‘Asthma caused my sinusitis’
Sinusitis is a common problem, but it is manageable.
Smell sensitivity, allergies and an infection in the passage of your nose are some of the symptoms experienced when one has sinusitis, but thankfully, all these issues are treatable.
The sinuses are hollow areas in the bones that lie around your nose, between your eyes and behind your cheek-bones and the lower part of your forehead.
Sinusitis is usually caused by dust, hay fever and irritation in the nostrils. Its a common condition whose sufferers know the symptoms all too well.
Oliver Kgokong from Kagiso was first diagnosed with sinusitis when he was eight years old.
“I was under treatment for asthma from the tender age of three until I was eight, when the nurses told me that I was cured of asthma but had sinusitis,” said the 31-year-old.
Oliver said it’s not easy living with chronic sinusitis, as he experiences frequent nasal blockages, migraines and a constantly runny nose.
Health.com supports what Oliver says, indicating that chronic conditions and other disorders that weaken your immune system can lead to inflammation in the airways and make you prone to developing thick mucus or an impaired ability to fight germs thus setting the stage for sinus infections.
Other symptoms include confusion, shortage of breath, migraines, and a yellow or light green discharge from the nose.
It is important to know the causes of sinusitis, because that determines the treatment.
• Acute sinusitis:
When you have sinusitis that lasts for a maximum of three weeks, with pain in the affected areas and a runny nose, you may have acute sinusitis.
• Chronic sinusitis:
When you have had sinus problems for at least four weeks or longer, you need to get a medical diagnosis and treatment immediately, or as in Oliver’s case, the condition may persist for years.
• Recurrent:
If your sinusitis occurs during the change of season, you may have recurrent sinusitis and will need treatment to curb the problem.
Though health experts said sinusitis is not contagious, they agreed that bacteria can be transmitted from person to person, inducing ongoing attacks of sinusitis.
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