What to Do About Recurrent Sinus Problems

Sinus problems are no doubt bothersome, but the key to feeling better is identifying the cause of your sinus problems and then treating that particular issue. Whether you struggle with nasal congestion, a runny nose, and chronic sinus infections, you might wonder what you can do to finally breathe better.

Here at Memorial Village Sinus & Hearing in Houston, Texas, board-certified ENT physician Conrad McCutcheon, MD, FACS is an expert at diagnosing the source of your sinus problems and then recommending the right treatment for you. Here’s how we can help.

About recurrent sinus problems

It’s one thing to experience occasional sinus issues: the common cold and flu both cause temporary nasal symptoms. However, when sinus issues become chronic, it can wear you down quickly. 

Constantly having a runny nose can be embarrassing, but it also leads to a raw or sore skin near your nose, difficulty eating (with a stuffy nose), and even headaches. Over time, constant congestion can affect your ability to sleep if you can’t breathe freely at night, which can then affect your ability to perform well at work or school. 

It’s clear that sinus issues can quickly tank your quality of life. But what causes constant congestion and chronic sinus infections? There are many conditions that contribute to your bothersome symptoms, including:

• Allergies
• Structural deformities in your sinuses
• Nasal polyps
• Sinusitis 

Before exploring your treatment options, Dr. McCutcheon performs an evaluation, reviews your symptoms and medical history, and discusses potential treatment options. Our in-office sinus-optimized CT scan 一 MiniCAT 2020™ 一 provides detailed images of your nasal passages and sinus cavity to help determine the cause of your sinus problems. 

If we suspect allergies, we can also run additional allergy tests.

What to do about your recurrent sinus problems

Once Dr. McCutcheon confirms the cause of your sinus problems, he shapes your treatment plan, which may include:

• Oral antihistamines
• Decongestants
• Nasal sprays
• Nasal steroids
• Antibiotics
• Sinus surgery, including functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS)
• ClariFix® Cryotherapy

In many cases, you may benefit from a combination of treatments. For example, if allergies are the source of your symptoms, you may benefit from oral antihistamines and nasal sprays.

When to consider medical intervention for sinus problems

While you can treat a common cold at home, you don’t have to suffer with sinus issues that linger. You might seek medical care if:

• Your sinus symptoms last more than 10 days (which can indicate a bacterial infection or acute sinusitis)
• You suspect you have subacute sinusitis (lasting 4-12 weeks)
• Your symptoms have become chronic (lasting more than 12 weeks)
• You keep getting sinus infections (more than one per year)

In fact, in many cases, sinus issues don’t resolve on their own. This is especially true if your symptoms are related to allergies, a bacterial infection, or a structural abnormality 一 all of which require treatment beyond something that you could purchase over-the-counter.

Rest assured that if you’re struggling with constant sinus problems, we’re here for you. Give Memorial Village Sinus & Hearing a call at 281-822-3777 or request an appointment online to take your next steps toward clear breathing.