What to do about sinusitis

If you've ever had a cold that just wouldn't go away, chances are it was sinusitis — an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, the cavities within the bones that surround the nose. The sinuses are lined with a thin membrane that produces mucus, which is normally swept along by hair cells and drains through small openings into the nasal cavity. Sinusitis (also called rhinosinusitis) starts when this drainage system becomes blocked, usually from swelling due to inflammation caused by infection or allergy. Soon, your head hurts, you feel facial pressure or pain, and thick mucus clogs your nose. The symptoms may clear on their own, but often they persist or repeatedly return.

Several years ago, Dr. Ralph Metson, a sinus specialist at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston, conducted a study of the effects of chronic sinusitis on daily functioning. Dr. Metson says he and his colleagues undertook the research because so many of his patients felt that no one understood how miserable sinusitis could be. Comparing the impact of chronic sinusitis with that of other chronic conditions, the Harvard researchers found that sinusitis sufferers also reported similar levels of discomfort, as well as significant problems with work, energy, and mental health.

There are millions of bacteria in our noses, and most of the time, they're harmless. Even when a few creep into the sinuses, they don't cause trouble, as long as they keep draining into the nose along with mucus. But if sinus drainage is blocked, glands in the sinuses continue to produce mucus, and the resulting pool of backed-up mucus provides what Dr. Metson calls "the perfect culture medium." The bacteria grow out of control, causing infection, and the immune system kicks off an inflammatory response. The result: swelling, which causes headache and facial pain; mucus buildup, which produces congestion; and an influx of white blood cells to fight the bacteria, which thickens the mucus and may tint it yellow or green. Other symptoms include loss of smell or taste, cough, bad breath, fever, toothache, and fullness in the ears.

Sinus blockage can have a variety of environmental, anatomical, and genetic causes, but the main culprit is swelling of the nasal passages produced by the common cold or allergies. More serious sinusitis can result from structural problems, such as a deviated septum (a crook in the partition that separates the right from left nasal cavities) or nasal polyps (small, grapelike growths in the lining of the sinus cavity).

Treating sinusitis

Sinusitis is classified by how long it lasts. "Acute" sinusitis lasts a month or less; "subacute" sinusitis, a month to three months; and "chronic" sinusitis for longer than that (sometimes for years). If several acute attacks occur within a year, it's called "recurrent." Treatment begins with simple remedies, such as nasal irrigation (see the box above) and, if necessary, progresses to more advanced strategies, such as prescription drug therapy or surgery.

Most people with acute sinusitis get better without antibiotics, although you can ease the symptoms and reduce the likelihood of needing stronger medicine if you keep your nasal passages clear with a few low-tech preventive techniques (see "Preventing sinusitis"). It's hard to predict who will develop chronic sinusitis but knowing more about the two main types can help you decide how to treat your symptoms and when to see a clinician. Here are the basics:

Acute sinusitis. Acute sinusitis usually starts with a cold. Viruses, not bacteria, cause colds, so it's useless to treat them with antibiotics. But when a cold turns into sinusitis, it means that blocked nasal passages have set off a secondary infection caused by bacteria and you may eventually need an antibiotic. Rarely, especially in people with weakened immune systems, a fungal infection is the cause.

If symptoms are severe and last for more than a week, you may want to see your primary care clinician. Based on your symptoms and a look inside your nose with a small flashlight, she or he can usually tell whether sinusitis has settled in. If you do have sinusitis, you may be prescribed an antibiotic, especially if preventive drainage strategies aren't helping.

For the pain, try a warm compress on your face, or inhale steam (see "Preventing sinusitis"). An over-the-counter pain reliever such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or acetaminophen can also relieve facial pain, as well as headache and fever.

Chronic sinusitis. If symptoms linger or keep returning, you may have chronic sinusitis, a more complex disorder that calls for evaluation by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist (also called an otolaryngologist). She or he will order a CT scan of your nose and sinuses and examine the nasal cavity with a thin lighted tube (endoscope) to look for causes of the blockage. Blood and allergy tests and bacterial cultures may also be needed.

Nasal irrigation and decongestants can help in the treatment of chronic sinusitis by keeping mucus loose and nasal passages clear. The mucus-thinning agent guaifenesin (Mucinex) is another option. (Be sure to drink a full glass of water when you take it.) Nasal steroids such as fluticasone (Flonase) or beclomethasone (Beconase) may be added to help counter inflammation.

Sometimes the main problem is anatomical, such as nasal polyps, a deviated septum, congenitally narrowed paranasal passages, or tissue thickened by years of infection. In this case, minimally invasive surgery may help, reducing the number and severity of sinus infections and sometimes restoring normal sinus function. Surgery isn't a cure-all: polyps, for example, may grow back. Every situation is different, so it's important to discuss the options with an ENT specialist.

Preventing sinusitis

There are many things you can do to reduce your chance of developing sinusitis or to relieve early sinusitis symptoms. One of the most important is to promote drainage and keep nasal passages clear. Here are some suggestions:

• Bathe your nasal passages daily. Run water gently into the nasal passages to help clear excess mucus and moisten membranes. (See "First line of defense: Nasal irrigation.") Good times to do it are in the morning and at night, when you brush your teeth. "Brush, then flush," is Dr. Metson's motto. During the day, use nasal saline spray to moisten nasal passages.
• Drink lots of water. Good hydration helps keep the mucus thin and loose. Have a bottle of water at your desk at work or put a glass near the kitchen sink to remind you to drink water throughout the day.
• Inhale steam. Linger in a hot shower. Or bring water to a boil and pour it into a pan; place a towel over your head, and carefully bend over the pan to inhale the steam. To avoid burns, keep your distance at first and move in gradually to a comfortable zone.
• Avoid dry environments. A humidifier in your home (in particular, by your bed) and where you work can help prevent nasal passages from drying out. Keep humidifiers clean and free of bacteria and mold.
• Sleep with your head elevated. Mucus pools in your sinuses at night when your head is down, so have your head propped up with pillows or a wedge during sleep.
• Be nice to your nose. Blow your nose gently, one nostril at a time. Forceful blowing can irritate the nasal passages and propel bacteria-laden mucus back up into your sinuses.
• Avoid antihistamines unless prescribed. Antihistamines make mucus thick and hard to drain. But if your sinusitis is triggered by allergies, your clinician may still want you to take an antihistamine along with other medications.
• Be careful with decongestants. Tablets containing pseudoephedrine act on blood vessels to shrink membranes and keep nasal passages open. Nasal sprays containing phenylephrine or oxymetazoline also work well — and quickly. But using topical nasal decongestants for more than a day or two runs the risk of setting off a spiral of dependency as a result of rebound — increased swelling after the medication wears off. (A shorter-acting spray, such as 0.25% or 0.5% Neo-Synephrine, is less likely to cause rebound than longer-acting ones like Afrin.) Oral decongestants can cause jitters and increase blood pressure, so if you have high blood pressure, don't use them without consulting a clinician first.