Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis is a disease that you’re not going to cure. The most you can hope for is to manage it - James N. Palmer MD
image by: Marion Minor Medical
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When Sinus Problems Won't Go Away
Sinusitis is a bit of a “fad-based specialty,” Dr. James N. Palmer, director of rhinology at the University of Pennsylvania, said with a chuckle. “The fad at one point was, ‘It’s all bacterial infection.’ Then a fad was, ‘All you had to do is open up the sinuses’ ” — with surgery — “and everything would drain out.” Another hot theory blamed an allergic reaction to fungi for a majority of chronic sinusitis cases.
None of those ideas proved to be the answer. A fungal allergy can be a culprit — but only in some cases. And while sinus surgery can bring significant relief by clearing out inflamed tissue and nasal polyps, which are a common source of sinus blockages, the polyps often grow…
Resources
The nose, it seems, is protected by bacterial guards
Dr Lebeer and her colleagues took samples from 100 healthy people and 225 who were suffering from chronic sinus infections. These revealed an intriguing difference between the groups’ bacterial floras. Nearly 80% of the upper-respiratory-tract bacteria collected from healthy people were members of the genus Lacticaseibacillus. In those who suffered chronic infections the proportion was 55%.
What works for chronic sinusitis?
What all these reviews have shown is that more and better research in this area is clearly needed. Meanwhile there is certainly some benefit to be had from using saline irrigations and intranasal corticosteroids. For patients seen by specialist doctors where polyps are seen in the nose, steroid tablets may also have a place in treatment. In cases where no polyps are seen, the case for antibiotics is less clear and should be discussed carefully between the doctor and patient.
All You Need to Know About Chronic Sinusitis
Treatments for chronic sinusitis include: Saline nasal irrigation, reduces drainage and rinses away irritants and allergies. Nasal washing or nasal irrigation is an ancient Ayurvedic technique known as “Jala neti”, which literally means «nasal cleansing» in Sanskrit.
Balloon Sinuplasty
Since its advent, balloon sinuplasty has become an intensely debated topic within the realm of otolaryngology. Proponents of this minimally invasive procedure note its ease of use, safety profile, cost, efficacy, and reimbursement as reasons for attempting to broaden its surgical indications. Physicians who lean away from BSP, in comparison to FESS, will list similar reasons as to why it needs to be utilized less in the field.
Doctors Rethinking Treatments for Sick Sinuses
The disillusionment with surgery occurs as recognition is increasing that other common remedies for chronic sinus disease like antibiotics, steroids, antihistamines and decongestants also are falling short of expectations.
Everything You Need to Know About Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis causes unbearable discomfort, but there are ways to effectively relieve sinus pressure to help you return to an active lifestyle.
How a Tiny Device is Easing the Misery of Chronic Sinusitis
Julia’s otolaryngologist suggested that she would benefit from a new, innovative medical technology – a tiny stent that a physician places in the sinuses after surgery. The device stays in place to prop the sinus open and slowly releases anti-inflammatory medicine over the next 30 days to reduce swelling. The entire device dissolves in 30 to 45 days.
It Takes 10 Years for Your Sinuses to Recover From Smoking
Smoking is bad for your health. But people still do it, sometimes because it's so hard to stop. But for anyone looking to quit with the coffin nails, a new study offers one more reason: Smokers with chronic sinus disease see their condition improve after they quit. The only downside? It takes about ten years to make a full recovery.
Sinusitis Leaving You Dazed And Confused?
Chronic sinusitis is when the symptoms continue for 12 weeks or more. The inflammation can last for months, and even years. Several factors can agitate chronic sinusitis: common colds or viral infections, a compromised immune system, a deviated septum, environmental or airborne irritants and exposure to cigarette smoke.
Surgery For Sinus Misery: Better, But Still No Cure
Advances since then have persuaded more doctors to do sinus surgery. So a lot more people are getting it -- around 300,000 a year, making it one of the most common operations. But how good is it, in terms of giving patients relief from the pain, breathing difficulty and fatigue of chronic sinusitis?
The Complete Guide To Chronic Sinusitis Treatment
Chronic sinusitis can be an uncomfortable, painful issue that often affects sinus sufferers for months or even years. There are many different reasons for its cause, but many people struggle to find a chronic sinusitis treatment that works.
The Highly Effective (But Little Known) Treatment for Chronic Sinusitis
So, one therapeutic approach is to disrupt the biofilm, and there are ways to do that topically, and there are ways to do that systemically.
The Struggle to Deal with Chronic Sinusitis
Colds can be uncomfortable regardless of the season. When it develops into a sinus infection, it can be even worse. Most people who have a sinus infection deal with it for a week or so. It's a hassle, it affects your health, and quite frankly, nobody wants to deal with it. But for many others, dealing with a sinus infection becomes a chronic problem that can negatively impact their lives.
Yvonne's Journey with Chronic Sinusitis
Dr. Jeffrey LaCour talks with a patient who suffered from chronic sinus issues for years. Hear about her symptoms, such as facial pain, congestion and pressure, and how Balloon Sinuplasty changed her life.
When Sinus Problems Won't Go Away
The humble sinuses, those hollow cavities hidden in the bones around the nose, usually draw little appreciation. But nothing makes one yearn for clear sinuses like sinusitis, a condition that can make the head feel as if it were filled with cement and can render every breath a struggle.
MySinusitis
Chronic sinusitis symptoms often get misdiagnosed as other conditions. Allergies, colds and upper respiratory infections share similar symptoms. Yet, chronic sinusitis is a specific category of disease with many new treatment options available. Use our self-assessment to determine if your symptoms could be related to chronic sinusitis.
StatPearls
Chronic sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinus or nasal passages occurring for more than 12 weeks at a time. It may present as chronic sinusitis without nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps, and allergic fungal rhinosinusitis. Patients present with the cardinal symptoms of sinusitis which are purulent nasal discharge, facial or dental pain, and nasal obstruction.
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