Top 5 Causes of Sinus Pain | Sinus Infection Expert

There are many things that you need to understand first before you seek any treatment to alleviate sinus pain. Just like any health problem, you need to equip yourself with information in order to get the right treatment. Why? You might be using the wrong treatments that could lead to health complications. You do not want this to happen of course. Read on to know more about the top five causes of sinus pain.

Sinus Pain: Defined

Sinus can be found in your bones of the face which connects with the nasal cavities. Sinuses are cavities inside a tissue or a bone. When your sinuses are all working perfectly, it helps air to provide moisture that you inhale and exhale. It also helps you produce mucus that traps foreign small particles of bacteria such as pet dander, dust and pollen.

However, if your nasal passages are blocked, which is often because of irritated tissues, the mucus that usually washed away sinusitis are developed.

Sinus Pain: The Causes

Here are the top five causes of sinus pain that you must be aware of.

1. Sinus Pain: Infectious and Inflammatory Causes
   • Bacterial, fungal and viral infections cause your delicate sinus cavities, nasal passages and the delicate mucus membrane linings to swell. In some instances, it blocks the ostium or the several sinus openings. Once the ostium is blocked, the mucus you secrete and the air it collects will be the root cause of the pressure on the different sinus cavity walls. This is one of the primary reasons of the pain you feel during sinusitis. You need to be aware that mucus is a great place for bacteria to multiply and live. If you will not quickly give attention, bacteria can penetrate your sinuses. It can result to development of abscesses.
2. Sinus Pain: Anatomical and Structural Causes
   • Nasal polyps happen when the channels of tissue matrix that sustain mucus membrane linings of your nose are damaged. The broken lining is no longer connected to the tissue. It starts to fill with mucus that causes it to build up called “nasal polyp” and it will sag. Nasal polyps are usually evident to men who are at their middle age. It appears like jelly and white or opaque in color.
   • Allergies or any inflammation greatly affects your delicate mucus membranes of the sinus cavities and nasal passages. It can aggravate your nasal polyps which will cause to block the opening of your sinuses and will swell more. In result, it will invite fungi, viruses and bacteria.
3. Sinus Pain: Lifestyle and Behavioral Related Risks
   • Frequent scuba diving or flying activities can result to infected sinuses. This is due to the changing air pressures and altitudes you encounter. Your frontal and paranasal sinus cavities are inflamed if you are always involved in such activities.
   • You abuse the use of nasal decongestants which can dry your excess mucus. Your body’s initial reaction with dry nasal passages is to reproduce more mucus. In this case, it promotes build up of sinusitis.
   • Frequent swimming in water with chlorine can cause inflammation and irritation of your mucus membrane linings.
   • Pregnancy is another cause of sinus pain because you experience hormonal changes. Your body increases its production of mucus.
   • If you have head injury and hospitalized, a nasogastric tube will be inserted in your nasal passages. This may cause inflammation and damages to your delicate linings. It is the perfect time to be penetrated by viruses and bacteria.
   • Your food intake counts as well. Dairy products and refined food products such as cheese and milk can lead to swelling and allergic reaction of your mucus membranes. It promotes build up of mucus for chronic and persistent sinusitis.
   • Specific medications can lead to sinus pain. You better consult your doctor before taking any kind of medications. This is to rule out the real causes of your sinusitis.
   • Young kids who had their tonsils and adenoids removed are at higher risk to suffer from sinusitis. If a child started to develop sinusitis when he was young, there are possibilities that he will still suffer from it when he gets old.
   • Smoking will make the tiny hair structures that function to transport mucus or also called the cilia to reduce its speed in flowing. In result, the mucus and the post nasal drip will become thick which will permit bacteria to live and grow. If you are a non-smoker but exposed to second hand smoke, you are also slowing down the function of your cilia. Take note, according to studies, smokers who went through sinus surgery will have a hard time to recover. This is because their nasal linings, sinus cavities, and cilia are damaged already.
4. Sinus Pain: Acquired or inherited Causes
   • You have weak immune system. If you are undergoing chemotherapy, your body decreases its ability to fight bacteria and other viral infections.
   • Kartagener’s syndrome happens because of the rare cases of genetic birth defect. It happens when cilia is not mobile. This means it cannot transport effectively the nasal mucus.
   • Vasomotor rhinitis or non-allergic rhinitis which is caused by alcohols, flowery scents, perfumes, cold weather or low or high humidity can lead to sinus infections.
   • Serious asthmatic reaction to aspirin and similar products will mostly increase your chances to get chronic sinusitis.
5. Sinus Pain: Environmental Causes
   • Smoke particles and air pollution once trapped in the mucus lining membranes of your nose, excoriation, inflammation and allergic reaction will occur which predisposes it to sinus infections.
   • Dust mites are the main culprit of allergic rhinitis. If you are allergic to dust, you better remove in your home carpets or anything that will hold and trap dust. Ensure that your home is spotlessly clean.
   • Mold is another culprit of allergic rhinitis. If it is left untreated, it could elevate to sinus infections. You should not allow in your place where bacteria can multiply and grow. These spots are both damp and warm environment. It also includes your furniture and electrical appliance.
   • Furry pets like dogs and cats, cockroaches and plant pollens will cause you as well inflamed mucus membrane linings. However, it does not mean that you need to keep away your beloved pet. As long as he is regularly groomed and visits the doctor.

Also Check: Home Remedies For Sinus Infections