Los Angeles residents who struggle with frequent sinus infections often experience nasal congestion, constant sinus drainage, general discomfort, and recurrent fatigue. There are reasons why your sinusitis might keep coming back, and it’s important to get to the root cause when figuring out a solution.
About Frequent Sinus Infections
About 1 in 8 adults in the United States will experience at least one episode of sinusitis, according to studies. Sinus infections are very common, leading to swelling, pain, runny nose, and more. If it keeps coming back, it can dramatically diminish your quality of life.
Symptoms of Sinusitis
Sinusitis occurs when you have swelling within your sinuses, meaning the internal chambers of your nose and nasal passages. This inflammation can lead to discomfort and difficulty breathing, and if often results into a viral or bacterial infection.
Symptoms of sinusitis include:
Inflammation/swelling in your nose
Thick discolored mucus
Pain or pressure in the face, cheeks, or around the eyes
Drainage down the back of your nose
Congestion and difficulty breathing through your nose
Inhibited sense of smell and taste
Headaches, ear pain, or jaw pain
Sore throat and coughing
Fatigue
Recurrent Sinus Infections Vs. Chronic Sinusitis
In most cases, sinus infections go away on their own. They most commonly result from viral infections such as the common cold, in which case you can typically expect it to go away after a few weeks. This is called acute sinusitis.
However, if your sinus infection lasts longer than 12 weeks, it’s classified as chronic sinusitis. If you experience the symptoms above for longer than a few months, it’s time to see a doctor.
In some cases, you might have acute sinusitis multiple times throughout the year. These recurring sinus infections are called recurrent sinusitis (or recurrent acute sinusitis). Both chronic and recurring sinusitis may result from issues within your nasal structure, in which case your best hope of lasting treatment will come from an otolaryngologist (ear, nose, and throat doctor, or ENT).
What Causes Recurring Sinus Infections?
Recurring sinusitis can result from various factors. The most common causes and risk factors include:
Seasonal allergies
The common cold, or other viral/bacterial infections.
Soft nasal tissue abnormalities, including deviated septum, nasal polyps, or surgical scars
Immune problems, such as HIV/AIDS, cystic fibrosis, etc.
These factors can lead to mucus buildup and/or blockages that make it difficult for your nose to ventilate and drain properly. Partial blockages make it more likely for viral infections to occur, leading to recurrent sinusitis.
Preventing and Treating Recurring Sinus Infections
If you get frequent sinus infections, it’s a result of an underlying cause that makes you susceptible to infection. There are a few treatment options you might try depending on the root cause of your recurrent sinusitis.
Preventive Measures
Some preventive measures can help, including:
Allergy management, as with medications or improving indoor air quality in your home
Reducing exposure to viruses
Staying hydrated
Avoiding smoke
Using a humidifier
Medication Treatments
Some medical treatments can help, particularly if your recurrent sinus infections result from asthma, allergies, or similar issues. In other cases, doctors may prescribe corticosteroids to alleviate symptoms.
Note, however, that corticosteroid treatments may cause harm if used longer than advised by your doctor. If you find that you’re constantly relying on medication to manage frequent sinus infections, you may need a more permanent solution.
Surgical Treatment Options
Surgical options available from an experienced ENT are among the most effective ways to prevent sinus infections long-term. In fact, research indicates that surgical treatments like balloon sinuplasty trend toward better symptom management than medical options, making them more reliable overall.
Balloon sinuplasty (or balloon sinus dilation) is a minimally invasive treatment that uses a small instrument and an inflatable balloon to expand your sinuses, correcting partial blockages that may result from structural abnormalities. It is highly effective, has minimal recovery time, and is FDA-approved. Note that the balloon does not stay in, and is only used to permanently dilate the narrow sinus channels during the procedure,
In cases where balloon sinuplasty isn’t the right option for you, other surgical options may help you breathe again by opening up nasal passages for proper drainage and ventilation.
FAQs on Frequent Sinus Infections
Why do I keep getting sinus infections so often?
