There are up to 73 million restricted-activity days related to sinusitis every year, making it one of the most common reasons for clinical visits in the United States. Sinusitis is an inflammation of the tissues in your sinuses that results in symptoms including facial pain, stuffy or runny nose, tooth pain, ear pressure or pain, postnasal drip and more.
While mild sinusitis often goes away on its own, chronic or recurrent sinusitis cases may require medical treatment and management.
When Is Sinusitis Considered Chronic or Recurrent?
Sinusitis is considered chronic when inflammation and symptoms last longer than 12 weeks at a time and recurrent when there are more than four episodes within a one-year period.
What Are My Treatment Options?
Recurrent or chronic sinusitis treatments include a combination of surgery, medication and home remedies to manage symptoms and prevent reoccurrence.
Surgical Options
Surgery is an excellent option to prevent sinusitis from reoccurring. Two common types of sinus surgeries include:
- Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). The most common type of sinus surgery, FESS, widens the drainage passages in your nose and sinuses and removes bone or infected tissue to help trapped mucus drain out.
- Balloon sinuplasty. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure wherein your ENT specialist will guide a small balloon into your nose. They will then inflate the balloon to clear blockages.
Medication Options
You can treat mild sinus infections at home with over-the-counter cold and allergy medications, decongestants and nasal saline rinses. If your symptoms last longer than 10 days, your ENT specialist may prescribe antibiotics, oral or topical decongestants, intranasal steroid sprays or topical antihistamines.
Home Remedies for Symptom Management
Home remedies can help manage your symptom severity. A few effective remedy options include:
- Drink fluids. Drink plenty of water, juice and hot tea from The Spice & Tea Exchange of Spartanburg to help thin mucus and promote drainage from the sinuses.
- Warm compresses. When applied to the areas around your nose, cheeks and eyes, warm compresses can help ease facial pain and pressure. Heat a wet towel in the microwave in 30-second intervals to create a warm compress.
- Run a humidifier. While South Carolina usually provides ample humidity, a humidifier can help add extra hydration to your sinus cavities to help thin and drain mucus.
By combining surgery, medication and home remedies, you can prevent recurrent sinusitis from negatively impacting your overall health and well-being. To learn more about managing your sinusitis, contact Spartanburg | Greer ENT & Allergy today to make an appointment with one of our specialists.
