Are you in misery because of a pesky sinus infection?
Is that stuffy nose, pressure in your face, and yellow mucus plugging your nose a cold, or something worse? What feels like a bad cold may be sinusitis - a sinus infection.
Get your sinus issues evaluated by scheduling your appointment today, or read below about sinus infections and what you can do to minimize their impact on your life with Pittsburgh Sinus Centers.
What causes sinus infections?
A sinus infection is also called acute sinusitis or acute rhinosinusitis. It’s inflammation in the lining of your nose and sinuses, which are pockets filled with air behind bones located in your forehead and cheeks.
When inflamed and irritated, your sinus pathways are unable to drain the mucus your body produces. This mucus flushes out the airborne particles you breathe. When those particles are not flushed out of your system because drainage is blocked, bacteria grows and this results in an infection.
Similar to a cold, sinus infections often last around 7-10 days. However, sinus infections can continue for weeks or even months if untreated. They can also have a more drastic impact on your life and health than a cold due to the severity of the symptoms, explained below.
Sinus infections have a range of causes and can be:
- Viral
- Fungal
- Bacterial
Sinus infections are a sign that something is wrong with your body. When a health issue is the cause of your sinus infection, you may have three or more infections in a year, which is called recurrent sinusitis. You can also have a sinus infection that lasts more than 12 weeks, which is defined as chronic sinusitis. To stop the damage that sinus infections have on your health, a sinus infection should be diagnosed and treated by an Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctor.
What are sinus infection symptoms?
Every person who suffers from sinus infections experiences a unique and painful blend of symptoms. If what you’re going through is sinusitis, you’re likely experiencing a combination of the following:
- Nasal congestion
- Snoring
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Reduced or loss of your sense of smell or taste
- Postnasal drip
- Pain in your ears
- Coughing, which may get worse at night
- Throat soreness
- Mouth-breathing and bad breath
Sinus infection symptoms are only one complication of having sinusitis. There are additional consequences, which include missing work, scheduling regular doctor visits, taking rounds of antibiotics and prescribed medications, and significant healthcare costs.
There is a long-term treatment option.
Balloon sinuplasty can provide long-term relief from chronic sinusitis.
Patients of Pittsburgh Sinus Centers often try multiple forms of treatment before visiting us for long-term relief. They try medications, nasal sprays, therapies, and may even be considering endoscopic sinus surgery. Medication and nasal sprays can ease individual symptoms, but they are not likely to prevent future sinus infections and solve the issues that are causing your pain and suffering.
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally-invasive procedure that helps remove blockages in your nasal passages, bringing you long-term relief from chronic sinusitis. Through a simple in-office procedure, a small balloon is inserted, inflated, and removed, opening up a previously closed pathway and restoring drainage to your sinuses.
End your suffering and begin enjoying your life free of sinus infections with Pittsburgh Sinus Centers.
Dr. Sam Mathur and the team at Pittsburgh Sinus Centers are here to be your guide. We have helped thousands of patients get long-term relief from their painful sinus infection symptoms.
Pittsburgh Sinus Centers offers a full range of ENT services and two convenient locations in the greater Pittsburgh area.
Do you really want to delay relief? If you’re ready to overcome your sinus issues, schedule your appointment today.
