Inflammation of the sinuses affects millions of Americans each year. | Adobe Stock
Inflammation of the sinuses affects millions of Americans each year. | Adobe Stock
Sinus problems, including inflammation of the sinuses, can have varying causes and symptoms, according to doctors from Indianapolis Sinus Center.
"Sinusitis occurs when the linings of your nose, sinuses and throat become inflamed, possibly from a preexisting cold or allergies," Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp of Indianapolis Sinus Center told South Indy News. "We offer on-site diagnostic testing, including low-dose CT scan, to get a better look inside your sinus cavity and identify inflammation and signs of infection."
The condition is considered "chronic sinusitis" when it persists for three months or more. Sinusitis is a common condition that can be caused by something as simple as a common cold, according to the American Sinus Institute.
Allergies are another cause of sinus problems, according to Indianapolis Sinus Center's Dr. Anthony Sanders.
"Allergies are a form of nasal inflammation caused by environmental things that you inhale that trigger the allergic response, so it can cause problems with nasal inflammation, swelling drainage and symptoms that sometimes are somewhat similar to chronic sinus," Sanders told South Indy News. "In addition, people who have poorly controlled allergies tend to get nasal swelling. And oftentimes, if your sinus openings are too small to allow infection to drain out, that's when you have problems with chronic sinus infections."
There are four types of nasal inflammation: Acute (lasting four weeks or less), sub-acute (lasting four to eight weeks), chronic (lasting eight weeks or longer) and recurrent (having several repeated attacks within a year). Each year, nearly 37 million Americans suffer from at least one episode of acute nasal inflammation, according to the American Sinus Institute.
One of the treatments for inflammation of the sinuses offered by Indianapolis Sinus Center is balloon sinuplasty. A catheter with a tiny balloon attached is inserted into the sinus cavity and slowly inflated to open blocked passageways. It's an in-office procedure that offers long-lasting relief with minimal recovery time.
Indianapolis Sinus Centers offers an online quiz for potential patients to evaluate their symptoms.
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