Common risk factors include allergies, asthma, immune problems, and abnormalities in your nasal structure.
How can I stop recurring sinusitis?
Common risk factors include allergies, asthma, immune problems, and abnormalities in your nasal structure.
How can I stop recurring sinusitis?
Recurrent sinusitis can be treated with various medical procedures, including those designed to correct sinus abnormalities.
Does chronic sinusitis go away?
Recurrent sinusitis can be treated with various medical procedures, including those designed to correct sinus abnormalities.
Los Angeles Treatments for Recurring Sinusitis
If you’re living in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, or other cities in the area, or if you are able to travel to the area, Dr. Kayem and his practice can help you resolve recurring sinusitis. To learn more or schedule an appointment, contact LA Sinus and Snoring today.
how to stop recurring sinus infections, keep getting sinus infection, sinus infections keep coming back, why does sinusitis keep coming back, does chronic sinusitis go away, sinus infection keeps coming back after antibiotics, keep getting sinus infections, what causes recurrent sinus infections, what causes sinus infections all the time, why sinus infection keeps coming back, why do i keep getting sinus infections, frequent sinus infection causes, why do i get sinusitis so often, sinus infection relapse, getting sinus infections frequently, sinus infections all the time, sinus infection keeps returning, sinus infection comes and goes, can a sinus infection come back, why do i keep.getting sinus infections, recurrent sinusitis causes, why does my stuffy nose keep coming back, i keep getting sinus infections, why does my sinus keep coming back, sinus infection treatment los angeles, why does my congestion keep coming back, chronic sinusitis los angeles, causes of recurrent sinusitis, congestion keeps coming back, why do i have recurring sinus infections, can sinus infection come and go, if sinus infection keeps coming back, recurrent sinus infection, reoccuring sinus infection, why do i get recurring sinus infections, sinusitis keeps coming back, why do i keep getting a sinus infection, sinus infection went away and came back, back sinus infection, why does my sinus infection keep coming back, why do i get sinus infections often, reoccuring sinus infections, how sinus comes, i get sinus infections all the time, why does my sinusitis keep coming back, causes of repeated sinus infections, sinus infection came back after a week, recurrent sinus infection causes, why do i frequently get sinus infections, why do i keep getting sinus infection, why sinusitis keeps coming back, frequent sinus infection, why am i always getting sinus infections, why do i constantly get sinus infections, sinus infection that keeps coming back, sinus infection recurring, recurring sinus infection, why do i keep getting sinus infections every month, reasons for recurrent sinus infections, why do i get so many sinus infections, what causes repeated sinus infections, what causes frequent sinus infections, why do i keep getting sinus colds, recurring sinus infections in adults, why do i keep getting recurring sinus infections, why do i always have sinus infections, sinus infection comes back after antibiotics, why am i getting sinus infections, how to prevent recurring sinus infections, why did my sinus infection come back, why do i get sinus infections so easily, what happens if you keep getting sinus infections, recurrent sinus infections causes, sinusitis los angeles, can sinus infection come back, recurrent sinus, why do.i keep getting sinus infections, why does my sinuses keep coming back, is it normal to get sinus infections often, my sinusitis keeps coming back, my sinus infection keeps coming back, why am i constantly getting sinus infections, frequent sinus congestion, repeated sinus infections in adults, can sinus infections come back, consistent sinus infections, how to prevent sinusitis from coming back, sinus infection coming back, sinusitis that keeps coming back, causes of recurrent sinus infections, why i keep getting sinus infections, sinus infection keeps coming back, repeat sinus infections, recurrent nasal infection, sinus keeps coming back, why do i keep getting sinusitis, los angeles sinusitis treatment, why do i get sinus infections so often, recurrent acute sinusitis, 1 year after sinus surgery, why do i get a sinus infection every month, repeated sinus infections, why do i get frequent sinus infections, why am i getting frequent sinus infections, repetitive sinus infections, cause of recurrent sinus infections, sinus infections recurring, cause of frequent sinus infections, what