Spring can bring out the worst in your sinuses. If you have allergies and find it difficult to breathe through your nose and you’re in the Houston area, you can find help at Revival Health Clinic.
Amneh Amro, PA-C, can address your persistent sinusitis symptoms through our available telemedicine platform. That means you can meet with Amneh from the comfort of your own home without having to travel to the office or deal with lines at an emergency room.
Why you can’t breathe well
Sinusitis describes inflammation in your sinuses, the air-filled spaces behind your forehead and cheeks. Inflammation can be triggered by allergies, bacterial infections, or a virus. You might also be at risk for sinusitis if you have polyps in your nose or a deviated septum that blocks your sinus opening.
Healthy sinuses allow mucus to drain and keep the air flowing well through them. When your sinuses are inflamed, bacteria can become trapped, allowing mucus to build up. This interferes with your ability to breathe through your nose and can also increase your risk for a sinus infection.
If your sinusitis symptoms last less than four weeks, your condition is considered to be acute sinusitis. If your symptoms last longer than three months, you might have chronic sinusitis.
When to get help for sinusitis
Generally, you can treat acute sinusitis at home with over-the-counter anti-inflammatories and antihistamines. However, if you have symptoms of sinusitis that aren’t getting better even with treatment or that are recurrent, you can reach out to Amneh for better solutions.
Signs you might have sinusitis can include:
- Bad breath
- Loss of smell
- General fatigue
- Frequent headaches
- Pressure behind your eyes
You might also notice that you cough more at night when you’re lying down or wake up with a sore throat because of postnasal drip.
Amneh will discuss your symptoms through our urgent care telemedicine platform to determine if you need testing. She might recommend allergy tests to better understand your sinusitis triggers or a nasal culture to confirm if you have an active sinus infection.
Based on the results of her evaluation, Amneh can customize a treatment plan that helps you breathe easier.
Options for relieving sinusitis symptoms
To keep your sinuses open and free of mucus, you should be sure to stay properly hydrated by drinking water throughout the day. You can moisturize your sinuses with a saline spray and use a humidifier in your room while you sleep.
When you have an active sinus infection, you’ll need a course of antibiotics to clear it. Once you’re free of infection, you might benefit from prescription medications or nasal sprays that reduce inflammation in the tissues of your sinus cavity.
If you have allergy testing that identifies what you’re allergic to, Amneah might recommend medications or immunotherapy to reduce the frequency of your allergic reactions.
When your sinusitis symptoms are too much for conservative therapies, you might be a candidate for surgery. Amneh can refer you to a sinus surgery specialist to remove polyps or repair a deviated septum so you can breathe freely again.
Learn more about treatment options for sinusitis by calling Revival Health Clinic or by booking a telemedicine consultation online today.