Sinusitis Overview

Sinusitis affects 37 million people each year making it one of the most common health problems in the U.S. It is more prevalent than heart disease and asthma and has a greater impact on quality of life than chronic back pain or congestive heart failure.

When you have acute or chronic sinusitis, the mucous membranes of your nose, sinuses and throat become inflamed, possibly from a pre-existing cold or allergies. Swelling obstructs the sinus openings and prevents normal mucus drainage, causing mucus and pressure to build up. Symptoms include: drainage of a thick, yellow or greenish discharge from the nose or down the back of the throat; nasal obstruction or congestion; tenderness and swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose and forehead; and/or a reduced sense of smell and taste.

Types of Sinusitis

Depending on the duration of the symptoms, it can be classified into one of several types:

• Acute (less than 4 weeks)
• Subacute (4-12 weeks)
• Chronic (more than 12 weeks)

If you experience 4 or more episodes of acute sinusitis per year, you could have Recurrent Acute Rhinosinusitis.