According to a paper released by the National Center for Health Statistics, there are in excess of 37 million sufferers from chronic sinusitis, vaulting the condition from outside the top 10 chronic conditions to number one, a far from pleasing statistic. Robert Ivker, D.O. President of the American Holistic Medical Association, author and clinical instructor at the Unniversity of Colorado School of Medicine (Denver, Colo.), has observed this rapid increase from 14th to first on his list of common diagnoses.
It is Dr. Ivker's considered opinion that the dramatic change is due, in large measure, to the pollution level of our atmosphere followed closely by overuse of antibiotics and the tremendous increase in our emotional stresses.
Among the factors that can instigate an acute sinus attack are the common cold, which is the most frequent culprit, cigarette smoking (which follows rather closely), other airborne pollutants, and dry air. Other causes, though less common but still involved, are food allergies, respiratory complaints, infection of and/or upper dental trauma, depressed immunity, emotional stress, and structural problems (growths et. al.).
A great many of the mentioned irritants/causative agents adversely affect the mucous membranes lining the sinus cavities, thus becoming the cause of mucous secretions, swelling of the membranes, and cilia damage or motion incapacitation. Such incidents eventually result in the stagnation of mucous through blockage of the sinus ducts. This results in the area becoming an ideal media in which bacteria to breed and thrive.
In diagnosing sinusitis, a physician must exercise caution and good diagnostic skills since the symptoms are so similar to the common cold. There are, however, several distinguishing differences. The cold, for instance, is noted for a clear mucosal discharge, a lack of fever, and quick recovery time (usually within days). If a sinusitis develops as a complication of the cold, usually it will be accompanied by a yellow to greenish discharge and the "cold" seems to persist or grow worse.
Other symptoms accompany the sinusitis, such as a headache that becomes more severe when the patient bends over or lies down. Other symptoms as well may or may not appear. These include bad breath, sinus pressure, fever, sluggishness and the inability to detect odors. A post-nasal drip may appear which can cause sore throat and cough.
According to physicians familiar with the problem, if you have a cold that lasts more than a week to 10 days, think sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis is just that, an inflammation that lasts three or more months and can increase or decrease in severity at any time. Many patients suffer this malady without ever realiizing they have it.
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