Hammering facial pain and pressure. Fatigue. Fever and chills. Nasal obstruction. A diminished sense of smell. Coughing. Do you recognize these symptoms? Then you’re probably suffering from sinusitis. Sinusitis occurs when your sinusmembrane lining becomes inflamed, making tissuess well and preventing mucus from draining properly through your small sinus channels. Acute sinusitis is often marked by a thick, green or yellow nasal discharge and can last up to four weeks or more. It responds well to antibiotics and decongestants. Chronic sinusitis is defined as at least four recurrences of acute sinusitis.

What Can You Do?

See your doctor if you have sinusitis symptoms. He or she may suggest a thorough exam by an ear, nose and throat specialist (an otolaryngologist), especially if you have chronic sinusitis. You may also need diagnostic tests, such as a mucus culture, X-rays, allergy testing or a CT scan of the sinuses. After that, your doctor might recommend one of these options:

• Homespun relief. Warm, moist air from a vaporizer or steam from a pan of boiled water (removed from the stove) can help ease sinus congestion. (Use a humidifier only if the filter is kept clean, so you’re not recirculating bacteria into the air.) Warm compresses can also help. While saline nose drops moisturize and are safe for continuous use, don’t use nonprescription, medicated nasal sprays for extended periods of time. They can cause a “rebound” effect, making your condition worse. And if you smoke, it’s important to refrain when sinusitis flares up. Reduce alcohol consumption and drink extra fluids (especially soup or tea) to loosen impacted mucus. Aspirin, ibuprofen or antihistamines may also help, but check with your doctor first.
• Rx help. Acute sinusitis is generally treated with antibiotics for 10 to 14 days to fight the bacterial infection and clear up symptoms. Your doctor may also prescribe an oral or topical decongestant.
• Surgical solution. If you suffer from severe sinus pain and antibiotics aren’t helping, you may benefit from functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), a minimally invasive procedure. The surgeon inserts an endoscope through the nose into the sinuses to clean and drain them and remove any obstructive growths. The surgery enlarges the natural openings of the sinuses and can often restore the normal flow of mucus.