Covered with respiratory cells in the facial bones and skulls, the sinuses are the defensive mechanisms of the body; yet, they are commonly known in association with the sinusitis by the majority. The main function of the sinuses is to humidify and heat the air taken during the process of breathing, to hold the impurity and bacteria from proliferating, and to secrete mucus. Eventually, this activity may lead to inflammation upon the cell layer that covers the sinuses causing obvious discomfort that negatively affects the daily life.
Sinusitis Has Various Causes
People may suffer from sinusitis due to several reasons. Allergy, being in the first place, the deficiency in the immune system, the nasal flesh or nasal curvature, the cystic fibrosis, any hot-cold imbalance, dental infections, polyps and tumors may lead to blockage in the sinus and to the effects of sinusitis. Recognizing and, if possible, avoiding these factors that trigger the sinusitis may reduce the probability of reappearance of it. In fact, sinusitis is a commonly seen disorder.
Acute or Chronic Sinusitis?
The sinusitis, observed both as acute and chronic, is a disorder that can be resolved by either a pharmacotherapy or a surgical intervention.
Acute sinusitis generally arises as a result of upper respiratory disorders such as influenza and the common cold. The symptoms observed in people with acute sinusitis can be listed as the fever, the runny nose, the yellow-green runny nose, the cough and the pain at night.
In chronic sinusitis, on the other hand, continuity is noticed. Lasting at least 12 weeks, chronic sinusitis may present with all or some of the complaints of nasal congestion, fatigue, nasal discharge, facial pain and pressure sensation. The nasal anomalies, allergy, tumors, polyps and impurities can also cause chronic sinusitis.
Patients who are diagnosed with acute sinusitis start their treatments, if necessary, with antibiotics, nasal sprays, decongestants, painkillers and anti-allergic drugs. The inflammation in the sinuses gradually disappears with the proper treatment. The primary step in the treatment of chronic sinusitis is the pharmacotherapy. The patients who do not benefit from the medication are recommended to be given surgical intervention.
Symptoms of Sinusitis
Sinusitis, observed as a result of the blockage in the sinuses, can cause many discomforts and unfavorably affect the comfort of the patient. Depending on the level of blockage in the sinuses, these effects may increase or decrease. The nasal congestion is the most common discomfort in people with sinusitis. making the breathing quite difficult, sinusitis may cause a runny nose, the distortion of voice and fullness of the face and the feeling of pressure. Besides these; some certain symptoms as in the flu such as headache, fever, yellow-green and dark runny nose, sputum, nausea, cough, bad breath are observed.
Not Every Headache is Sinusitis
A headache is the most wrong interpreted symptom. Contrary to popular belief, headache is not always an indicator of sinusitis. Quite the opposite, maximum 10 percent of the headaches are caused by sinusitis. In fact, headaches caused by sinusitis can be quite excruciating and strenuous for the patient.
The Cause of Headache in Sinusitis
There are various reasons for severe headaches in sinusitis. The leading cause is that the sinus is inadequately aerated and this causes oxygen deficiency which results in negative pressure. In addition to that, pain can occur as a consequence of pressure to the adjacent tissues of the inflamed tissues.
Headache: The Nightmare of Sinusitis Patients
Headache, one of the problems caused by sinusitis, adversely affects the quality of life and can be severe and long lasting. The area of pain and its level of severity depend on the sinuses being blocked. Any or more sinuses may get sick during this discomfort and pain can occur.
The pain in the sinus which is in the cheek area may result in blockage and may extend to the upper teeth. Besides, severe pain may be experienced in the nasal area, the forehead and around the cheekbones. Contrary to the general belief, the symptom of headache in chronic sinusitis is less common. In cases of the acute inflammations in the nasal root sinus can cause severe pain between the eyes and the nasal root. This pain usually comes with sinus blockage in the cheek and forehead. In forehead pains, the blockage of the sinuses in the forehead area is in effect.
Beware of Wet Hair!
There is a general belief in society that sinusitis is caused by going out without drying hair. Wet hair is not everybody's source of sinusitis. People with allergies or polyps or nasal flesh growth due to allergies, however, can experience sinusitis due to wet hair. The reason is that the nasal mucosa swells due to the allergy when you go out with wet hair and closes the sinus holes due to hot and cold imbalance. For this reason, it is recommended that people with allergies dry their hair.