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10 ARCHBOLD
MEDICAL CENTER
Taking the
pressureoff
HOW TO EASE THE PAIN OF SINUSITIS
YOU MIGHT FEEL PAIN
at
first—some say it’s like a mask squeezing
tightly over your eyes and across your
nose. Your cheeks become tender and
sore. Then comes a stuffy nose, along
with a nasty postnasal drip down the
back of your throat.
Perhaps you were just getting over
a lousy cold. What you might have is
sinusitis—an all-too-common condition
in which blocked sinuses often trigger
infections and facial pain or pressure.
Bacterial or viral infections, allergies,
asthma, and other health problems can
cause sinusitis.
How the pressure builds
Within your skull are four pairs of hollow
spaces known as your paranasal sinuses.
They can be found around the eyes,
nose, forehead and cheekbones, and
they connect to the nasal passages.
Inflammation makes their lining swell,
keeping mucus from draining properly.
As a result, mucus and air become
trapped inside the sinus cavities.”
And when that happens, your face—
and perhaps even your teeth—may hurt.
These blocked sinuses make it easy for
germs to thrive. So your congested nose
might also produce a thick discharge.
Other signs and symptoms of sinusitis
include:
•
Coughing.
•
Fever.
•
Bad breath.
•
A sore throat.
•
Decreased sense of smell.
A timeline of symptoms
There are several different kinds of sinus-
itis. Each is categorized by how long the
symptoms last.
Common types include:
Acute sinusitis.
Symptoms last less
than four weeks.
Recurrent acute sinusitis.
You may
have this type if you experience four or
more infections that clear up and return
in a single year.
Chronic sinusitis.
These infections
last longer than 12 weeks. Because the
sinuses are always inflamed, symptoms
such as postnasal drip may go on for
months or years.
Seeking needed relief
If you think you have sinusitis, tell your
doctor. He or she might suggest:
•
Using a nasal saline rinse.
•
Trying some over the counter or pre-
scription nasal steroid such as Flonase.
•
Taking medicines for pain relief.
•
Using decongestants or nasal sprays
that reduce swelling.
•
Getting plenty of fluids and rest.
•
Taking an antibiotic if bacteria—not
a virus—caused your infection. Usually
an antibiotic is not needed if it has been
less than a week.
If you have frequent sinus infections
ask your primary care provider to refer
you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT)
specialist.
The ENT will confirm your diagnosis
and set up a treatment plan. Surgery is
also sometimes an option for persistent
sinusitis.
Sources: American Rhinologic Society; Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention; National Institute of Allergy and
Infectious Diseases
Brian Szwarc, MD
Otolaryngologist
ENT Associates of Southwest Georgia