Introduction
If you have allergies and chronic sinusitis, the symptoms are likely very similar. But what is the connection between allergies and chronic sinusitis? And how can you tell if your allergies are causing your infections?
What is chronic sinusitis?
Chronic sinusitis is a long-term inflammation of the sinuses. It is often caused by allergies and other triggers, such as bacteria, viruses or fungi.
The symptoms of chronic sinusitis include nasal congestion, facial pain and pressure (particularly around the forehead), cough and postnasal drip.
Common symptoms of allergies and chronic sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis and allergies are often linked. The symptoms of both conditions can be similar, making it difficult to distinguish between them.
Common symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:
- Headache
- Sinus pressure
- Postnasal drip (a thick or watery discharge that flows out of your nose)
- Sneezing
Allergies and chronic sinusitis: What’s the connection?
Dr Paul Drago is of the opinion that, allergies can cause chronic sinusitis, and chronic sinusitis can cause allergies. This is because when you have allergies and you have a cold or the flu, your body releases histamines as part of its response to these infections. Histamines are chemicals that trigger inflammation and swelling in your body–a natural reaction meant to fight off infections like colds or the flu.
When you’re suffering from chronic sinusitis (or any kind of respiratory condition), it’s often difficult for you to breathe properly through your nose because there’s so much inflammation in there already:
- You may have congestion due to mucous buildup in the back of your throat, which makes it harder for air to get through when inhaling through your mouth; this could lead some people who suffer from this issue being unable to breathe without using their mouth instead (which means more germs entering their bodies).
- The tissues inside both nostrils might be swollen due an allergic reaction; this causes them not only feel stuffed up but also prevents airflow through one side entirely if both sides are inflamed at once!
Allergies and asthma
The relationship between allergies and asthma can be a little confusing. Allergies are the body’s reaction to a foreign substance (such as pollen, dust mites or pet dander). When you’re exposed to an allergen your immune system creates antibodies that bind with the allergen in order to prevent it from entering your body. This causes inflammation in the nasal passages and airways which leads to symptoms like nasal congestion and sneezing.
Asthma is caused by inflammation of the airways due to an allergic reaction or an irritant such as cigarette smoke. The airways narrow which makes it difficult for oxygen-rich air from entering into your lungs when you breathe out–this results in shortness of breath at rest or during exercise, wheezing during breathing (called stridor), coughing spells accompanied by phlegm production (known as sputum), chest tightness/pain when inhaling deeply etc…
Conclusion
Chronic sinusitis is a common condition that affects more than 20 million people in the United States alone. It can cause nasal congestion, headaches, fatigue and other symptoms that can lead to difficulty sleeping or concentrating. The good news is that there are steps you can take to manage your allergies and chronic sinusitis so you don’t have to suffer from these symptoms anymore!
