East Indy News

Sinusitis is a condition that affects thousands of people each year, without many noticing the signs and symptoms or knowing it can a become chronic condition leading to many other health issues. 

The Mayo Clinic cites acute sinusitis as inflammation with the space inside one's nose, which blocks drainage and causes mucus buildup, making it difficult to breathe. Acute sinusitis is mostly caused by the common cold, and unless an infection develops, it will self resolve with a week to 10 days, the clinic said. 

"Sinusitis occurs when the linings of your nose, sinuses and throat become inflamed, possibly from a pre-existing cold or allergies. Chronic sinusitis is when this inflammation lasts three months or more. We offer on-site diagnostic testing, including low-dose CT scan, to get a better look inside your sinus cavity and identify inflammation and signs of infection," Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp told the Kentuckiana Times.

One of the problems with fighting sinusitis, Dr. Anthony D. Sanders said, is that antibiotic resistance is becoming an issue in treating the illness.

"Antibiotic resistance is becoming [a] more prevalent problem as more bacteria exposed to more antibiotics develop ways around being affected by the antibiotic. People who have chronic sinus infections and treated with multiple antibiotics throughout the years can define antibiotic[s] less effective over time. Trying to fix or cure a problem once and for all makes sense from an antibiotic resistance perspective, not to mention [an] improved quality of life," Dr. Sanders told the Kentuckiana Times. 

Sinusitis has an array of symptoms including thick yellow or green discharge from the nose and down the back of the throat, congestion, pain, tenderness, swelling or pressure around the eyes, cheeks, nose or forehead, where your sinus cavities are located, ear pressure, headache, lack in sense of smell, cough, bad breath, fatigue and even fever, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

WebMD states that if the sinusitis lasts more than four weeks, it may be subacute sinusitis, which can last four to 12 weeks, and it become chronic when lasting longer than 12 weeks. 

If you suffer from any of the above mentioned symptoms, and it has lasted longer than four weeks, seeing a doctor may help to relieve the symptoms.

Take the online quiz from the Indianapolis Sinus Center to see how dry air conditions can create symptoms and how severe your symptoms may be and if it time to get checked by a specialist.