So what are the causes of sinus infections in adults? Before delving into that, it might be important to first understand what sinus infections are all about and for that to be possible one has to know what the sinuses are. The bones of the face are connected to various openings namely eye sockets, mouth and nose. Those connected to the nose have hollow portions: it is these hollow portions that are known as sinuses. Sinus infections affect sinus tissue leading to swelling and consequently blockage.
Some Known Causes of Sinus Infections in Adults
There are quite a number of things that can cause sinus infections or increase one’s susceptibility to them including:
- Disorders that compromise the immune system, for example, AIDS, leukemia etc
- Drugs that suppress the body’s natural immunity for example steroids, cyclosporine and prednisone
- Polyps in the nasal cavity
- Diabetes
- Kartagener’s syndrome — a condition that damages cilia (strand-like projections whose job is to move mucous around the respiratory system)
- The common cold
- Swellings in the nose
Symptoms of Sinus Infections in Adults
According to research, almost 40 million Americans are afflicted by a minimum of one sinus infection every year. This means that it is not a condition that can simply be wished away. Some common symptoms to look out for include: pain and/or pressure in the face; a stuffy feeling in the nose; coughing; difficulty in detecting smells; headaches; fever and irritation in the throat; bad breath, dental pain and fatigue.
Sinus infections can be classified into three categories. These categories are recurrent infections: infections that come and go a few times per year; chronic infections: symptoms last for two months or more; sub-acute infections: symptoms lasting between one and two months and acute infections: symptoms last for less than one month (in most cases between one and two weeks).
Treatment Options
Undoubtedly sinus infections can cause a great deal of discomfort, but the good news is that they can be treated.
Seeking professional help from a sinus doctor is the best way of curing a sinus infection. Our doctor is specifically trained to tackle this problem. In his arsenal are various treatment methods like balloon sinus dilation also know as balloon sinuplasty, which have been proven to be very effective.
Did you know that Dr. Nguyen is a National Preceptor of In-Office Balloon Sinus Dilation / Balloon Sinuplasty and his practice has been certified as a National Center of Excellence of In-Office Balloon Sinus Dilation / Balloon Sinuplasty? If you are suffering from sinus infections, why not seek help from a nationally recognized physician on sinus treatment.
Do You Suffer From Sinus Infections in the Houston Area?
Houston residents suffering from sinus infections can now breath a sigh of relief. Dr. CT Nguyen has 10+ years experience as a leading ENT expert. He has helped very many people get relief from their sinus infections. If you suspect that you have a sinus infection, simply call his office of fill out the assessment form.