Dr. Agustin Arrieta, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains there are certain medications that can lead to some rebound congestion in your nose, but the majority of the time medicines are not the causes.
He also explains with chronic inflammation, tissue inflammation balloons out and forms nasal polyp that can obstruct the drainage pathway of your sinus, leading to sinusitis. Dr. Agustin Arrieta, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, says a treatment for sinusitis consists of a salt solution, distilled water or boiled water, and the irrigation of choice.
He explains the important thing is that any type of irrigation tends to help people with allergies and sinuses. Dr. Agustin Arrieta, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains there is a component of sinusitis that would be considered genetic. You can inherit a propensity for allergies from your parents, and if you have allergies, they can produce inflammation, which can obstruct your sinuses.
He also says another cause is environmental: “If you are allergic to pine trees, and you move to a homestead surrounded by pine trees, you are going to be predisposed to having inflammation in your nose from the exposure.” Previous respiratory tract infection, structural problems within sinuses, weak immune system, nasal polyps, and allergies are some of the risk factors for sinus infection.
Dr. Agustin Arrieta, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, recommends doing things to control inflammation and congestion, such as trying to keep yourself decongested. He also points out if you are prone to sinus infections, keep your immune system as healthy as possible, and ensure there are no nasal or anatomic obstructions, like polyps that could be leading to chronic sinus infections. Dr. Agustin Arrieta, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains there are two pairs of sinuses, one on each side. The frontal sinuses are the ones on your forehead, the ethmoidal sinuses are between your eyes, the maxillary sinuses are on the level of your cheeks, and at the back of your nose there are the sphenoidal sinuses.
He also says healthy sinus is supposed to be clear or full of air, and sinusitis is an infection of fluid, mucus or pus inside the sinus, which allows for bacteria and other organisms to grow, producing infection. Dr. Agustin Arrieta, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains there is a theory that explains sinus cavities developed to lighten the load of our head and allow us to walk upright.
He also says there is a second theory that suggests sinuses help produce resonance of our voices. The third one is that sinuses have the function of producing some mucus lining for the nose. He points out sinus infection can spread from one sinus to another, because there is a common drainage area, and if it becomes obstructed then there is a backflow of mucus fluid and infection into the sinuses. Dr. Agustin Arrieta, Otolaryngologist with Baptist Health South Florida, explains allergies are a release of certain chemicals, such as histamine, when you are exposed to molecules or chemicals you should not be reacting to.
He says the allergy produces histamine and inflammation in the lining of the nose, and that inflammation narrows or closes off the sinus drainage area. That leads to a buildup of mucus and infection. He points out allergies can be controlled with common medicines, such as oral antihistamines, in combination with topical nasal sprays or nasal steroids. 631 07 Allergies and Sinus Infection
