Sinusitis Specialist

What is sinusitis?

Your sinuses are the hollow cavities behind your nose, cheeks, and between your brows. They’re lined with mucous membranes and help moisturize the air you breathe and capture bacteria and other airborne particles before they reach your lungs. 

Sinusitis is an inflammatory infection in your sinuses. You can have acute sinusitis, which usually lasts for around a week or chronic sinusitis, which lasts much longer. 

Sinusitis is usually caused by a virus, although bacteria, fungi, or airborne pollutants might also cause the condition. Additionally, nasal obstruction caused by abnormalities in your sinus structure, like a deviated septum, enlarged adenoids, or nasal polyps, can increase your risk of developing sinusitis. 

It’s common to develop sinusitis while you have a cold or other upper respiratory infection. Not only is your immune system compromised, but your sinuses are already irritated, and you touch your nose a lot to blow it and remove extra mucus, which increases your risk of introducing another infection.

When should I talk to a doctor about sinusitis?

Sinusitis causes symptoms, including facial pain, congestion, blocked nose, tiredness, and bad breath. If your symptoms last longer than 7-10 days, you should make an appointment. 

Flagstaff Surgical Associates provides comprehensive exams to identify sinusitis. Your physician talks to you about your symptoms and examines your sinuses with a small, lighted device. 

If necessary, they might order an endoscopy to examine your sinuses in more detail and identify nasal obstructions and other issues that could contribute to your symptoms. During an endoscopy, your doctor might collect a small tissue sample to determine the type of infection causing your sinusitis.

How is sinusitis treated?

Treatment for sinusitis depends on the type of infection and the severity of your symptoms. For example, corticosteroid nasal sprays can reduce the inflammation in your sinuses. 

Your physician might also prescribe medicine to help your body fight the infection or alleviate your symptoms. 

If your sinusitis is due to a structural condition, Flagstaff Surgical Associates provides expert surgeries to remove nasal obstructions like polyps or repair deviated septums. The doctors also offer sinuplasty, which is a procedure to open your sinuses gently, which allows air to move easily. 

Balloon sinuplasty is an advanced, minimally invasive approach to chronic sinusitis treatment. Your physician uses an endoscope to insert a medical balloon into each nostril. When the balloon is in place, they inflate it, and the pressure squeezes the tissue in the sinus to make more room.

Call Flagstaff Surgical Associates or make an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and treatment for sinusitis.