How Long Does Chronic Sinusitis Last

The causes of sinusitis vary greatly by individual, however, there are five major symptoms associated with chronic sinusitis: excessive drainage, throat clearing, post-nasal drainage, or facial pain and headaches. The two main categories of sinusitis are acute and chronic, so it’s important to learn about the different stages to find out how long symptoms can last.

Sinusitis Overview

Chronic sinusitis occurs when the spaces inside your nose and head (sinuses) are inflamed and swollen for at least 12 weeks or more, despite treatment. Acute sinusitis, on the other hand, usually lasts for about ten days. A diagnosis of chronic sinusitis requires that you present at least two of the major symptoms. Other symptoms that are related to chronic sinusitis include:

• Snoring
• Obstructed breathing
• Sore throat
• Nausea
• Bad breath
• Irritability
• Cough
• Pain in your upper teeth or upper jaw
• Chronic Fatigue (most unusual)
• Ear pain
  

Many people fail to realize that their chronic fatigue is associated with their sinusitis. The body uses energy to fight the chronic infection in the sinus which results in fatigue. Ear symptoms like pressure and dizziness are also frequently not connected to chronic sinusitis. If you have problems flying or diving, it may be because the drainage to the ear is obstructed (the drainage tube of the ear lies behind the nose), so the eardrum becomes pressurized and that produces the symptoms of ringing, dizziness, pain or ear discomfort.

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Causes

Nearly 30 million Americans have sinusitis of some sort but chronic sinusitis can make it especially hard to breathe. The following list included the most common causes of chronic sinusitis:

• Allergies
• Tissue growth / polyps inside your nose
• Uneven wall of tissue between your nostrils
• Respiratory tract infections
• Asthma
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Cystic fibrosis

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Solutions

If you are experiencing recurring symptoms of sinusitis, you may have chronic sinusitis, however, American Sinus Institute can help provide long-term relief through balloon sinuplasty. You don’t have to live with sinusitis’s unpleasant and painful symptoms any longer. Balloon sinuplasty is considered state-of-the-art when it comes to relieving sinus problems. It helps open and widen sinus passages to relieve facial pain, pressure, headaches, and post-nasal drip. Contact our board-certified physicians in Otolaryngology to relieve the pain and pressure associated with chronic sinusitis!