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Blocked sinuses, runny nose, headaches in the area of the forehead, eyes and at the base of the nose that intensify when tilting, may be a symptom of inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. Untreated or improperly treated sinusitis can lead to serious complications, including meningitis, brain abscess, optic neuritis, inflammation of the eyeball. That is why proper and early diagnosis is so important, which will allow for the application of the correct treatment at the right time.
Sinusitis – causes
The causes of sinusitis can be upper respiratory tract infections, improperly treated allergic rhinitis, air pollution, and anatomical defects. With infections and allergies, the mucosa that lines the inside of the nose and sinuses swells. The swollen membrane clogs the sinuses where bacterial infections are common. Anomalies or changes in the anatomy of the sinuses can also cause the sinuses to narrow, contributing to recurrent infections. A slight curvature of the nasal septum, which may have arisen as a result of the injury, will not cause obstruction, but if an infection or allergy occurs additionally, the nasal mucosa may become swollen and the opening of the sinuses may become blocked.
To open the airways in a natural way, reach for the sinus resin liner available on Medonet Market at a promotional price.
Diagnosis of sinusitis
The diagnosis of sinusitis is based on the medical history and examination of the nasal cavities. You do not need to take X-rays. This inflammation is characterized by obstruction of the nasal passages, i.e. a stuffy nose, runny nose – anterior or posterior – sometimes known as discharge down the back of the throat, impairment or loss of smell, and pain or a feeling of distraction in the face. Other accompanying symptoms include fatigue, weakness, fever, toothache and jaw pain, and sometimes an unpleasant smell from the mouth and nose. Inflammation of each of the sinuses causes slightly different ailments.
When we experience sinus pain, it is necessary to consult a family doctor. Do not wait and arrange an online consultation within the National Health Fund via the halodoctor.pl portal.
Sinusitis – Clogged sinuses aren’t the only symptoms
With inflammation of the ethmoid sinuses between the eyes, the patient experiences discomfort and pain or pressure around the inner corner of the eye. It worsens when you cough and lie on your back. It may decrease when you lift your head. Inflammation of the maxillary sinuses beneath the cheeks is characterized by pain in the cheekbones on one or both sides, depending on whether the inflammation involves one or both of the sinuses, as well as the upper teeth and the head near the temples.
Soreness and blocked sinuses can also be felt around the eyes. It worsens when the head is lifted and when bending over, and decreases in the supine position. In the case of inflammation of the frontal sinuses located above the eyes, pain appears in the area of the forehead, it is also felt when tapping it. It worsens in the supine position and when bending over, and decreases when you lift the head.
Inflammation of the sphenoid sinus located in the center of the skull is accompanied by pain in the occipital, frontal, temporal, orbital areas, sometimes radiating to the top of the skull. It intensifies in the supine position and when leaning forward. It decreases when you lift your head. However, it is important to know that pain is not a necessary symptom for the diagnosis of sinusitis. Its presence usually indicates obstruction of the sinuses and nasal passages or the presence of complications.
To reduce sinus problems, it is worth ordering and regularly using Na Zatoki – the Panaseus dietary supplement.
Clogged sinuses – treatment of inflammation
If blocked sinuses, nasal obstruction and accompanying headache last no longer than 10 days, the patient can be treated with preparations containing a combination of ibuprofen and pseudoephedrine. Ibuprofen has an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effect, thanks to which it removes the pain associated with inflammation of the nasal mucosa and paranasal sinuses.
Pseudoephedrine reduces the swelling of the nasal mucosa by clearing the nose and sinus openings. Thus, it eliminates the factors contributing to the inflammatory process in the paranasal sinuses. In addition, it eliminates the cause of pain – clogged sinuses. Hence, it is so important to use symptomatic preparations containing not only painkillers, but also ingredients that reduce the swelling of the nasal mucosa and clear the sinus openings.
Certain herbs, such as mint, rose fruit, linden, elderflower, thyme and quince fruit, support the sinuses and the immune system. You can drink these herbs as an infusion, and you can buy the ready-made mixture at Medonet Market. Check the offer: BAYS – herbal tea. You can also try herbal supplements in capsule form, such as SinuGrip for Herbal Monasterium sinuses.
As an aid in the treatment of sinusitis, you can use the Rhino Clear SPRINT battery operated nasal and sinus irrigator, which will help to better clean the sinuses and improve breathing comfort.
If you have sinus problems, you can try an inhaler. It is a light and easy-to-use device that will be the perfect choice for infections of the upper respiratory tract. You can find a wide range of inhalers on the Medonet Market.
Visit to the ENT specialist
If the symptoms of sinusitis do not go away, and even get worse, you need to seek the help of an ENT specialist. Today, diagnosis of sinusitis no longer requires taking X-rays. Well-equipped laryngological offices have endoscopes that allow you to look inside the nose to check if the discharge is mucopurulent, if the mucosa is swollen and if there are any other changes.
Endoscopy of the nasal cavities consists in introducing a narrow tube with lenses, thanks to which we can see the inside through an eyepiece or video track on the monitor screen. The examination allows for a detailed assessment of anatomical changes within the nasal cavities, the condition of the nasal septum, the side wall of the nasal cavity, the size of the turbinates, and the patency of the natural paranasal sinuses. Such diagnostics make it possible to make a decision as to further treatment.
Your doctor may use steroids to get rid of inflammation and antibiotics to fight off pathogenic bacteria. Patients treated with antibiotics sometimes undergo nasal swabs and cultures to check which bacteria or fungi are causing the disease and which drugs will be effective in combating them with recurrent inflammation. Make an appointment with an otolaryngologist in private POLMED facilities.
Surgical treatment for clogged sinuses
If the ENT specialist finds significant pathological changes in the sinus lumen, such as nasal polyps or an enlarged sinus mucosa, or anatomical changes that narrow or block the sinus orifice, surgery may be necessary.
The most precise method for detecting anatomical changes within the nose and paranasal sinuses, especially changes in their natural orifices and bone structures, is computed tomography of the paranasal sinuses. It also allows to assess the extent to which inflammatory changes extend to the areas adjacent to the sinuses of the skull bones, the cranial cavity, and the eye socket. Such imaging diagnostics is necessary only in the case of suspected complications or before a planned surgery.
Text: Halina Pilonis