Sinusitis is no fun. Between the sniffles and sneezes, you may not know what to do about it until it passes. However, Allergy & ENT Associates can help you fight that sinus disease; don’t take it sitting down! Here’s everything you need to know about sinus disease, from what it looks like to how you can combat it.
Symptoms
Sinus disease looks different in every patient. Some people complain of headaches and facial pain, while others may lose their sense of smell and ability to breathe through the nose. Seek medical attention for cold-like symptoms that last longer than three months.
These symptoms may also vary depending on their cause. If you have any known allergies and face regular exposure to those allergens, mucus can build up. When that mucus sticks in your sinuses for too long, it attracts bacteria and various germs. Then, you’ve got a sinus infection on your hands.
Types
Let’s look at a few varieties of sinus disease. As mentioned above, allergies can be a root cause of sinusitis, but these diseases come in varying forms.
Acute sinusitis lasts for one or two weeks, often comorbid with the common cold. Allergies can also bring on this type of sinus disease; your doctor may perform an allergy panel to get to the root of your illness.
Subacute sinusitis lasts a little longer—around three months—and it’s often the result of a bacterial infection from that mucus buildup.
Chronic sinusitis, as its name suggests, lasts longer than three months. The symptoms are generally less severe, but if you’re stuffed up and uncomfortable for an extended period of time, call Allergy & ENT Associates. We’re the premier provider of nose and sinus services in the Houston area and can clear you up!
Treatments
Nasal congestion is the most common symptom of sinus disease, and you can treat it with many over-the-counter methods, like nasal spray and decongestants. If your sinus woes are the result of allergies, you can try antihistamines as well.
In the event of a bacterial infection, your doctor will likely prescribe antibiotics. Make sure you follow the full regimen, even after you feel better! When you stop taking antibiotics before emptying the pill bottle, the bacteria in your sinuses can become resistant to them and continue to plague you.
Chronic sinusitis may require surgery to correct. Endoscopic sinus surgery involves teeny-tiny tools that your surgeon uses to cut away excess tissue or polyps and open up your nasal passages.
If you’ve got sinus disease, you don’t need to suffer. You’ve got everything you need to know about sinus disease; contact Allergy & ENT Associates for treatment options.
