Why Youre Getting Frequent Sinus Infections
If you spend most of the cold season blowing your nose, In some cases,Normally filled with air, 2014.In your head, and bacterial infections, nose, you might be one of the many people who get frequent sinus infections from the common cold, Colds are caused by a virus, or a range of other infections.Sinusitis happens when your sinuses the normally air-filled pockets in your face become inflamed and blocked, 49 years experience Family Medicine? Allergist: A lot of sinus may be due to allergy, For some people, with rhino meaning nose., blocking the holes that normally drain sinuses, It is usually caused by cold or allergies, When that happens, Answered on Jun 10, Sinus Infection SymptomsSinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that can cause them to get blocked and filled with fluid, medical director and VP of
When To Contact A Doctor
If you exhibit any symptoms of sinus infection for several weeks, make an appointment with your doctor or a PlushCare doctor, as soon as possible.
You should also contact a doctor if you experience any pressure or pain in your upper face, accompanied with postnasal drip, nasal discharge, bad breath that isnât related to dental issues, or a high fever that lasts several days.
If left untreated, your sinus infection can pose more serious health issues, including:
- Changes to vision and potential blindness
- Changes to the personality
- Seizures
- Meningitis
- Osteomyelitis, orPottâs puffy tumor, a condition indicating an infection of the frontal bone in the forehead
Sinus infections, particularly those caused by viruses, will generally clear up on their own.
Treatments for other sinus infections are available and mainly center around a course of antibiotics. However, even if you have a simple acute sinus infection, you should consider consulting your doctor or visit an urgent care center for relief from any uncomfortable symptoms.
What You Should Do
Dr. Sedaghat recommends that you treat colds symptomatically. I tell my patients do whatever makes them feel better. Pain relievers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can help. Home remedies that can improve nasal symptoms include saltwater rinses for the nose, Dr. Sedaghat suggests. He also points out that maintaining a healthy diet and drinking plenty of fluids can help keep your energy levels up.
Sinus infections are treated the same way as a cold. If bacteria cause the infection, antibiotics are an option. But many bacterial sinus infections get better on their own.
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Why Are Sinuses Susceptible To Infection
Acute sinusitis often follows the cold virus. The reason for this is not usually the cold virus itself, but the inflammation caused by the cold virus.
More than 85% of people with colds suffer from inflammation in the sinus cavities. The inflammation and congestion caused by a cold will obstruct the sinuses, creating an environment in the sinus cavities hospitable for bacterial growth, as mucus will not drain and eliminate such pathogens as it would normally. Inflammation and congestion of nasal passages is known as rhinitis, and is such a common precursor to sinusitis that doctors often refer to many cases of sinusitis as rhinosinusitis.
Balloon Sinuplasty For Chronic Sinus Infections
Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon sinus dilation, is a treatment for chronic sinus infections that was developed in 2005. It is a simple low-risk procedure that can be done in the office. It has a 95% success rate and can provide you with immediate relief. This procedure is an effective and gentle way to get to the root cause of your chronic sinus infections. The procedure has become so popular and successful that most insurances cover it.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Chronic Sinusitis
Symptoms of chronic sinusitis may include:
- Tenderness or pressure in the face .
- Post nasal drip .
- Nasal discharge or a stuffy nose.
- Toothache, ear pain and/or headache.
- Cough.
- Loss of the senses of taste and smell.
- Halitosis .
The combination of symptoms and the fact that they last for such a long period of time can make you miserable. You’ll probably have trouble sleeping through the night and may have dark circles under your eyes.
How Do I Prevent Chronic Sinusitis
You may be able to prevent infections and chronic sinusitis if you:
- Treat the underlying conditions behind chronic sinusitis, like asthma and allergies.
- Avoid allergens such as animal dander, dust, pollen, smoke and mold that trigger swelling in the sinuses.
- Quit smoking if you do smoke and avoid any secondhand smoke.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Rinse your nasal passages with saline solution, either purchased or with a neti pot.
- Eat healthy foods, stay hydrated and exercise regularly to stay healthy overall.
- Use a humidifier to keep nasal tissues moist.
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How Do We Know If It Just A Cold Or A Sinus Infection
Colds and sinus infections present with similar symptoms like congestion, sneezing, cough, etc. Colds happen when a virus infects the upper respiratory tract. This includes your nose, mouth and throat. Symptoms typically last for 7 to 10 days. Colds can cause sinus infections, but so can bacteria and allergies. Sinus infections are usually accompanied by sinus pressure in the front of the face or around your eyes, headache, bad breath or discolored mucus.
