Posted on Dec 26, 2020 in
MEDICAL FOCUS
Brian Wang, MD
Otolaryngologist
Hammering facial pain and pressure. Fatigue. Fever and chills. Nasal obstruction, discolored nasal drainage, diminished sense of smell. Coughing. Do you recognize these symptoms? All are a sign that you could be suffering from sinusitis.
“Sinusitis occurs when your sinus membrane lining becomes inflamed, making tissues swell and preventing mucus from draining properly through your small sinus channels,” said Brian Wang, MD, otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) with Houston Methodist ENT Specialists at Sugar Land.
“Acute sinusitis is often marked by a thick, green or yellow nasal discharge and can last up to four weeks or more,” said Wang. “It typically responds well to antibiotics and decongestants. Its big brother, chronic sinusitis, is defined as at least three months of sinusitis symptoms.”
See your doctor if you have persistent or frequent sinusitis symptoms. They may suggest a thorough exam by an ear, nose and throat specialist, especially if you have chronic sinusitis. You may also need diagnostic tests, such as a nasal endoscopy, mucous culture, X-rays, allergy testing or a CT scan of the sinuses.
Treatment of Sinusitis
Your doctor will probably recommend one of these routes.
Self-care. If your sinusitis isn’t persistent, you may be able to keep an occasional bout in check. Warm, moist air from a vaporizer or steam from a pan of boiled water (removed from the stove) can help ease sinus congestion. Use a humidifier only if the filter is kept clean, so you’re not recirculating bacteria into the air. Warm compresses can also help.
While saline nose drops/sprays moisturize and are safe for continuous use, do not use nonprescription, medicated decongestant nasal sprays for extended periods of time. They can cause a “rebound” effect, making your condition worse.
If you smoke, it’s important to refrain when sinusitis flares up. Reduce alcohol consumption and drink extra fluids (especially soup or tea) to loosen impacted mucus. Aspirin, ibuprofen or mucolytics may also help, but check with your doctor first.
Rx help. Acute bacterial sinusitis is generally treated with antibiotics for 10 to 14 days to fight the bacterial infection and clear up the symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe an oral or topical decongestant.
Surgical solutions. If you suffer from persistent sinus pain, nasal drainage or other chronic symptoms and antibiotics/medical therapies aren’t helping, you may be a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure or surgery to open the sinuses to allow them to drain better and reduce future occurrences. For some candidates, a procedure such as balloon sinuplasty, can be safely performed in the office under light sedation.
For more severe cases, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) may be recommended and is most often performed in the operating room with general anesthesia. The surgeon inserts an endoscope through the nose and uses instruments in the sinuses to dilate, drain and clean them, removing any obstructive growths, such as a polyp or cyst. The surgeon will also look for structural abnormalities. By enlarging the natural openings of the sinuses, the surgery can often restore the normal flow of mucus. Afterward, you should be able to resume normal activities within a few days depending on the extent of your procedure; full recovery can take up to two to four weeks.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Brian Wang with Houston Methodist ENT Specialists at Sugar Land, visit houstonmethodist.org/spg or call 346.874.2425.
Visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland to learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.
