30701 Woodward Ave, Suite 200
Royal Oak, MI 48073
Royal Oak, MI 48073
As we turn the calendars from August to September, we face the reality that we’re just a few weeks away from watching the seasons change – with Sept. 22 marking the official end of summer, and start of fall.
For those of us who live in Detroit, Michigan, that can only mean one thing…
Cold, flu, and ragweed pollen seasons are right around the corner.
And that, of course, means your chances of developing a sinus infection are high.
With that said, now is the perfect time to prepare yourself (and, perhaps most importantly, your sinuses) for the dangers that lie ahead – because they’re going to need to be on their best behavior this season.
The sinuses are hollow, air-filled cavities located within the bones of the face and skull, surrounding the nasal cavity – and they play an important role in warming, humidifying, and filtering the air we breathe.
There are four pairs of paranasal sinuses – the maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid sinuses.
On a normal day, the sinuses produce a mucus that traps dust, dirt, allergens, bacteria, viruses, and other airborne particles that enter the nasal passages – keeping the respiratory tract both clean and healthy.
But sometimes, those sinuses become blocked – and when this happens, they fail to drain properly.
Over time, germs (including bacteria, viruses, and fungi) – which are normally drained and expelled down the back of the throat – begin to linger in the nasal passages, where they can develop into an infection.
And just like that, you now have sinusitis – which is just a fancy way of saying you have a ‘sinus infection.’
Sinusitis is inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses, and it affects roughly 30 million adults in the United States every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are four primary types of sinusitis we tend to diagnose here at The Rontal Clinic:
Common symptoms of sinusitis are nasal congestion, facial pain or pressure (especially around the eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead), reduced sense of smell and taste, bad breath, and frequent headaches.
Treating a sinus infection can be done one of two ways – minor cases of sinusitis can be treated at home, while most severe and chronic cases of sinusitis require medical assistance from a proven ENT doctor.
Your ENT doctor will examine your sinuses and nasal passages to learn more about your condition, but most treatment programs will include a combination of at-home preventions and in-office procedures.
With that said, let’s take a closer look at the five most common treatment options for a sinus infection.
Over-the-counter (OTC) medications are often the first line of treatment for mild to moderate sinusitis symptoms – and can likely be purchased at your local grocery store, department store, or pharmacy.
These medications include decongestants (pseudoephedrine), nasal sprays (oxymetazoline), pain relievers (Tylenol, Advil, Motrin), antihistamines (loratadine, cetirizine), and mucolytics (Mucinex).
Antibiotics and prescription medications are used when sinusitis is caused by a bacterial infection or when symptoms are severe, persistent, or recurrent – but they’re only prescribed if your doctor thinks it’ll help.
Common antibiotics for sinusitis include amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate (Augmentin), doxycycline, or a fluoroquinolone, and treatment typically ranges from 7 to 14 days – possibly longer for chronic sinusitis.
Immunotherapy, commonly known as allergy shots, is a long-term treatment option for sinusitis caused by allergies. It aims to reduce the frequency and severity of your symptoms by treating the underlying cause.
With immunotherapy, small doses of the allergen(s) causing symptoms are gradually introduced into the body. Over time, the immune system becomes desensitized to the allergen, reducing allergic reactions.
Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to treat chronic sinusitis. It’s typically performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient setting – especially when other treatments have failed.
During the procedure, a small, flexible balloon catheter is inserted into the sinus passage. Once inflated, the balloon widens the sinus opening – allowing the sinuses to drain more effectively and efficiently.
Making the right lifestyle and habitual changes at home can significantly help manage sinusitis symptoms and prevent recurrent episodes – ultimately allowing you to live a happy, healthy, and normal daily life.
Changes might include regular use of saline nasal sprays or nasal irrigation devices, using a humidifier in dry environments, avoiding exposure to environmental irritants, and drinking plenty of fluids every day.
Are you currently experiencing a sinus infection or sinusitis-related symptoms? Are your symptoms not improving or worsening, despite treatment? Has your infection persisted for more than a few weeks?
If you answered ‘yes’ to any of those questions, then don’t worry – you’ve come to the right place!
Welcome to The Rontal Clinic – where your sinuses can relax and take a deep breath of fresh air.
Whether you’re dealing with acute sinusitis, chronic sinusitis, or recurrent episodes, our team of ENT experts will help you determine the underlying cause and find a treatment program that works for you.
If you live in the Detroit, MI area, please don’t hesitate to contact our office at (248) 737-4030 (we’re available via call or text).