causes recurring sinus infections, sinus infection came back, back to back sinus infections, why do i get sinus infections all the time, sinus infection frequent, always get sinus infections, nasal vestibulitis keeps coming back, why do i always get sinus infections, i keep getting sinus infections why, what causes sinus infections to keep coming back, causes of frequent sinus infections, why am i prone to sinus infections, frequent sinusitis, what causes multiple sinus infections, i get sinus infections often, keep getting sinusitis, what does it mean if you keep getting sinus infections, repeat sinus infection, recurring sinus infection after antibiotics, what causes repeat sinus infections, always getting sinus infections, why do i keep getting sinus, back sinus infection symptoms, why do i always have a sinus infection, sinus ride, constant sinus infections, why do i keep getting sinus issues, recurring sinus infection causes, i have sinusitis all the time, sinus infection multiple times a year, sinus infection every year, why am i getting recurring sinus infections, reoccurring sinus infections, prone to sinus infections, why am i getting sinus infections so often, why am i getting sinus infections all the time, sinus in the back, prevent sinus infection, constantly getting sinus infections, can sinus infection come back after antibiotics, why do i always get a sinus infection, why do i keep having sinus infections, why do i keep getting sinus infections back to back, why do i get sinus infections every year, why do i get sinus infections so much, why do i get constant sinus infections, why do i keep having sinus issues, can you get recurring sinus infections, why sinus comes, repeating sinus infection, recurrent sinus infections, recurrent chronic sinusitis, why keep getting sinus infections, reoccurring sinus infection, why do keep getting sinus infections, causes for recurrent sinus infections, how can i prevent sinus infections, back sinus, can sinus infections go away on its own, frequent sinus infections causes, what is recurrent sinusitis, sinus infections every month, recurring sinus pressure, sinusitis comes and goes, multiple sinus infections, too many sinus infections, sinus infection goes away and comes back, can sinusitis come back after surgery, get sinus infections often, why do i keep getting bacterial sinus infections, sinus infection once a month, recurrent nose infection, does smoking cause sinus infections, covid cause sinus infection reddit, i get a lot of sinus infections, are sinus infections hereditary, can sinusitis cause nausea, why do i keep on getting sinus infections, what causes sinus infections in adults, constant sinus infection, how to prevent sinus infections, recurring nasal infection, sinus infection and hiv, sinusitis recurrent, can a sinus infection come on suddenly, what causes sinus problems, what causes sinus infections in the summer, does smoking cause sinus infection, are sinus infections going around, why are sinuses so susceptible to infection, cause sinus infection, what causes constant sinus infections, can sinus come back after surgery, can you get back to back sinus infections, recurring congestion, why do i have so many sinus infections, frequent sinus problems, sinus infection every month, is there a cure for sinusitis, do sinus infections go away on their own, why do i continue to get sinus infections, sinus infection came back after antibiotics, can bleach cause sinus infection, recurring sinus infections, recurrent infection specialist los angeles, why am i getting so many sinus infections, reasons for sinus infections, balloon sinuplasty los angeles, sinusitis causes, causes of chronic sinusitis, can dirt cause sinus infection, can a sinus infection come back after antibiotics, multiple sinus infections in a year, sinus infection coming back after antibiotics, is sinusitis contagious, can you get sinusitis without a cold, what causes sinus infection, why does my sinus pressure come and go, chronic sinusitis causes, chronic swollen sinuses, continuous sinus infections, why do my sinuses make me nauseous, sinus infection and diabetes, how to prevent nasal infection, why do i keep getting nose infections, sinus infection first symptoms, what is sinusitis, sinusitis symptoms, i always get sinus infections, why do i get sinusitis all the time, do sinus infections come on suddenly, how many sinus infections a year is too many, do weather changes cause sinus infections, how to avoid sinus infection after a cold, monthly sinus infections, can mold cause sinus infection, persistent sinusitis, recurring sinus, nasal vestibulitis treatment at home reddit, how many sinus infections is too many, causes of sinus