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Sinusitis
What
is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is inflammation or infection
of any of the four groups of sinus cavities in the skull, which open into the
nasal passages, but this gives little indication of the misery and pain this
condition can cause. Sinusitis is not the same as rhinitis, although the two may
be associated, and their symptoms may be similar.
What
are sinuses?
Sinuses are
hollow air spaces in the human body. When people say, "I'm having a sinus
attack," they usually are referring to symptoms in one or more of four
pairs of cavities, or sinuses, known as paranasal sinuses. These
cavities, located within the skull or bones of the head surrounding the nose,
include the:
-
Frontal sinuses
over the eyes in the brow area
-
Maxillary sinuses
inside each cheekbone
-
Ethmoid sinuses
just behind the bridge of the nose and between the eyes
-
Sphenoid sinuses
behind the ethmoids in the upper region of the nose and behind the eyes
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
- Headache
- Fever
- Weakness
- Tiredness
- A
cough that may be more severe at night
- Runny
nose (rhinitis) or nasal congestion
What are some causes of acute
sinusitis?
These are some
causes of acute sinusitis:
-
Virus
-
Inflammation
-
fungal infections
What causes
chronic sinusitis?
These
are some causes of acute sinusitis:
-
allergic
to airborne allergens, such as dust, mold, and pollen
-
allergic to fungi
-
damp weather
-
pollutants in the air
and in buildings
In
addition, if you have severe asthma, nasal polyps (small growths in the nose),
or a severe asthmatic response to aspirin and aspirin-like medicines such as
ibuprofen, you might have chronic sinusitis often.
How
to prevent sinusitis?
Sinus
disorders cannot be prevented but cold and bacterial-infections can be avoided
by doing certain things to reduce severity of the attacks and possibly prevent
acute sinusitis from becoming chronic.
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-
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Airborne Allergens
Sneezing, coughing, runny noses and watery eyes: the effects of airborne
allergens are well known. Hay fever, also known as allergic rhinitis, is
a condition that consists of allergy symptoms caused by pollen. Pollen isn't the
only culprit, though: animal dander, dust, molds and airborne chemicals can all
cause similar allergy symptoms.
Airborne allergens are difficult to avoid. If you have a food allergy, you avoid
the allergen by not eating it. Drug allergies are also easy to avoid. The pollen
that's causing your hay fever, however, is harder to evade. You can't see it,
and it can travel great distances. Ragweed pollen, for example, has been
collected four hundred miles offshore. While dust and animal dander are easier
to avoid than pollens, they can still travel through the air to land squarely in
your nose.
Common Allergy Symptoms
Allergy symptoms can vary widely, from mild discomfort to chronic sinusitis,
allergic conjunctivitis and asthma. Some people suffer seasonal allergic
reactions, while others suffer from hay fever symptoms year-round. Symptoms can
include:
 a
runny nose
postnasal
drip
coughing
sneezing
itching
sensation around the eyes,
mouth, nose, ears and throat
watery
eyes
sinus
headaches
an
impaired sense of smell
dark
circles under the eyes.
Asthma and Allergy-Induced Shortness of Breath
Asthma attacks are often triggered by allergens that are inhaled into the
airways. Allergens may cause inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes.
The result is often shortness of breath, a feeling of tightness in the chest,
wheezing, and coughing. Check out our
Allergies and Asthma
site for more information.
Shortness of breath and a feeling of tightness in the chest can also be part of
a more serious allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is relatively uncommon, but can quickly lead to unconsciousness and
death. Find out how it's treated at
Allergy
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