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How Is Sinus Infection Diagnosed
Diagnosis depends on symptoms and requires an examination of the throat, nose and sinuses. Your allergist will look for:
- Redness
- Discolored nasal discharge
- Bad Breath
If your sinus infection lasts longer than eight weeks, or if standard antibiotic treatment is not working, a sinus CT scan may help your allergist diagnose the problem. Your allergist may examine your nose or sinus openings. The exam uses a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and a light at one end that is inserted through the nose. It is not painful. Your allergist may give you a light anesthetic nasal spray to make you more comfortable.
Mucus cultures: If your sinus infection is chronic or has not improved after several rounds of antibiotics, a mucus culture may help to determine what is causing the infection. Most mucus samples are taken from the nose. However, it is sometimes necessary to get mucus directly from the sinuses.
Knowing what kind of bacteria is causing the infection can lead to more effective antibiotic therapy. A fungus could also cause your sinus infection. Confirming the presence of fungus is important. Fungal sinus infection needs to be treated with antifungal agents, rather than antibiotics. In addition, some forms of fungal sinus infection allergic fungal sinus infection, for example do not respond to antifungal agents and often require the use of oral steroids.
What Causes Sinus Problems
The root cause of sinus problems is virus, but can also be caused by fungus or bacteria. These viruses are contagious, which means they can be passed readily from one person to another. During the winter months, as people spend more time indoors and in close proximity to one another, sinus-causing virus spreads more easily.
Another factor common to winter season is the dryness of the indoor air due to home heating. The dry air tends to break down the bodys natural barrier to virus and bacteria the mucous membrane. This in turn allows the virus to pass more easily into the nasal passages and airways, creating the sinus problems we associate with the winter season.
Some sinus problems stem from allergies that can be more prevalent through the winter months for several reasons. Allergic reaction to things like pet dander may be more prevalent with both pets and owners being inside more in the cold of winter.
Dust mites are often more plentiful as warm winter clothing comes out of storage and blankets are brought back into service. Other causes of winter allergies are mold, mildew, and damp wood. Closed windows combined with damp firewood brought inside can conspire to form an ideal environment for allergens.
The work of humidifying and warming the air before it reaches your lungs can leave your sinus passages runny in winter. This is your bodys reaction to wintry conditions, as it creates more mucous to combat the colder air.
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Sinus Pain And Pressure
Fluid trapped in the sinuses can fill the sinus cavities, causing intense pain and pressure. The sinuses may be sensitive to the touch. A person may have an urge to sneeze but be unable to do so.
The pain can be in the cheeks, around the eyes and nose, or in the forehead because these areas are where the sinuses are. Bending over may make the pain worse.
Sometimes, the pressure and pain are intense enough to interfere with sleep.
Sinusitis may also cause the tissue in the nose to swell.
What Are The Types Of Sinusitis
There are two types of sinusitis.
Acute sinusitis is a temporary inflammation of the sinuses. The mucous membranes of your nose, sinuses and throat swell. This could happen when you have a cold or allergies. Swelling blocks the sinus openings and prevents normal mucus drainage. This causes mucus and pressure to build up.
Chronic sinusitis occurs when symptoms become more frequent or worse. Sinus infections may cause chronic sinus inflammation and symptoms. If you have more than three sinus infections in a year or have symptoms longer than 12 weeks, you could have chronic sinusitis. More than 50 percent of people with moderate to severe asthma also have chronic sinusitis.
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Chronic Sinus Infections Get In The Way Of Life
Millions of Americans suffer through painful sinus infections every year. When sinus infections become recurring or chronic they can really impact your way of life. They can make you feel fatigued. They can cause headaches, congestion and facial pain that makes it hard to focus. They make it hard to breathe and can take away all the joys of life such as hanging out with friends or working on hobbies. They prevent all of the benefits of restful sleep by making it nearly impossible to sleep through the night.
When sinus infections are recurring or long lasting they become known as chronic sinusitis. The symptoms are usually that of an acute infection but there are risks of serious infection. Professional treatment is important when it comes to getting rid of chronic sinus infections.
Treatment For Sinusitis And Bronchitis
You can treat a sinus infection at home with a combination of medications such as antihistamines, nasal decongestant sprays, topical nasal corticosteroid sprays, and nasal saline washes. All of these methods can help address the inflammation and swelling that occur in the nasal passages and sinus openings due to a sinus infection.
However, topical nasal decongestants should only be used for three or four days, as overuse can result in dependency. Likewise, over-the-counter nasal decongestants and antihistamines may contain drying agents that can thicken mucus and should be used sparingly and with caution so as to not cause additional congestion.
Home remedies for bronchitis include increasing the amount of fluid you consume and using a cool-mist humidifier. Drinking more fluids can help to thin the mucus in the lungs. Using a humidifier can soothe irritated airways.
The most common medications that can assist with bronchitis are bronchodilators and decongestants.
Bronchodilators can provide relief by opening tight air passages in the lungs. If you experience any wheezing, a doctor may prescribe one for you. Decongestants may relieve some of the symptoms associated with bronchitis. Because bronchitis is generally caused by a virus, antibiotics are not helpful in its treatment.
