What is The Sinusitis and Sinus Problem?
Sinusitis can be defined as an inflammation of the tissue lines of your sinuses. Inflammation can be caused by infection, chemical exposure, and allergies. Once you are diagnosed with sinusitis you should have an option for the best sinusitis treatment.
Sinuses are 4 paired hollow spaces within your facial bones and are 4 in number. These chambers are connected to the nasal cavity through narrow channels. Sinuses make a thin mucus that drains out into the nose through those narrow channels. This process works as a filtration process, keeping the nose clean and free of bacteria.
- Frontal Sinus
- Maxillary Sinus
- Ethmoid Sinus
- Sphenoid Sinus
Types of Sinusitis
Acute sinusitis is a condition when inflammation is abrupt and triggered by a cold, infection, allergy, or exposure to a chemical. Symptoms of acute sinusitis include headache, fever, facial pain, runny nose, and nasal congestion. The acute sinusitis generally lasts up to a week and resolves on its own with some symptomatic treatment like antipyretics, analgesics, anti-allergic medicines, and decongestants.
Chronic Sinusitis is a condition when recurrent and repeated episodes of inflammation of tissue lines of sinuses. Your sinuses can become infected or inflamed and block the fluid within the sinuses which creates pressure on the sinuses and leads to pressure headaches.
When this condition persists it’s called chronic sinusitis. It occurs when inflammation of the sinuses lasts for 12 weeks or longer, despite the treatment. Symptoms are severe headaches, nasal blockage, and facial pain.
Difference Between Sinusitis and Rhinitis
Symptoms of sinusitis and rhinitis are almost similar especially when the cause of the disease same. Sinusitis occurs when sinus tissues are inflamed either because of an infection or allergy. Rhinitis occurs when nasal mucosa or tissues of the nose are inflamed due to an infection or an allergy. When they occur together it’s called rhino sinusitis. Recurrent episodes of rhinitis can also cause sinusitis.
Watch This Video: How To Prevent Chronic Sinusitis Naturally
Common Causes of Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis can be caused by several factors which may include:
- Allergies are the major cause of sinusitis, initially, it causes rhinitis and then further causes sinusitis then it converted into chronic sinusitis if persists for more than 3 months. Allergy can be due to dust, pollens, chemicals, and many other allergens.
- Infections are also a major cause of sinusitis, which can be bacterial, viral, or fungal. The severity of the disease depends on the type of infection too.
- Others like abnormal nose structures like deviated nasal septum (DNS), Polyps, and other growths in the nasal cavity
- Weak immunity and the immune system failed to fight infections and caused sinusitis.
Common Symptoms of Sinusitis
- Fever in case of acute sinusitis
- Headaches from moderate to severe
- Tenderness or pressure on the face around the nose, forehead, and eyes
- Stuffy nose with thick nasal discharge which may be yellow or greenish in color
- Post nasal drip (PND), discharge falls down into the throat instead of the nose, especially during sleep
- Cough due to post nasal drip
- Toothache, ear pain, and eye pain
- Tiredness
- Bad breath which is called Halitosis
- Loss of taste and smell
How to Diagnose Chronic Sinusitis?
If you have recurrent episodes of nasal blockage and persistent symptoms like headache, nasal congestion, stuffy nose, and facial pain you should consult with your doctor to perform a few tests to confirm the diagnosis. There is a differential diagnosis of sinusitis with rhinitis, migraine, and other nasopharyngeal pathologies.
X-Ray PNS
It’s a basic radiological investigation to diagnose chronic sinusitis. The areas of sinuses especially frontal and maxillary sinuses are shown hazy which indicates fluid collection in sinuses.
Endoscopic Examination of Sinuses
Your ENT doctor can view your sinuses through the nasal endoscope to see if any inflammation, narrowing of channels, and fluid collection in the sinuses and diagnose the disease.
CT and MRI
These are the most advanced radiological investigations to confirm the diagnosis.
Best Sinusitis Treatment Options
There are many sinusitis treatment options are available for the treatment of chronic sinusitis which may include medical management and surgical management.
Medical Management
Medical management can be a combination of antibiotics, antiallergics, decongestants, and antibiotics. Also, other underlying medical conditions should be corrected and treated simultaneously. Avoiding triggers related to environmental factors and allergies. Associated allergic diseases like Allergic Rhinitis should be part of the treatment.
Decongestant nasal sprays also work but they can be a short-term solution and for a long-term solution a surgical intervention is the only option then.
Ayurveda and Unani Sinusitis Treatment
Herbal and traditional treatment is the ultimate option for the treatment of chronic sinusitis. There are cases where surgery was advised but after taking the Unani treatment the chronic sinusitis was resolved and surgery was withheld.
However, if there is a defect in the nasal cavity like DNS or polyps then cause to be removed before starting the herbal treatment.
Herbal remedies for chronic sinusitis are the best medicine. Itrifal Ustukhuddus is the drug of choice for chronic sinusitis. It reduces the inflammation of sinuses and reduces the viscosity of the mucus which helps in draining the mucus into the nasal cavity.
The best remedy and patient can use the following to treat chronic sinusitis:
- Itrifal Ustukhuddus 7 gm twice a day with Luke warm water
- Boil Joshanda (A mixture of herbs) in 50 ml water, filter it, and drink the water twice in the morning with Itrifal Ustukhuddus.
- Also, steam inhalation helps in draining the thick discharge and eases the pressure on the sinuses.
Surgical Interventions 
- Correction of structural issues like DNS (Deviated Nasal Septum)
- Balloon Sinus Ostial Dilatation of sinuses
- FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery)
Your ENT surgeon decides which surgical intervention is better for you. So you need to consult with your doctor and healthcare provider.
