Sinus Infections
The Most Common Sinus Conditions
October 25, 2023
•
7 minutes
Reviewed by Michael Kaplan, MD
Sinus conditions — although often unpleasant to deal with — are common. What most people don’t know is that many different types of sinus issues can interfere with your daily life. Understanding what these common sinus conditions are and how to treat them can make managing your health easier.
What are the different types of sinus problems? The most common sinus conditions include:
- Chronic sinusitis
- Allergic rhinitis
- Sinus headaches
- Deviated septums
- Nasal polyps
- Swollen turbinates
The sinus specialists at Kaplan Sinus Relief are here to discuss each of these conditions in detail, how to determine when to seek medical help, and what options you have for long-lasting relief.
1. Chronic sinusitis
Sinusitis (or a sinus infection) is likely the most common of all nasal infections. If you have a stuffy nose that just isn’t getting better, you are likely dealing with a sinus infection. Acute sinusitis is a short-term sinus infection often triggered by a cold or other respiratory infection. However, if you tend to get sinus infections often or notice that they tend to stick around for a while, you may be suffering from chronic sinusitis that can have unpleasant ramifications if left untreated.
Sinus problem symptoms can include:
- A runny or stuffy nose (nasal congestion)
- Discolored mucus or nasal discharge
- Post-nasal drip
- Facial pain or tenderness
- Headaches (often felt in the forehead)
- Coughing
- Fever
If you experience these symptoms often enough, it can be a cause for concern. Sinus infection causes can range from seasonal allergies to a weak immune system. Although sinus infections can go away on their own with the help of home remedies such as over-the-counter medication, this may not be the solution you need. Consider speaking to a sinus specialist from Kaplan Sinus Relief about long-term relief if your illness lasts over 10 days with no signs of improvement.
Dr. Kaplan of Kaplan Sinus Relief offers many treatments for chronic sinusitis including balloon sinuplasty, a minimally invasive, in-office procedure that delivers long-lasting relief in just 20 minutes.
2. Allergic rhinitis
If you’re unfamiliar with the term “allergic rhinitis”, you may know it better as “hay fever.” When allergens such as pet dander, dust, or mold, come into contact with the membrane of your nose, the nose produces histamine, which results in inflammation and unpleasant symptoms.
Allergic rhinitis causes cold-like and allergy symptoms including itchy eyes, runny nose, congestion, sneezing, and more. Approximately 100 million people in the United States suffer from some type of allergy each year, making this a very common problem individuals face. If you are one of the people suffering from allergic rhinitis, you may be searching for relief.
Although there is no concrete answer for how to cure allergic rhinitis permanently, treatment for chronic rhinitis can involve home remedies such as nasal sprays, but these will only keep the symptoms at bay. Kaplan Sinus Relief offers long-term solutions to allergy symptoms including ClariFix, a device that helps the nose produce more mucus to flush out the allergens, and non-invasive sinus surgeries like balloon sinuplasty.
3. Sinus headaches
Sinus headaches are a type of headache often associated with sinusitis or sinus congestion. These headaches are primarily caused by inflammation and pressure in the sinuses. If you’re unsure of how to know if you have a sinus headache as opposed to a regular headache is that you will feel pain and pressure in the forehead, cheeks, and the bridge of the nose. Common causes of sinus headaches include viral or bacterial infections, allergies, and nasal polyps.
Sinus headache treatment revolves around addressing the underlying cause. Over-the-counter pain relievers and nasal decongestants can help ease the pain, but if you experience chronic sinus headaches, it may be time to speak to a specialist. Balloon sinuplasty at Kaplan Sinus Relief can provide more long-lasting freedom from pain so you can find relief faster and enjoy the results for longer.
4. Deviated septums
Unfortunately, a person may experience sinus problem symptoms purely due to the anatomy of their nose. If the cartilage or bone is not straight in the nose, it causes the nasal septum (the wall between the nostrils that separates the two nasal passages) to become deviated. This results in a laundry list of sinus conditions including difficulty breathing, prolonged sinus infections, and obstruction of the nasal passages which can impact your sleep quality and your quality of life. Around 70-80% of Americans have a deviated septum.
A deviated septum cannot be fixed on its own and if left alone, can introduce you to many problems in your daily life. If you are searching for the best deviated septum doctor Houston has to offer, Dr. Kaplan of Kaplan Sinus Relief has helped a plethora of patients repair their deviated septums and restore better breathing with an in-office procedure called Septoplasty.
5. Nasal polyps
If you always seem to have a runny nose and have difficulty breathing out of your nose, you could be dealing with nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are non-cancerous, painless growths in the sinuses that block your airways making it difficult to breathe, smell, or taste.
What causes nasal polyps to swell? If your sinuses are regularly inflamed, whether from chronic sinusitis or allergies, you are more likely to develop nasal polyps. This sinus condition is common in middle-aged adults. Treatment can include nasal corticosteroids or endoscopic sinus surgery to help remove the blockages and restore better breathing in the nose.
6. Swollen turbinates
Swollen or enlarged turbinates refer to when the tissue lining inside of your nose becomes inflamed. Having swollen turbinates causes a number of symptoms, including difficulty breathing, congestion, and increased mucus production. Although this condition can usually clear up on its own once you’ve recovered from the underlying condition, there are chronic cases of enlarged turbinates that may require medical intervention to treat.
To reduce turbinate swelling, Kaplan Sinus Relief offers a turbinate reduction procedure in-office that can provide quick and effective relief for inflamed nasal tissue.
Kaplan Sinus Relief can treat common sinus conditions with ease
Sinus conditions are a common problem that many face, but when home remedies and medications don’t seem to provide the relief you’re looking for, you can always turn to Kaplan Sinus Relief for help. Dr. Kaplan is the pioneer of balloon sinuplasty in Houston, a procedure that can tackle and treat many common sinus conditions including allergies, headaches, and snoring with lasting results. Want to know if balloon sinuplasty is right for you? Take our quiz to see if you would be an ideal candidate for this groundbreaking and virtually painless procedure.
You don’t have to suffer from nasal infections or sinus problems alone. Dr. Kaplan can provide solutions and care that can restore your breathing and your quality of life. Don’t wait to find relief! Schedule an appointment online or call (713) 766-1818 for more information about balloon sinuplasty or any of our other spectacular sinus solutions.
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