Chronic Sinus Congestion

Sinus congestion and nasal congestion disturb normal activities directly or indirectly in a number of ways. They initiate pain and pressure in the head and facial areas, disturb regular nose breathing, and most importantly, affect normal sleep. When sinus infection becomes more of a frequent problem rather than just an occasional irritation, then it is a chronic case. The unfortunate part is, chronic sinus congestion is not restricted to adults, but it is reported in children too.

What are the Causes of Chronic Sinus Congestion?

Chronic sinus congestion causes remain the same as that of chronic nasal congestion. Or we can say, both the health conditions accompany each other in most instances. So, what causes a stuffy nose can trigger congestion and pressure of the sinuses. And typical sinus congestion is considered as a chronic problem, if the symptoms continue for more than 2 months. The common signs that are associated with sinus congestion are facial pain, mild swelling of face and difficulty in breathing. Probable causes for chronic sinus congestion are:

• Allergic rhinitis causes both chronic nasal congestion and sinus congestion. As expected, the symptoms occur randomly or may be aggravated during specific periods of the year (seasonal allergy).
• An untreated common cold episode that lingers for a long time often invites bacterial infection of the sinuses. If it worsens and becomes recurrent, then chronic stuffy nose and sinus congestion are manifested.
• Structural deformities of the nose, like a deviated septum and nasal polyp, are causal factors for chronic sinus pressure. What happens is the sinuses are blocked and mucus drainage is reduced, resulting in congestion.
• Similar to structural abnormalities, injury or trauma to the facial parts may cause swelling of nasal passages, thereby resulting in increased production of nasal mucus. The accumulated mucus then causes chronic sinus congestion.
• Speaking more on what causes chronic sinus congestion, exposure to environmental pollutants is one of the causal reasons for this discomfort. Inhalation of fumes, chemical sprays and toxins result in inflammation of nasal passages.
• In recent studies, inhalation of secondhand smoke is linked with the onset of chronic sinus congestion in children and adults. Even acute and chronic sinus infections are greatly influenced by exposure to smoke.
• Chronic sinus congestion is a reported symptom in patients who are diagnosed with long-term diseases, like asthma, gastrointestinal reflux disease, cystic fibrosis and those having an immune system disease.

How to Get Rid of Chronic Sinus Congestion?

There is not much to talk about chronic sinus congestion remedies. The home treatment options are based on drinking lots of water and hot beverages along with following other self care tips to promote drainage of accumulated mucus. Best approach is to identify allergens and trigger factors, and avoid them as far as possible. Factors like allergy to certain food items (e.g. dairy products, gluten containing foods), poor diet, digestion problem and stress exacerbate the existing symptoms. So, they should be addressed properly to get relief from nasal congestion and blocked sinuses.

For all patients with chronic sinus congestion, planning a well-balanced diet and consuming healthy foods are crucial to strengthen the immune system. Also, reducing sugar intake is indicated during the disease episode, as it increases the growth of pathogenic bacteria. A simple, yet effectual chronic sinus congestion remedy is to proceed for nasal irrigation with warm saline solution. The salt serves as an antimicrobial agent, while warm liquid loosens mucus for easy drainage. Taking steam therapy with eucalyptus essential oil is also a much touted remedy to get rid of nasal congestion.

When it comes to therapeutic intervention of sinus and nasal congestion that lingers for a long time, treatment drugs (pain reliever, decongestant, expectorant) and surgery are considered. In most cases, chronic sinus congestion treatment basically involves administration of medications for managing associated symptoms and ensuring normal breathing. Sinus surgery may be performed, if the underlying cause is a structural deformity. It is also applicable for cases in which medicine and home remedies do not work. The physician is the best person to decide an appropriate treatment option.