Sinusitis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention

1. Sinusitis Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention As small air pockets, the sinuses are present in between the eyes and just below the forehead. Due to the inflammation in the nasal passages or sinuses, people have sinusitis or sinus infection. When sinusitis or sinus infection occurs, you notice swelling or inflammation of the tissue that lines the sinuses. It happens due to structural issues in your nose. You should visit an ENT doctor if you notice anything abnormal in or around your nose. Before booking an appointment, you should know each point associated with sinusitis. Usually, you know about a disease when you notice some signs associated with it. Talking about sinusitis symptoms, you have the same experience that you face with a common cold. The symptoms of sinusitis you can notice are as follows: Runny or stuffy nose Sneezing Fever Fatigue Cough Reduced sense of smell Headache Thick yellow or green mucus coming from the nose Allergy symptoms that don’t respond to medication Cold symptoms that last more than 10-14 days Bad breath Dental pain Facial pain or pressure

2. Some of you may be eager to know who are highly prone to have sinusitis or sinus infection. Here you may refer to risks or causes of sinusitis. You might have a sinus infection if you have swelling in your nose due to a common cold. Blocked drainage ducts, narrowed airway, structural issues in the nose, nasal polyps, allergies, smoke in the atmosphere, etc. can cause you to suffer from sinusitis. As per the available data, sinusitis is of four types - acute, subacute, recurrent acute, and chronic sinusitis. Acute sinusitis lasts for the shortest duration and is brought up by the common cold. While talking about subacute sinusitis, it can last for 12 weeks and occurs to you due to bacterial infections or seasonal allergies. Recurrent acute sinusitis makes you suffer 4 times a year and you have issues for at least 7 days each time. The fourth type of sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, lasts for more than 12 weeks and the symptoms are less than acute sinusitis. You should visit an ENT specialist when you notice your symptoms are getting worse. After interacting with you, the doctor can recommend you an X-ray, CT scan, MRI, allergy tests, nasal endoscopy, and a blood test. Your sinusitis treatment can be a combination of lifestyle changes, medicine, and surgery. The doctor can prescribe a spray or balm to lower your nasal congestion, painkillers to provide relief from body pain and antibiotics to treat runny nose, eye swelling and allied signs. You may need to go through a surgery for the removal of nasal polyps, clear the sinuses, and repair the structural issues in the nose. Prevention is always better than treatment. So, to safeguard yourself from a sinus infection or sinusitis, you should follow certain preventive tips. You can get a flu shot each year, wash your hands frequently before touching your face, take a healthy & balanced diet and avoid the company of people with respiratory problems. Further, you should limit your exposure to pollen, smoke, irritants, dust, and chemicals. Summary Sinusitis or sinus infection is a common health issue. Knowing the signs, causes, types, treatment, and prevention can help you stay away from it and take the requisite action if it occurs to you.