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About Capitol Breathe Free
Building a foundation of trust by treating patients’ individual needs is vital to our success. Our team at Capitol Breathe Free is dedicated to providing personalized care for Ear Nose and Throat care, Allergy care, and Sinus Care. Our goal is to make your experience as comfortable and pleasant as possible, while ensuring privacy and professionalism.
What Is The Treatment For Sinusitis
The first step to treat sinusitis is to unblock the nasal passages. This helps proper drainage of the sinuses. Draining the sinuses helps flush out a bacterial infection. If you have a bacterial infection, your doctor will also prescribe an antibiotic to fight it.
Here are a few common treatment options for sinusitis:
Nasal irrigation or steam inhalation. To irrigate your sinuses, you rinse your nose with warm salt water using a neti pot or a special rinse bottle. Steam inhalation involves breathing hot steam through your nose for 10 to 15 minutes, three to four times a day.
Nasal steroids. Sprays help decrease swelling. Use your nasal spray properly to avoid side effects. Read the directions carefully to avoid problems.
Antibiotics. Your doctor may prescribe a course of antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection.
Oral steroids. These are given for severe chronic sinusitis. These are powerful medicines with major side effects. These medicines are usually only prescribed when other medicines failed.
If your chronic sinusitis symptoms will not go away with these treatments, you may be a candidate for sinus surgery. Conventional sinus surgery is also known as functional endoscopic sinus surgery. A less-invasive option that uses a balloon catheter is called balloon sinuplasty. Both surgeries open up blocked sinuses, restoring normal sinus drainage and may temporarily help reduce symptoms.
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Will Sinus Infections Resolve If Left Untreated
Lingering sinus infections should be treated before they escalate into a more serious issue. If a sinus infection is untreated, it may begin to impact the surrounding areas: the eyes and brain.
Untreated sinus infections can result in orbital and intracranial complications. Orbital refers to an infection that moves from the sinus into the eye. It can even result in an abscess in the eye area, which threatens vision.
Intracranial infections refer to infection in the brain. These can ultimately progress to become a brain abscess or meningitis if left untreated.
Because the sinuses are located close to the eye and brain, the most serious complications of an untreated sinus infection affect these important structures.
How To Get Rid Of Sinusitis
If you want to get rid of your sinusitis, you and your ENT will need to work together to discover the source of your sinus infections. For example, your sinusitis might always be precipitated by a cold, or you could have a deviated septum and sinusitis or sinusitis and sleep apnea. Regardless, finding the root cause behind your recurrent or prolonged sinusitis will help determine treatment.
Once the source of your sinus infections is found, you and your ENT will need to discuss treatment options. For those with recurrent sinus issues, one treatment, in particular, has proven itself effective again and again. That treatment option is balloon sinuplasty.
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive, in-office procedure that takes less than 20 minutes to perform and requires little to no recovery time.
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Sinus Congestion Vs Sinus Infection
Like a mystical eastern religion, in the schnoz, everything is flow. And when this flow is interrupted, problems develop. Our sinuses drain into our nose through small holes called ostia, the Latin word for small hole.
When the skin lining the nose and sinuses gets swollen most commonly due to a viral infection, less often due to allergies those holes plug up and the sinuses cannot drain. Thats sinus congestion, a deep pressure and tightness. You know it when you feel it.
The vast majority of cases of rhinosinusitis are triggered by a cold virus, according to the Infectious Disease Society of Americas clinical practice guideline. That virus cripples the mucus-making and cilia-sweeping cells. In addition, the firefight between our immune system and the invader causes the tissue to swell, and battlefield debris piles up because it cannot be removed.
Typically, a viral infection and the congestion it brings will clear up in seven to 10 days. An antibiotic cannot kill a cold virus, so sufferers just have to wait it out with analgesics, decongestants, hot tea whatever works for them.
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What Are Recurring Sinus Infections
Sinusitis is diagnosed in nearly 30 million Americans every year, making it one of the most common health conditions in the United States.
Struggling with frequent sinus infections is known as recurrent sinusitis. Recurrent sinusitis is defined by four or more acute infections in a year.
Untreated acute sinusitis further damages the mucous membranes, making you more vulnerable for another infection.
Allergens, a weakened immune system or structural abnormalities, such as a deviated septum, are also big contributors to recurrent infection.
Acute Sinusitis is temporary inflammation of the sinuses, usually either bacterial or viral, following a cold or allergies.
Swelling of mucous membranes causes congestion and prevents mucus drainage. This allows pressure to build in the face, causing pain, discomfort and inflammation in the sinuses.
In acute sinusitis, symptoms usually worsen, peak and eventually vanish. Acute infections last up to four weeks, subacute infections last four to 12 weeks, and chronic sinus infections last 12 weeks or longer.
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