You know the signs all too well- the congestion, sinus pain and unpleasant drainage. It's another sinus infection. Whether you're battling them non-stop or they seem to follow the seasonal cold, we have the lowdown on sinusitis and what you can do to finally beat it.
Do You Know What Sinusitis Is?
Sinusitis, or commonly know as a sinus infection, occurs when your nasal cavities become infected, swollen and inflamed. The sinuses are cavities located behind your face, including areas:
- Cheekbone structure
- Behind the forehead and eyebrows
- On both sides of the bridge of the nose
- Behind the nose in front of the brain
Acute sinusitis lasts three to eight weeks. If your sinusitis lasts longer than eight weeks, it is referred to as chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis can be resistant to the use of antibiotics and pills or sprays.
What Causes Sinusitis?
Your sinuses are lined with a thin layer of healthy mucus that serves to trap germs, dust and unwanted particles that you breathe in. Tiny hair-like structures in the nose, called the cilia, sweep mucus towards the back of the throat, allowing unwanted particles to be digested in the stomach -- a very normal function of your body.
When you're suffering from sinusitis, the cilia become infected, preventing the normal flow of mucus and trapping it in the sinuses.
Sometimes, sinusitis can be caused by the issues within your facial structure, such as:
- Narrow sinus openings
- Defect or damage to the nasal septum
- Nasal Polyps
The Tell-Tale Signs That You Have Sinusitis
The symptoms of a common cold, such as a runny or stuffy nose and fatigue, are often associated with sinusitis. The difference between a cold and sinusitis is the duration of symptoms. While a cold should only last 5-10 days, sinusitis lasts at least three weeks and include additional symptoms, such as:
- Postnasal drip
- Discolored nasal discharge
- Tenderness of the face
- Headaches
- Tooth pain
- Coughing
- Fever
- Bad Breath
You Have Simple Treatment Options For Sinusitis
With symptoms that linger, it can be hard to treat and get rid of a sinus infection for good.
Antibiotics are the standard treatment for combating sinus infections. Taken anywhere from 3 to 28 days, antibiotics help fight the bacteria. Because antibiotics don't typically alleviate symptoms, nasal decongestants, antihistamines, topical nasal corticosteroids and nasal saline can help to manage them.
If you're suffering from chronic sinusitis and stuck in the cycle of antibiotics and pills or sprays, you may be struggling with an underlying issue. An issue that may have straightforward treatment options. At ADVENT, following a proper evaluation of The Breathing Triangle®, you may find that you're a great candidate for a simple, in-office solution such as Balloon Sinuplasty.
At ADVENT, we get to the bottom of chronic sinusitis, so you can ditch the cycle of ineffective treatments and finally find the relief you've been looking for.