Sinusitis is the medical term for a sinus infection. Learn what chronic sinusitis is, why it happens and the treatments that bring lasting relief.
One of the most common nasal and sinus conditions is sinusitis, also known as a sinus infection. It is a swelling or inflammation of the tissue that lines your sinus and nasal area. Sinusitis can come from a bacterial infection, a virus or a structural issue like narrow sinus openings or a facial injury. When the sinus opening is too narrow, mucus cannot drain the way it should, which leads to congestion and infection.
A normal sinus cavity is filled with air. When the sinus tissue is irritated, the cavity can become blocked and fill with fluid, which can lead to an infection. Colds, allergies, nasal polyps and a deviated septum can all cause sinus blockages.
You have chronic sinusitis when these symptoms last more than 8 weeks at a time.
Sinusitis is often an acute, short term condition that clears up with nasal saline rinses, antihistamines and over the counter decongestants. When your symptoms last more than 8 weeks or keep coming back through the year, you may be dealing with a chronic sinus infection.
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Common symptoms of sinusitis include:
If these symptoms describe you, take our sinus quiz to learn whether you are a candidate for a balloon sinuplasty procedure to treat your chronic sinusitis.
Chronic sinusitis can have many causes, and the first step is finding the root issue in your sinuses. For some patients the cause is inflammation from untreated allergies, so the right fix is allergy treatment to get those allergies under control. In other cases, sinusitis can be managed with nasal rinses and nasal sprays.
When the cause is a structural issue inside your nasal cavity, your provider may recommend a procedure. We offer several in-office procedures to treat chronic sinusitis, most of them minimally invasive with no hospital stay.
Schedule a consultation with a sinus specialist today to get relief from chronic sinusitis!
Symptoms that last more than 8 weeks, or keep returning through the year, point to chronic sinusitis rather than a one-off infection. At that stage, home remedies usually are not enough and it is worth seeing a sinus specialist.
Acute sinusitis is short term and often clears within a couple of weeks with rest, rinses and over the counter medicine. Chronic sinusitis lasts 8 weeks or longer and often has an underlying cause, like untreated allergies or a structural problem, that needs treatment.
Yes. Many patients get relief from allergy treatment, nasal rinses or sprays, or a minimally invasive in-office procedure such as balloon sinuplasty. Our specialists start with the least invasive option that fits your case.
See a specialist when sinus symptoms last more than 8 weeks, return several times a year or do not improve with medication. A sinus consultation can pinpoint the cause and match you with the right treatment.
If you’re ready to banish chronic sinusitis symptoms and improve your quality of life, schedule a consultation at Aspire Allergy & Sinus today. Our sinus specialists are here to provide a chronic sinusitis treatment plan to meet your unique needs!
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