When we're feeling good, most of us probably give about as much thought to our sinuses as we do our toenails. But when these empty pockets in our heads get inflamed, the pain can be a terrible wake-up call. Chances are, if you've had a sinus headache and congestion for more than a week, it's sinusitis -- an inflammation of the sinuses.

The key to treating sinusitis is to speak with your doctor to determine what's causing the inflammation. Most of the time, it's an infection, but sinusitis can also be caused by allergies or abnormalities in the sinuses and nasal passage.

Your physician should be able to recommend ways to deal with your sinusitis and prevent it from coming back. Depending on the cause, you might need antibiotics and other medications or methods for controlling allergies. But with the right treatment, you'll be headache and congestion-free in a few days.

Medications

Medications are the most common way to treat sinusitis, and you'll find that most of your symptoms can be relieved with a combination of anti-inflammatory painkillers and nasal decongestants.

Decongestants come in many shapes and sizes -- from 4-, 12- or 24-hour pills to nasal sprays. Listen to your doctor and be careful when it comes to using painkillers and decongestants. Some of the active ingredients can be duplicated in over-the-counter drugs and prescription medications, and it can be easy to take too much.

If your sinusitis is the result of a bacterial infection that doesn't clear up after a week or so, your physician may recommend antibiotics. Be patient, though -- many strains of bacteria that can cause sinus infections have become resistant to the most commonly used antibiotics. You may have to try two or more types to treat the infection.