If long-lasting congestion, nasal drainage, headaches, or facial pain associated with chronic sinusitis diminish your quality of life, effective solutions are available at Atkins Expert Sinus Care in San Antonio, Texas. Board-certified otolaryngologist James Atkins, MD, and his team offer medications, non-invasive treatments, and minimally invasive sinus surgeries to help you breathe easier. Schedule an appointment with Atkins Expert Sinus Care by phone or online to learn more.
Chronic sinusitis is a condition in which your sinuses become inflamed for three months or longer, despite undergoing treatment. It commonly interferes with mucus drainage, leading to stuffiness, breathing problems, or other unpleasant symptoms. Treatment provided by Dr. Atkins and his team can offer you long-lasting sinusitis relief.
If you have chronic sinusitis, you might experience some of the following symptoms:
While rare, complications that can develop because of chronic sinusitis include meningitis, skin infections, bone infections, and even permanent vision problems.
While chronic sinusitis can happen to anybody, certain factors may increase your risk of experiencing it. Examples include having asthma, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, or aspirin sensitivity, as well as dental infections, immune system disorders, allergies, and exposure to cigarette smoke or other irritants.
To diagnose chronic sinusitis and develop an effective treatment plan, Dr. Atkins and his team review your symptoms and medical history. He examines inside your nose and checks for tenderness. Dr. Atkins might recommend you undergo allergy tests. He may take a sample of your nasal drainage, use nasal endoscopy, or complete in-house CT scans or MRIs.
Depending on the severity of chronic sinusitis, results from your exam and diagnostic tests, and your preferences, Dr. Atkins might recommend one of the following treatments:
To minimize the effects of sinusitis, it’s important to properly manage allergies, avoid air pollution and cigarette smoke as much as possible, use a humidifier, moisturize your sinuses, or use saline solution to rinse out your nasal passages.
Taking oral medicines or using nasal sprays can help clear your sinuses to reduce unpleasant symptoms.
Immunotherapy, which includes sublingual allergy therapy or allergy shots, can reduce allergic reactions associated with chronic sinusitis.
If other treatments fail or you have a severe case of chronic sinusitis, minimally invasive sinus surgery offers effective long-lasting results. Dr. Atkins and his team can complete balloon sinuplasty (BSP), traditional sinus surgery, septoplasty, hybrid surgery, or other simple procedures to optimize your outcome and help you breathe easier.
FDA-approved ClariFix® cryotechnology, inferior turbinate reduction, polyp removal, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), and VivAer® treatment for nasal valve stenosis can relieve sinus pressure, congestion, and discomfort. Post-surgery care with stents helps keep nasal passages open.
Don’t live with chronic congestion that diminishes the way you feel and your quality of life. Schedule an appointment with Atkins Expert Sinus Care by phone or online to find a chronic sinusitis treatment that’s right for you.
