About Sinusitis: Causes and Effects

Sinusitis occurs when airwaves are blocked from going through the sinuses, those are the air pockets located inside the bones in the skull.

This occurrence may be due to one of the following reasons:

• Swelling of nasal tissues or turbinates (structures in the nose that can cause congestion) due to a cold or allergy

• Drying of the mucus

• Anatomical obstruction

• Obstruction caused by a foreign body

Without proper care, the condition may cause mucus to build up leading to pressure or pain. The mucus can also cause bacteria to accumulate and creates abscess in the sinus. Abscess must be drained, however, sinus infection may require drainage by undergoing a surgery.

The blocking by mucus may also force breathing from the mouth. This causes throat irritation and/or dry mouth and most often felt in the morning after waking up from sleep.

Most obvious symptoms of sinusitis:

• Snoring

• Headache

• Throat irritation

• Dry mouth, particularly in the morning

• Breathing difficulty

• Lack of energy

• Lack of a good night sleep

• Frequent use of decongestants and anti-histamines

Sinusitis is considered one of the most common medical problems in the U.S. Sinus disorders affect nearly 50 million Americans annually, resulting in loss of productivity and needless suffering from chronic pain and pressure, headaches, sore throat, cough, congestion, loss of taste and smell, and bad breath. While some people find relief from over-the-counter medications, many no longer respond to these common remedies.

At one point, approximately 30% of the population suffered from a chronic nasal condition including sinusitis and allergy.

Increasing air pollution is probably the # 1 cause for the continued increase in the number of people with sinus disorders.