London - For anyone who’s not experienced sinusitis, it may be hard to imagine how being a little “bunged up” in the head could be so painful.
But the millions affected will know just how agonising it can be, comparable, say some, to crippling arthritic pain.
The problem is on the rise, say experts, who blame our modern lifestyle for making us more vulnerable to the condition.
Sinusitis is the medical term for inflammation in the sinuses – these are the small, air-filled cavities inside the skull. Each sinus is lined with the same sensitive tissue that covers the inside of the nose.
This moist lining releases a constant supply of mucus that feeds down into the nose to keep the nasal passages moist and ensures dust, allergens and pollutants are trapped there before they can penetrate the lungs.
Unfortunately, constant changes in atmosphere are putting this delicate system under pressure, explains Dr Andrew Meredith, an ear, nose and throat specialist from the Benenden Hospital in Cranbrook, Kent.
“The human nose evolved millions of years ago when changes in temperature happened with the seasons.
“Now, with air conditioning, we are exposing the nose and the sinuses to swings in temperature and humidity.”
Here, we look at what could be causing your sinus pain and how to ease the symptoms.
Colds
Most sinus infections start with a cold. The virus irritates the sensitive tissues, which become inflamed, blocking the drainage hole, the ostium, so mucus cannot drain into the nose.
Symptoms include a fever, throbbing pain when you move your head, tiredness, bad breath and a feeling of pressure in the ears.
In two-thirds of cases, this will clear up within a week or two with painkillers and decongestants. In other cases, it turns into chronic sinusitis, where the sinuses stay blocked and a bacterial infection sets in.
What to do: Try a daily saline wash – a saltwater solution, or add a teaspoon of salt to a pint of boiled, sterile water and let it cool. Use a “bulb” syringe to squirt it up the nose. The salt helps absorb allergens or irritants.
A nasal decongestant can also help, but don’t use it for more than four or five days, otherwise the tissue becomes less sensitive to the decongestant. For chronic sinusitis, see your GP.
Perfume
Up to one in 20 people suffer with a perfume allergy and it is a common cause of sinus problems, as well as other symptoms ranging from skin rashes and shortness of breath to dizziness. The chemical irritant in the scent penetrates the tissue lining the sinuses and triggers swelling.
What to do: Try to avoid products labelled “parfum”, because this means they contain a cocktail of different fragrances very likely to include the one that causes the allergy. Household detergents, disinfectants and even air fresheners can have the same effect.
Polyps
In a small number of cases, acute sinusitis can lead to the formation of tiny grape-like growths called polyps in the nostrils and inside the sinuses. These can block the sinuses and help create the right conditions for a bacterial infection.
What to do: Treatment begins with a nasal steroid spray to shrink the growths. Oral steroids may also be used, but only for a few weeks because they can have side-effects such as weight gain and mood swings.
Nasal sprays work in 80 percent of cases, but as a last resort surgeons may need to remove the polyps.
Swimming
Chlorine used to disinfect pools and the bacteria that circulate in the water can both cause sinus problems.
What to do: Wear nose “clips” to reduce the amount of chlorine that gets through to the sinuses. If you often feel bunged up when you get out, flush out the nostrils with a saline wash.
Gum infections
When a tooth in the upper jaw becomes infected, the bacteria can burrow through the bone structure above the teeth and into the sinus above. The reverse can also happen, with infected sinuses causing pain in healthy teeth. Dentists call this sinus toothache.
What to do: You may need antibiotics, so see your GP.
Hay fever
Grass or birch tree pollen are major triggers for sinusitis. As pollens penetrate the airways, they irritate the mucus membranes. An infection is most likely to develop in the maxillary sinuses, the two larger cavities close to the nose behind the cheekbones.
What to do: Use antihistamines to dampen down the reaction to the pollen. – Daily Mail