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What You Should Know About Sinus Problems

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Sinus problems are something that more people suffer with than don’t, but the sinuses aren’t the problem themselves. The sinuses are hollow air spaces within the bones behind the cheekbones, between the eyes and in the forehead. The sinuses’ function is to make mucus to keep the inside of the nasal passage moist, to help protect against pollutants, dust and allergens.

At a first glance, what causes sinus problems is obvious. The small holes in your sinuses get blocked, which results in a build up of mucus where germs may grow, all together resulting in sinus problems.  However, the cause of the blockage that results in the sinus problems is often far more difficult to figure out.

What are Causes Sinus Problems?

The most common cause of sinus problems is when there is a blockage. Each sinus has a narrow part that is called the ostium or transition space. The ostium is an opening that is responsible for drainage. If a blockage occurs in the transition space of any of your sinuses, mucus backs up, causing the associated symptoms of sinuses.

Sinus sensitivity and allergies are another common cause of issues with the sinuses. When an individual is sensitive to certain things in the environment or foods it can cause the nose to react by swelling. Narrow sinuses can also cause sinus problems for some people. This is because longer, narrower nasal passages make it more difficult for the transition spaces to drain.

The nasal septum is a thin wall of bone and cartilage inside the nasal cavity, which separates the two nasal passages equally from the centre of the nose. However, for some people either injury or genetics cause the septum to be off to one side, which is referred to as a deviated septum. A deviated septum is another reason why some people suffer from sinus problems.  Lastly, very few people have an extra sinus, which narrows the transition space and causes sinus problems.

Now that we understand the anatomical causes of sinus problems, lets look at what external factors stimulate these causes. The majority of sinus infections start with a virus. The virus causes the nasal passages to swell, so that they don’t drain as well. Antibiotics wont help with a virus, but a decongestant might. . If a cold hasn’t cleared after ten days, the cause of your sinus problems could be bacteria. Bacterial sinusitis will need an antibiotic to help clear it.

If you don’t suffer with allergies yourself, you will know someone who does. Unsurprisingly then, this is one of the more common reasons that nasal passages swell causing sinus problems. Similarly, even for those who don’t suffer with allergies, irritating pollutants in the air and smoking can also cause sinus problems. The best way to avoid these is to get an air purifier in your home and avoid smoky settings and smoking yourself. The last reason for nasal problems that we will look at is overuse of nasal sprays. Although these can be a godsend, they can also make sinusitis worse when not used properly, because they constrict the blood vessels in the nose.

The post What You Should Know About Sinus Problems appeared first on Day Hospital Association South Africa.


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