So there you are, living life, working day to day, and suddenly the inconvenience of a cold arrives. You’re annoyed, congested, and it seems as if every muscle in your body is aching. Everything your taught in theses circumstances tells you a sick day, medication and plenty of liquids will remedy the next week or week and a half. But what if it doesn’t? Could it be a Sinus Infection?

It May Have Started As…

A cold and allergies can lead to a sinus infection. Both conditions aren’t the only known factors, but a common breeding ground for them to develop. Doctors admit that differentiating between colds, allergies and sinus infections can be difficult. Similarly, all three carry the same symptoms: sinus pressure, headache, cough, discolored mucus, fatigue, and a decreased sense of smell. With the help of your immune system, these conditions may clear up on their own or with over the counter medication, but only time will tell. For a cold anything less than 10 days is normal. For allergies, expect the season to influence triggers in reaction, the timeframe depends on the allergens that affect you and how often you come into contact with each. If symptoms continue or worsen after prolonged time and medical treatment you may have a…

Sinus Infection

A Sinus Infection (Sinusitis) is inflammation of the soft tissues that line the sinuses, caused by either a viral or bacterial infection. There are two kinds of sinus infections. An acute sinus infection lasts up to four weeks while a chronic infection can span from several months to possibly lingering for years. If not properly treated, an acute sinus infection can become a chronic infection.

Typical treatment for a sinus infection begins with medication. Over the counter and prescribed medications consist of decongestants, nasal steroids, antibiotics, oral steroids, and home remedies like vaporizers or sinus rinsing products. It’s been estimated that at least one out of five patients suffering from chronic infections are not successfully treated with medical therapy.

When Surgery is the Answer

It’s necessary to cure a sinus infection through surgery if you have chronic infections that occur after medical treatment, if you develop sinus disease through an ongoing infection, if the sinus infection spreads to bones or other organs in the body. Complications can arise if an infection reaches other body parts. The most common is the eyes. Here you’ll see redness, swelling and poor vision that can lead to blindness. In rare cases, a sinus infection in rear center of someone’s head can spread into the brain leading to life-threatening conditions, meningitis or brain abscess.

Sinus surgery may sound extreme, but it is proven successful in eliminating sinus infections and the side effects that coincide with the condition. One option to consider is In-Office Balloon Sinuplasty. The endoscopic sinus surgery is minimally invasive, performed though nostril openings with an endoscope (small camera) to look inside the nose and guides small instruments. The surgery is performed using the latest cutting edge technology to remove blockages and enlarge sinus passages to allow drainage and ultimately results in breathing easier. With this procedure there are no visible incisions or overall change to appearance and very little recovery time.

Seek an Expert

If you think you may have a sinus infection and are considering surgery as treatment, seek the expertise of a Rhinologist like Dr. Kuperan who has extensive experience treating sinus infections and will make sure you get a tailored procedure designed to get you feeling great again with minimal recovery time. To schedule a consultation please visit Houston Advanced Nose & Sinus.