Sinusitis is an inflammation of your sinuses, the air pockets in the skull and facial bones around your nose. The condition is often caused by a bacterial infection, although viruses, molds and allergies can also play a role.
Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are similar to those you would experience from a regular cold, such as a runny or stuffy nose, watery eyes, fever, sneezing and a sore throat. The sinuses are lines with a thin layer of mucus and hair-like projects that trap germs, dust and particles and sweeps them to the back of the throat. When you have an infection, mucus becomes trapped in your sinuses, causing pain around your cheekbones, at the bridge of your nose and on your forehead.
Allergies and asthma can both play a role in developing sinus problems, because both conditions cause the nasal and sinus passages to swell in an attempt to remove unwanted particles or allergens.
Antibiotics are commonly used to treat sinus infections, as are nasal decongestant sprays and antihistamines. Nasal saline washes can also be helpful in mitigating symptoms by flushing out some of the mucus trapped in your sinus cavities. Some people develop chronic sinusitis as the result of anatomical irregularities that make it difficult for the body to drain mucus on its own. In these instances, doctors can perform endoscopic surgery to widen the sinuses and allow for better drainage.
If you think you may be suffering from sinus problems, see an ear, nose and throat doctor, or an ENT, to get an official diagnosis. Also check out Allergy Be Gone for at-home remedies and effective allergy control solutions.
