It's difficult to function when your nose is stuffed up, your sinuses hurt, and all you want to do is sleep. Fortunately, there's help for these common sinusitis symptoms. Long Beach, CA, otolaryngologists Dr. Jesse Tan and Dr. Jesus Tan discuss sinusitis and explain treatment options.

Sinusitis explained

Sinusitis occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. Inflammation can occur due to allergies, or a virus, fungal or bacterial infection.

Your sinuses are filled with air and covered by a thin layer of mucus that catches germs, dust and dirt particles. Normally, small hair-like projections in your sinuses called cilia constantly push mucus into your throat. Once the mucus finds its way to your throat, it's swallowed and eliminated by your digestive system. When you have an infection or an allergy, your nasal tissues swell, preventing mucus from leaving your sinuses. Eventually, they become inflamed, and you begin to experience the symptoms of sinusitis.

Sinusitis causes a variety of unpleasant symptoms

If you have sinusitis, you may develop:

• Nasal congestion
• Post-nasal drip
• Pain and pressure around your eyes and in your cheeks, ears, and forehead
• A headache
• A clogged feeling in your ears
• Neck pain
• Thick yellow or green nasal secretions
• A cough
• Fever
• Fatigue

How is sinusitis treated?

In many cases, sinusitis goes away on its own. Until it does, you can relieve your symptoms by taking over-the-counter decongestants and rinsing your nasal passages with saline solution, a Neti pot or other sinus irrigation system.

If your symptoms don't improve, schedule an appointment with our Long Beach office. Depending on the cause of your symptoms, we may prescribe medications that reduce congestion and swelling and decrease mucus congestion. Although antibiotics will be ineffective if your sinusitis symptoms are caused by allergies or a virus, they may be needed if you have a bacterial infection. Surgery usually isn't needed to treat sinusitis, but it may be an option if you develop chronic sinusitis due to a deviated septum, bone spur or polyp.

Don't let sinusitis symptoms take over your life. Call Long Beach, CA, otolaryngologists Drs. Jesse and Jesus Tan at (562) 988-8818 to schedule an appointment.