What are sinuses?
The air chambers in the bone behind your cheeks, eyebrows and jaw are called sinuses. They make mucus, a fluid that cleans bacteria and other particles out of the air you breathe. Tiny hairs called cilia sweep mucus out of your sinuses so it can drain out through your nose.
What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is the name for a condition in which the lining of your sinuses becomes inflamed.Anything that causes swelling in your sinuses or keeps the cilia from moving mucus can cause sinusitis. This can occur because of changes in temperature or air pressure. Using decongestant nasal sprays too much, smoking, and swimming or diving can also increase your risk of getting sinusitis. Some people have growths called polyps (say: “pawl-ips”) that block their sinus passages.
When sinusitis is caused by a bacterial or viral infection, you get a sinus infection. Sinus infections sometimes occur after you’ve had a cold. The cold virus attacks the lining of your sinuses, causing them to swell and become narrow. Your body responds to the virus by producing more mucus, but it gets blocked in your swollen sinuses. This built-up mucus makes a good place for bacteria to grow. The bacteria can cause a sinus infection.
What are the signs of acute sinusitis?
A cold that starts to get better and then gets worse may be a sign of acute sinusitis. Pain or pressure in some areas of the face (forehead, cheeks or between the eyes) is often a sign of blocked sinus drainage and can be a sign of acute sinusitis. Pain in your forehead that starts when you lean forward can also be a sign. Other symptoms may include a stuffy nose, fever and an ache in your upper teeth
Causes
There are a number of conditions that can cause the tissues inside the nose to swell and normal mucus to thicken, preventing proper sinus drainage and leading to sinusitis.
· Allergies,
· Irritants – such as air pollution or chemicals,
· Dental problems (such as having a tooth removed or a root infection) and
· Smoking.
Other risks for developing sinusitis include:
- Having asthma
- Overusing nasal decongestants (rather than continuing to relieve congestion, the problem gets worse when these are used too often or for too long)
- Having a deviated nasal septum, nasal bone spur, or polyp
- Having a foreign body in your nose
- Frequent swimming or diving
- Dental work
- Pregnancy
- Changes in altitude (flying)
- Air pollution and smoke
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
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