Sinusitis

Medical Care for Sinus Problems That Keep Coming Back

Sinus problems can bring ongoing congestion, facial pressure, headaches, and fatigue. When over-the-counter remedies don’t help, or infections keep returning, there’s often an underlying cause. At Allergy & Asthma Physicians of Commerce Township, we look for what is behind your sinus symptoms, including allergies, asthma, or an immune problem, and treat it with medical care. We see children and adults at our offices in Commerce Township and Mount Clemens.

Sinus Conditions We Treat

• Acute sinusitis
• Chronic and recurrent sinusitis
• Sinus pain, pressure, and headaches
• Nasal congestion and stuffy nose
• Postnasal drip
• Nasal allergies (allergic rhinitis)
• Nasal polyps

We also work with you on ways to prevent sinus infections, so you need antibiotics less often.

What Is Sinusitis?

Your sinuses are air-filled spaces in the bones of your face, lined with a thin mucous membrane. Sinusitis happens when that lining swells and becomes inflamed, or when the sinuses fill with infected mucus.

Acute sinusitis comes on suddenly, often after a cold, and clears up as you recover. Chronic sinusitis lasts for months or keeps coming back.

How Sinusitis Happens

Sinusitis often starts after a cold, but viruses, bacteria, fungus, and allergies can all cause it. When nasal allergies keep the lining of your nose and sinuses swollen, your sinuses can’t drain well, which makes infections more likely. That’s why allergies are a common cause of sinus problems that keep coming back.

Symptoms

• A full, congested feeling in your head, often with a headache that’s worse in the morning or when you bend forward
• Tenderness around your eyes or cheeks, or pain that feels like a toothache
• A runny or stuffy nose, or mucus draining down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
• Cough, especially at night or in the morning, and a sore throat

Nasal Congestion and Stuffy Nose

Nasal congestion happens when the tissue and blood vessels inside your nose swell. Congestion from a cold usually clears up within a week or so. Congestion that lasts longer, or keeps coming back, often has a cause we can treat. Common causes include:

• Allergies to pollen, dust mites, mold, or pets
• Sinusitis
• Nasal polyps
• Irritants such as smoke, strong odors, or dry air
• Overuse of decongestant nasal sprays, which can cause rebound congestion
• Hormone changes, including during pregnancy

Make an appointment if your congestion lasts more than 10 days, keeps coming back, affects your sleep, or comes with facial pain or a fever.

How Allergy Care Helps

If your sinus problems keep coming back, allergies may be behind them. We use allergy testing to find your triggers, then treat them with avoidance plans, medicines, and allergy shots when appropriate. We also treat nasal polyps (small, noncancerous growths in the nose and sinuses) with prescription nasal sprays and other medical therapies.

Treatment

Treatment depends on the cause. Mild symptoms often improve with decongestants. Do not use nonprescription decongestant nasal sprays for more than a few days, because overuse can make congestion worse. When allergies are involved, antihistamines or prescription nasal sprays may help. If a bacterial infection is present, you may need antibiotics.

How Long It Lasts

Symptoms usually improve gradually over several days. Recovery can take longer if the inflammation has been there for a while, and it depends on the cause and how severe it’s.

Prevention and Self-Care

• Avoid smoke and other irritants, and limit contact with your allergy triggers
• Use a humidifier to add moisture to the air, and keep it clean, especially if you’re allergic to mold
• Breathe in steam from a warm shower to ease pressure
• If you’re prescribed antibiotics, take every dose, even after you feel better
• Treat colds and allergy symptoms early to help keep a sinus infection from starting