| Top 5 Things to Know About Sinusitis |  |
Sinusitis is a disease afflicting over 37 million Americans
each year. Its painful symptoms and disruptive
complications can lead to misery for a sinusitis sufferer.
One of the best ways to help try and prevent sinus
infections and relieve symptoms is to educate yourself
regarding the disease. Below is a list of five things you
should know about sinusitis and sinus infections.
1. Definition of Sinusitis
Sinusitis is described by the American Academy of
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) as an
"inflammation of the membrane lining of any sinus."
Sinusitis simply means your sinuses are infected or
inflamed.
2. Symptoms of Sinusitis
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(NIAID) lists several symptoms that are associated with
sinusitis. Some symptoms include:
* Headache in the morning
* Pain when pressure is applied to the forehead over the
frontal sinuses
* Aching in the upper jaw and teeth along with tender cheeks
* Swelling of the eyelids and tissues around the eyes or
pain between the eyes
* Tenderness when pressure is put on the sides of the nose
* Loss of smell and nasal congestion or runny nose
* Earaches, neck pain, and deep aching at the top of the
head
* Fever
* Weakness and tiredness
* Coughing that can increase in severity at night
* Postnasal drip causing a sore throat
3. The Difference Between Acute and Chronic Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis is a single, short-term case of sinusitis.
The AAO-HNS notes that acute sinusitis can last for four
weeks or more and that acute sinusitis may be present if a
patient has two or more symptoms or they have thick, green
or yellow nasal discharge.
Chronic sinusitis is sinusitis that usually lasts for three
to eight weeks, but the NIAID notes that it can continue for
months or even years.
4. Causes and Contributors to Sinusitis
There are several factors that can directly cause a sinus
infection or contribute to its severity. Causes of and
contributors to sinusitis include prevalence of asthma and
allergies, damp weather and pollutants in the air, diseases
effecting the immune system such as HIV, diseases that stop
mucus from leaving your respiratory system such as cystic
fibrosis, nasal polyps, colds and viruses, and fungal and
bacterial infections in the sinuses.
5. Various Sinusitis Treatments
Sinusitis treatments are used to reduce inflammation,
alleviate symptoms, or fight bacterial and viral infections
that contribute to chronic or acute sinusitis. According to
the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,
acute sinusitis sufferers may be recommended by their
physician to take decongestants, antibiotics if a bacterial
infection is present, or pain relievers. Chronic sinusitis
can also be treated with antibiotics or decongestants, but
it is often difficult to treat successfully because symptoms
can persist even after antibiotic treatment. Steroid nasal
sprays are often prescribed for chronic sinusitis to reduce
inflammation but long-term use may be risky. Nebulized
inhaled antibiotic therapy is one of the newest forms of
antibiotic treatment for sinusitis. Along with oral
antibiotics, and IV antibiotics, inhaled antibiotics are
another way to treat bacterial infection.
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, &
Immunology, sinusitis is reported "to be one of the most
expensive disorders in the U.S. and its prevalence is on the
rise." Educating yourself about the symptoms and treatments
of sinusitis can be a small step toward prevention
strategies and relief.
--
Joe Tracy is editor of Sinus News, a leading health
newsletter that goes out to over 10,000 sinus, allergy, and
asthma sufferers every two weeks. Visit the Sinus News
Website at http://www.sinusnews.com.
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