Question: I have had pain and pressure in my sinuses for a couple weeks. Is it just the common cold, or could it be something more serious?
Answer: A person experiencing simple congestion with a low-grade fever probably has a cold and may not need special medications or antibiotics. Those also experiencing facial pain or headaches may have a sinus infection.
Our sinuses are empty cavities located within the bones of our face, and their lining produces mucus. Anything that blocks the drainage of mucus from the sinuses or irritates the lining can cause sinusitis.
Common Culprits Include:
Colds: The cold virus can inflame the lining of the sinuses, causing it to swell. Meanwhile, your body produces more mucus in response to the virus, which becomes blocked in your swollen sinuses. Since this also makes an ideal breeding ground for a bacterial sinus infection, you can have sinusitis caused by both a virus and a bacterial infection.
Allergies: They can be seasonal (i.e. hay fever) or year-round (mold, dust, dander). Either way, if you have allergies, your body reacts to certain substances by releasing histamine into your system, which can swell membranes, open blood vessels, and cause redness. Inflammation and congestion in the nose and sinuses ensue.
Structure: A deviated septum can create structural road blocks in your already narrow sinus and nasal pathways, making your sinuses more susceptible to congestion and trapped mucus.
Polyps: These soft tissue growths are a result of sinus and nasal inflammation, and if they get big enough, they can lead to further obstruction and worse sinonasal symptoms. Patients who have polyps can have a cycle of inflammation, polyps, and then more inflammation that can be difficult to reverse.
Rhinitis: While you may have rhinitis (inflamed, congested or runny nose) without sinusitis, you rarely have sinusitis without rhinitis. If rhinitis is blocking your nasal passage, your sinuses can also become backed up, inflamed and infected. Basically, anything that causes rhinitis, including many of the causes listed above, can lead to sinusitis.
Ways to Decrease Your Risk:
If you suffer from sinusitis, there are simple habits you can develop to keep your sinuses and nasal passage clean and open:
• Stay clear of environmental pollutants, including tobacco smoke.
• Be careful to only use over-the-counter nasal spray decongestants on the short term (no more than 3 or 4 days in a row); ongoing use can actually cause damage to the nasal lining.
• Limit or avoid swimming and diving.
• If you must travel by air, use nasal spray before lift-off. Changes in air pressure often cause sinus and nasal congestion.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep mucus thin.
Treating Sinusitis:
If you suffer from reoccurring or ongoing sinus congestion and pain, you should make an appointment with your physician or ear, nose and throat specialist (otorhinolaryngologist), who will guide you through the diagnostic and treatment process. If you have a bacterial infection, you may need antibiotics to treat the problem.
In addition, your physician can help determine if there is an underlying cause of the rhinitis, such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps, or poorly managed allergies. From surgery to polyp removal to allergy medication, the path of treatment varies depending on the diagnosis.
-Anthony R. Rogerson, M.D., F.A.C.S., is an Otorhinolaryngologist at Monroe Clinic and Monroe Clinic- Freeport.
Answer: A person experiencing simple congestion with a low-grade fever probably has a cold and may not need special medications or antibiotics. Those also experiencing facial pain or headaches may have a sinus infection.
Our sinuses are empty cavities located within the bones of our face, and their lining produces mucus. Anything that blocks the drainage of mucus from the sinuses or irritates the lining can cause sinusitis.
Common Culprits Include:
Colds: The cold virus can inflame the lining of the sinuses, causing it to swell. Meanwhile, your body produces more mucus in response to the virus, which becomes blocked in your swollen sinuses. Since this also makes an ideal breeding ground for a bacterial sinus infection, you can have sinusitis caused by both a virus and a bacterial infection.
Allergies: They can be seasonal (i.e. hay fever) or year-round (mold, dust, dander). Either way, if you have allergies, your body reacts to certain substances by releasing histamine into your system, which can swell membranes, open blood vessels, and cause redness. Inflammation and congestion in the nose and sinuses ensue.
Structure: A deviated septum can create structural road blocks in your already narrow sinus and nasal pathways, making your sinuses more susceptible to congestion and trapped mucus.
Polyps: These soft tissue growths are a result of sinus and nasal inflammation, and if they get big enough, they can lead to further obstruction and worse sinonasal symptoms. Patients who have polyps can have a cycle of inflammation, polyps, and then more inflammation that can be difficult to reverse.
Rhinitis: While you may have rhinitis (inflamed, congested or runny nose) without sinusitis, you rarely have sinusitis without rhinitis. If rhinitis is blocking your nasal passage, your sinuses can also become backed up, inflamed and infected. Basically, anything that causes rhinitis, including many of the causes listed above, can lead to sinusitis.
Ways to Decrease Your Risk:
If you suffer from sinusitis, there are simple habits you can develop to keep your sinuses and nasal passage clean and open:
• Stay clear of environmental pollutants, including tobacco smoke.
• Be careful to only use over-the-counter nasal spray decongestants on the short term (no more than 3 or 4 days in a row); ongoing use can actually cause damage to the nasal lining.
• Limit or avoid swimming and diving.
• If you must travel by air, use nasal spray before lift-off. Changes in air pressure often cause sinus and nasal congestion.
• Avoid alcohol.
• Drink plenty of fluids to keep mucus thin.
Treating Sinusitis:
If you suffer from reoccurring or ongoing sinus congestion and pain, you should make an appointment with your physician or ear, nose and throat specialist (otorhinolaryngologist), who will guide you through the diagnostic and treatment process. If you have a bacterial infection, you may need antibiotics to treat the problem.
In addition, your physician can help determine if there is an underlying cause of the rhinitis, such as a deviated septum, nasal polyps, or poorly managed allergies. From surgery to polyp removal to allergy medication, the path of treatment varies depending on the diagnosis.
-Anthony R. Rogerson, M.D., F.A.C.S., is an Otorhinolaryngologist at Monroe Clinic and Monroe Clinic- Freeport.
