Sinusitis
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NY Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, Sinus & Allergy
Otolaryngology located in Sheepshead Bay & Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, NY
Cold symptoms that never seem to get better may be your first indication you suffer from sinusitis. The otolaryngologists at NY Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, Sinus & Allergy in Sheepshead Bay and Bay Ridge of Brooklyn, New York possess a wealth of experience in diagnosing and treating sinusitis. They offer several solutions for addressing the discomfort of chronic sinusitis, along with long-term management options, including in-office surgeries, to resolve your symptoms. Find out more about treatment options for sinusitis by scheduling a consultation online or by phone.
Sinusitis Q & A
What is sinusitis?
Your sinuses are hollow areas that connect to your nose through narrow pathways. When these areas become inflamed or infected, you can develop sinusitis.
Sinusitis may start as a symptom of the common cold and worsen as bacteria grows, leading to a sinus infection. The infection causes your body’s immune system to react and the lining of your sinus cavity begins to swell and fill up with fluids, like mucus and pus.
This inflammation may be acute, with symptoms resolving in a week or so, along with your other cold symptoms. For some, the condition may result in chronic sinusitis, where the sinus inflammation and congestion last for longer than 3 months.
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
One of the primary symptoms of sinusitis is cloudy nasal drainage that lasts for several weeks. You may also experience symptoms like:
- Nasal congestion
- Sinus pressure or pain
- Fullness in the face or around the eyes
As a result of your symptoms, you may also have difficulties breathing, especially when you lay down to sleep. This disruption of sleep may make it difficult for you to stay focused on your tasks.
Additionally, chronic sinusitis can affect your senses of smell and taste.
What treatment options are available for sinusitis?
For acute sinusitis, your physician at NY Center for Ear, Nose, Throat, Sinus & Allergy may recommend over-the-counter medications to relieve sinus pressure and pain. You may also need to use saline sprays to irrigate the nasal cavity and keep your sinuses moisturized.
If your provider finds that your condition is chronic, they may recommend surgical treatments to provide you with long-term relief of your symptoms.
Typically, the team employs a surgical technique known as functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). With this procedure, your surgeon removes damaged tissue in the sinuses to open up your natural air passages. Following this surgery, you may have some discomfort for 1-2 days but should recover quickly and be free of your chronic sinusitis symptoms.
In some cases, your provider may suggest a balloon sinuplasty procedure. During this treatment, they insert a balloon catheter into your nasal cavity, gently inflating it to open up your nasal passage, before deflating and removing it.
The team customizes your treatment based on your medical history and the severity of your symptoms. The end goal of treatment is to make it easier for you to breathe in the long term.
Schedule a sinusitis evaluation online or by phone to learn more about the right treatment option for your symptoms.
