Sinuses are developed even before a person is born and sometimes continue to develop until the age of 20. There are four pairs of sinuses or eight all together. Sinuses are located on either side of the nose in our cheeks, behind the eyes and between them, in our forehead, and at the back of the nasal cavity. The nasal cavity is basically the inside of the nose. The nasal cavity is lined with a mucous membrane.
The mucous membrane helps to keep our nose moist by continually producing mucus that is the stuff that we usually call snot, so that we don’t get nosebleeds from a dry nose. Also located in our nasal cavity are little hairs known as cilia which block dust and dirt from entering the nose and getting into the lungs. Sinusitis is the most common disease in America. CAUSES: * Sinusitis is usually associated with viral and bacterial infections * Can also be caused by allergies.
* Sinuses produce mucous which is moved out the sinuses into the nasal cavity through the help of the tiny hairs in our nose * These hair act like a conveyor belt while moving the mucous into the nasal cavity * Whatever particles entering the sinuses land right into the mucous and are sent back to the nose * In order to get to the nose, mucous passes through the small holes in the bones surrounding the sinuses * Usually begins during a common cold * Influenza also known as the flu * Viral infections * The mucous membrane swells up (point where).
* Presses against the hole through which mucous leaves a sinus(indicate) Blocks it Bacterial infections can also develop in some people when the sinus fills up and does not have oxygen and the holes which the mucous passes through are blocked because of the swelling of the mucous membrane Bacteria are already present in the nose but because of the body’s natural defences it does not cause infections. When the body’s defences don’t work properly such as cilia, sinus drainage, and immune system, an infection can occur Symptoms: * Face pain.
* Pressure * Congestion * Nasal discharge (yellowish) * Post-nasal drip * Lesser ability to smell (Location of pain or pressure depends on which sinus or sinuses are affected) * Infection in lower maxillary sinuses causes toothache in the upper jaw and pain in the area under the eyes * Infection of the upper (frontal) sinuses causes pain in the temples * Infection of the small sinuses between the eyes (the ethmoid sinuses) causes pain between and behind the eyes * Yellow or green pus may drain out of the nose * An unpleasant smell.
* Should not be a fever associated with sinus infection Acute sinusitis can last about 2 weeks. If it lasts for more than 8-12 weeks, it is known as chronic sinusitis Treatments: * Medication – antibiotics, decongestant sprays * If sinusitis is reoccurring the healthcare professional will take CT scans of the face to clearly examine the affected areas of the sinuses * They might also have to perform surgery to clear up the sinus infection It is better to take early measures when you feel that you are going to catch a cold of if you feel sick.
Go to the doctor and take care of it immediately. Don’t keep waiting for it to go away because it is very easy to get sinusitis and moreover a bacterial infection in the sinuses. So it is always better to keep your health in check and to stay far, far away from things that will make you sick and later on become major problems. SINUSITIS Sinusitis is a very common disease or a sickness in America that affects about 31 million people every year there. Sinusitis is basically an inflammation in the air-filled spaces near our nose called sinuses.
Sinuses are lined with a mucus membrane just like the nasal passageways. The mucous membrane helps to keep our nose moist by continually producing mucus that is the stuff that we usually call snot, so that we don’t get nosebleeds from a dry nose. Sinusitis can develop during the bout of a common cold, flu, allergies, or viral infections. It can also occur if a person’s septum is shifted to one side because of an injury or sometimes they are born that way. Most of the time, sinusitis is caused because of viral infections.
However, a bacterial infection can also develop in some people. When the cold or viral infection make the mucus membrane swell up and close the openings of the sinuses, the mucus will not be able to pass through and go out of the sinuses. Because of this the bacteria that is already present in the nose and sinuses, begins to infect the sinuses and pressurise them. Sinusitis which lasts for about 2-4 weeks is referred to as acute sinusitis, if it lasts for 12 weeks or more and is reoccurring, it is called chronic sinusitis.
To treat sinusitis, a doctor may prescribe medications, antibiotics, or decongestants to open up the airways and clear the sinuses. If the sinusitis is chronic or reoccurring and there is no effect from medications, the doctor will take CT scans of the patient and will perform a surgery to clear up the sinuses. It is always better to take early measures and prevent sinusitis from affecting you. When it is visible that there is a chance of getting a cold or flu, get it checked from the doctor no matter how minor it is. This will assure that the sinusitis will not become severe.
Bibliography Kidshealth. org: Sinusitis (2010). N. Izenberg, MD (Ed. ). Retrieved March 18. 2013, from <kidshealth. org/> Chealth. canoe. ca: Condition Factsheets (2013). R. Irvine, MD (Ed. ).
Retrieved March 18. 2013 from <chealth. canoe. ca/> medicinenet. com: Sinus Infection (2013). S. C. William (Ed. ). Retrieved March 19, 2013 from <medicinenet. com/> Bodyandhealth. canada. com: sinusitis (2013). Retrieved March 20, 2013 from <bodyandhealth. com/> Health professional Amutha Jenagan Number: 416 298 9552 Doctor in Vancouver, BC