Do you keep getting sinus infections that just won’t go away? Ongoing sinus infections can be quite painful and challenging to live with.
By understanding what’s causing them, you can take steps to find long-term relief and get back to enjoying everyday life. Keep reading to learn more about what’s causing your constant sinus infections and what treatments could help you get relief.
What is a Sinus Infection?
A sinus infection, also called sinusitis, is the swelling or inflammation of the tissue lining your sinuses. Sinuses are the air-filled cavities behind your forehead, cheeks, nose, and eyes that produce mucus.
Anything that irritates your sinuses, like bacterial infections, allergies, or viral infections, can cause them to swell and become inflamed. The swelling can prevent mucus from draining as it should, blocking your sinuses.
Additionally, the inflammation can cause your sinuses to produce even more mucus. When this happens, the extra mucus can build up and create a prime environment for germs, such as bacteria or viruses, to thrive and cause an infection.
This can lead to facial pain and pressure, nasal congestion, and other bothersome symptoms of a sinus infection.
How are Chronic Sinus Infections Different?
Typically, sinus infections go away on their own. A sinus infection that lasts 4 weeks or less is called an acute sinus infection.
It usually clears up without medical treatment, although you can ease the symptoms with at-home remedies and over-the-counter medications. But sometimes, a sinus infection can last 12 weeks or more.
This is referred to as a chronic sinus infection. If your sinus infections linger longer than 12 weeks, it’s time to see an ENT specialist.
They can determine why you have constant sinus infections and provide the best treatment options for long-term relief.
What are the Symptoms of a Chronic Sinus Infection?
If you have a chronic sinus infection, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Stuffy nose
- Headache
- Sore throat
- Postnasal drip or mucus dripping down the back of the throat
- Toothache
- Cough
- Runny nose with thick green or yellow mucus
- Fatigue
- Facial pain or pressure
- Ear pain
- Halitosis or bad breath
- Fever
- Reduced sense of taste and smell
However, these could be signs of another condition. The only way to know whether your symptoms are due to chronic sinus infections is to visit your ENT specialist at Indianapolis Sinus Center.
Why Do You Keep Getting Constant Sinus Infections?
There are a variety of causes for recurring sinus infections, including:
Allergies
One of the common causes of chronic sinusitis is allergies. For people with allergies, their immune systems overreact to substances called allergens, which are usually harmless to most people.
When inhaled, allergens such as pollen, pet dander, mold, or dust mites can cause ongoing swelling and inflammation in your sinuses as they try to flush out the allergen.
Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are soft, painless, benign growths that can develop in the lining of your sinuses and nose. Clusters of small polyps or large nasal polyps can block drainage from your sinuses, leading to frequent sinus infections.
Deviated Septum
The septum is the wall that divides your nose into the right and left sides. A deviated septum is when this wall is bent or off-center.
You can be born with a deviated septum, or it may result from an injury or previous treatment. If the septum is significantly crooked, it can interfere with normal sinus drainage and cause mucus to accumulate.
The stagnation of mucus may allow viruses and bacteria to develop, resulting in repeated sinus infections.
Weakened Immune System
A compromised immune system from HIV, chemotherapy, or other immune system disorders can reduce your body’s ability to fight off infections. This can make it easier for viruses and bacteria to enter your sinuses and cause frequent sinus infections.
What’s Making You Susceptible to Constant Sinus Infections?
The following risk factors can make you more vulnerable to chronic sinus infections:
Pollutants
Pollutants can increase your risk of developing chronic sinus infections. Inhaling pollutants such as cleaning agents, toxic gases, or pesticides can irritate your sinuses, causing inflammation and blocked sinuses.
Smoking or exposure to second-hand smoke can also make you more likely to suffer from constant sinus infections. Cigarette smoke may cause cilia to stop functioning and thus not transport mucus efficiently.
Cilia are tiny hair-like projections that continuously move mucus and particles trapped in the mucus out of your sinuses. If the cilia stop working, your sinuses may become stuffed with mucus, providing the perfect environment for germs to multiply and cause an infection.
Asthma
Having asthma can heighten the likelihood of getting repeated sinus infections. Asthma causes your airways to become constantly irritated or inflamed, making your sinuses swell.
Fungal Infection
In some cases, a fungal infection could be the culprit behind your constant sinus infections. Fungi, such as yeast and mold, can cause chronic sinusitis.
They may enter your sinuses when you breathe them in and cause significant sinus inflammation.
How Can You Put a Stop to Constant Sinus Infections?
Treatment is necessary to put a stop to chronic sinus infections. Based on your symptoms and the underlying cause of your repeated sinus infections, your ENT specialist may recommend the following treatments:
Allergy Medications
When allergies are to blame for your sinusitis, your ENT specialist may prescribe an allergy medication to clear up chronic sinus infections and keep them from coming back.
Antibiotics
Antibiotics can be prescribed to treat sinus infections caused by bacteria.
Immunotherapy
For repeated sinus infections caused by allergies, your ENT doctor may suggest immunotherapy such as allergy shots. Allergy shots desensitize your immune system to certain allergens.
Over time, this prevents or reduces allergic reactions to specific triggers, making you less likely to suffer from frequent sinus infections. The result is lasting relief from facial pressure, headaches, and other painful symptoms of chronic sinusitis.
Balloon Sinuplasty
In cases where sinus problems don’t resolve with other medical treatment, your ENT specialist may recommend balloon sinuplasty. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that involves inserting a balloon catheter through your nose and into the blocked sinuses.
Once in the proper position, your ENT specialist will inflate the balloon, which gently widens the sinus opening. Finally, they’ll deflate the balloon and remove the catheter.
This outpatient procedure helps restore normal sinus function and drainage, providing long-term relief from chronic sinus infections.
Surgery
Surgical intervention may be necessary for patients with structural abnormalities. For instance, surgery can be done to remove nasal polyps or straighten a deviated septum.
Correcting anatomical issues improves sinus drainage, alleviating sinus symptoms. If you have sinus infections that won’t go away, our expert ENT doctors at Indianapolis Sinus Center can help.
They’ll determine the root cause of your persistent sinus infections and provide effective treatment to put an end to your ongoing discomfort and pain.
Are you battling constant sinus infections? Schedule your appointment at Indianapolis Sinus Center in Indianapolis, IN, today to get on the path to long-lasting relief.