Sinusitis - About, Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis (more accurately called rhinosinusitis) is inflammation of the tissue lining the cavities of the nasal passages. The lining of these hollow spaces in the bones between the eyes, in the forehead and behind the cheekbone produce mucus to moisten inside the nose and protect against allergens (pollutants and dust).
Can be acute or chronic. Labeled chronic sinusitis when the inflammation lasts 3 months or more.
Do you have sinusitis or allergic rhinitis?
Allergic rhinitis is specifically referring to when the sinusitis inflammation occurs as a result of breathing in something to which you are allergic (called an allergen), such as dust mites, pollen, mold, or pet dander. It is not necessarily an infection but can lead to a sinusitis infection if mucus build-up provides a breeding ground for bacteria.
ALLERGIC Rhinitis | Sinusitis | |
| Symptoms | Stuffy nose, runny nose, eyes that are red/itchy/watery, sneezing, wheezing, rash, fatigue | Symptoms: Stuffy nose, swollen and painful sinuses, post-nasal drip, chronic cough, fatigue, bad breath, low fever |
| Mucus | Typically clear and watery | Thicker and yellow/green |
| Onset | Directly after exposure to allergen(s) | 1-2 weeks after exposure to contagious individual, or after 1-2 weeks of continuous congestion |
| Duration | Symptoms disappear after allergens are no longer present | 4-12 weeks or longer, depending on the severity of the infection |
Symptoms of sinusitis
Cold-like symptoms: including facial pain and pressure, nasal congestion, headaches, postnasal drip, and loss of smell.
Additional symptoms: ear pain, sore throat, nausea, fatigue.
People with chronic sinusitis often experience problems with physical, social, emotional and cognitive functioning.
Higher chance of having anxiety / depression with chronic sinusitis
- Large Korean study (16,224 patients between 2002-13) – Researchers found that the patients with chronic sinusitis were over 50 percent more likely to have depression or anxiety. Those with the worst symptoms were the most likely to experience mental health problems.
- It could be that emotional / mental condition is responsible for the sinusitis and not the other way round.
Causes of sinusitis
SInusitis can be caused by: infection (virus, bacteria, or fungus) or obstructions (such as nasal polyps or deviated septum), or both.
- Sinusitus caused by a virus (but not bacteria or fungus) is contagious
Sinusitis Treatments
- Nebulize Magnesium Chloride
- Grapefruit Seed Extract
- Chlorine Dioxide Therapy (nasal irrigation)
- Ionic Colloidal Silver (nebulize)
- Hydrogen Peroxide Therapy; (nasal mist)
- Ozone Therapy (Ear insufflation)
