove on. Make sure to keep watch and add more water when needed. ---
**Author:** ![OpalCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8edcca/32.png) [@OpalCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OpalCat)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/8 "2011-11-30T00:41:12Z")
There’s some good advice for a dried out nose here: [How should I best treat a very dry nose? - In My Humble Opinion - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=630843) ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/9 "2011-11-30T02:22:42Z")
An ultrasonic humidifier in the bedroom, not that cheap 50s era technology you are buying. Dont buy the furnace mold-maker. And start running it way before the humidity drops below 30. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/10 "2011-11-30T02:40:31Z")
I have a whole-house humidifier on my furnace and no mold. No dry sinus issues either. So nayh nayh 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ruby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/13edae/32.png) [@Ruby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby)\ **Post date:** [November 30, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/11 "2011-11-30T03:58:03Z")
I, too, have a whole house humidifier and would rather lose my right arm than lose that thing. It’s the only thing that keeps my house ABOVE 30% in the winter. If I have a cold I will add another table-top humidifier in the bedroom. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2011, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-dry-heated-air-give-you-sinus-problems-what-seems-to-help/604456/12 "2011-12-02T22:19:05Z")
If you have a CPAP machine, the humidifier on that will help a lot. I haven’t heard of anybody getting one for this reason, though.