Sinuses, Sinusitis, Sinus Surgery Overview - what are sinuses, what do they do, how do we treat them

Sinuses, Sinusitis, Sinus Surgery Overview - what are sinuses, what do they do, how do we treat them Sinuses are air filled spaces in the skull. The 4 pairs of sinuses are the Frontal, Maxillary, Ethmoid, and Sphenoid. The sinuses are lined with pink skin covering called Mucosa. The mucosa of the nose and sinuses help heat, humidify, and filter the air that we breathe. When the sinuses become inflamed or infected, it is called Sinusitis. When the sinuses are swollen shut or blocked, pain and pressure in the face and forehead can develop. When the sinus mucosa is inflamed, but the sinuses are still open, runny nose and post nasal drip develop. Sinus inflammation can be caused by viruses, bacteria, allergies, chemicals, pollution, dust, smoke, and other environmental factors. Sinus infections are usually viral and much less commonly from bacteria. Most sinus infections, even bacterial ones do not require antibiotics. Most sinus infections will go away with time. Saline irrigations, decongestants, nasal steroid sprays, and allergy medications help decrease the swelling and help clear sinus infections. The color and consistency of the mucus does not help in telling a viral infection from a bacterial one...and does not help determine if you need antibiotics or not. Allergies can cause similar symptoms as sinusitis. Many sinusitis patients also have allergies. Thus, the evaluation and management of allergies is frequently part of the treatment for someone with chronic or recurrent sinus issues. An endoscopy (or scope evaluation) and CT scan are the best ways to evaluate chronic and recurrent sinusitis. If someone chronic or recurrent sinusitis, we look for structural or anatomic issues, environmental factors, and evaluate how well the immune system is working. Surgery can address anatomic/structural issues and improve drainage of the sinuses and may be an option for some patients. In the right patients, surgery can result in dramatic improvements. Surgery is not always the right answer and does not fix everything. Medical Disclaimer: All comments are generalizations and intended to be for educational purposes only. The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.