Breathing is something that many people don’t think about until they find it harder to do, especially if they find themselves suffering from a stuffy nose more often than might be usual.
Then it might be all they can think of. Is it just normal for the time of year? Or could it be something a little more serious? Could it be chronic sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis could be the issue if your stuffy nose and cough last anywhere from 1.5 to 2 weeks. Symptoms include pressure around the eyes or forehead, a stuffy nose, cough, head congestion, ear fullness. You may have a headache or other symptoms that are slightly more concerning, like discolored nasal drainage or post-nasal drip that has a bad taste.
"You may experience some nasal congestion, feeling like you are not getting adequate airflow through your nose," Diana Ruiloba, a physician assistant at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Centers in Scottsdale, Arizona, said. "You may notice you wake up with a dry mouth."
There could be postnasal drip that irritates your throat.
Sinusitis could be acute – lasting less than four weeks – or could be chronic – lasting three months or longer. It could be caused by allergies, which could cause other issues. It could also be caused by a bacterial infection.
If you’re concerned about sinusitis and tired of pain and pressure in the sinus cavities in your cheekbones, behind your nose or around your eyes, it may be time to see a doctor.
For those who aren’t sure they should go to the doctor, or who want to have a bit more information about potential diagnoses before they go, Arizona Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Centers does have an online assessment for sinusitis.
There are ways to treat sinusitis for those who know that the chronic version of the condition is what they’re dealing with, including medication to get rid of the congestion, or antibiotics for bacterial sinusitis, or in more serious cases, a balloon sinuplasty, where a tiny balloon is inflated within the sinus cavity, deflated and removed.
To take that quiz before you seek medical intervention, visit www.arizonabreathefree.com/take-our-sinus-quiz.
