Health Tip: Clogged Sinuses

(HealthDayNews) -- You''re coughing, tired, and achy. You think you might be getting a cold, but cold medicines aren''t working and now you''ve got a splitting headache. You head to your doctor and are told you have sinusitis.

Sinusitis means your sinuses are inflamed and possibly infected, the U.S. National Institutes of Health says.

If you have acute sinusitis, your doctor may recommend decongestants, pain relievers and antibiotics to control a bacterial infection, if one is present.

But be warned: If you use over-the-counter or prescription decongestant nose sprays, use them for only few days, the agency advises. If you use these medicines for longer periods, their anti-inflammatory effects can actually backfire, causing even more congestion and swelling of your nasal passages.

-- Anne Thompson