Sinusitis
If you’ve experienced pain or swelling in or around the nose at some point in your life, it is likely that you have experienced symptoms of sinusitis. Sinusitis affects the membranes that line the sinuses and the nose, causing them to become inflamed and swollen. This interferes with mucus drainage as well as the opening of the sinuses, causing uncomfortable symptoms. The condition is extremely common, affecting more individuals than asthma or heart disease.
Types of Sinusitis
There are two different kinds of sinusitis patients may experience: chronic or acute sinusitis.
Chronic sinusitis occurs when the sinuses have become swollen or inflamed. The inflammation lasts for 8 weeks or more, even after treatment has been received.
Acute sinusitis is temporary and caused by bacterial infections commonly associated with having a cold. However, if you experience frequent sinusitis episodes (more than 4 times each year), you may have recurrent acute sinusitis.
Symptoms of Sinusitis
Patients may experience various symptoms when sinusitis is present. These symptoms include:
- Congestion or obstruction of the nasal passages
- Sinus headaches
- Coughing
- Sore throat
- Aching in the jaw or in teeth
- Nausea
- Pain in the ears
- Thick, greenish or yellow discharge from the nose or throat
- Halitosis
- Irritability
- Pain, tenderness, or swelling in the cheeks, forehead, nose, or around the eyes
- Fatigue
When Should You See a Doctor?
Sinusitis can be acute or chronic, but each one has similar symptoms. If you notice that you have any of the symptoms associated with sinusitis, you should schedule an appointment with a medical professional to be evaluated and receive treatment. You should definitely see a doctor if your sinusitis is not responding to treatment, the symptoms last longer than a week, and symptoms do not get better after seeing a doctor near you.
If you’ve had no luck with treating chronic or acute sinusitis, schedule an appointment to sit down with our highly experienced team of medical professionals. We can get to the root cause of your sinus problems and relieve symptoms that have not responded to previous treatment methods.