By Dr. Peter Casano
If you often find yourself reaching for the tissues, struggling to breathe through your nose or dealing with “sinus headaches,” you may think, “It’s just my allergies acting up again,” or, “The weather is changing.’’ While allergy problems are common, with about half of people testing positive as allergic to something, allergies do not always explain nasal symptoms. The common cold, chronic sinus infections, a deviated septum or even acid reflux could be to blame for your sinus struggles.
1. COMMON COLD
The common cold is, of course, common. Here are some clues that you have a cold and not an allergy flareup:
- Fatigue
- Prominent sore throat or cough
- Exposure to young children or others with symptoms
Allergies can come on suddenly if you have some unusual exposure, such as cleaning out an old garage (mold) or a pollen bloom that you are allergic to (hay fever), but more typically, they come on slowly and last much longer than viral infections. Allergies are not contagious, but the common cold is. So if people around you also have an “allergy flareup,” you may be sharing a cold virus.
2. CHRONIC SINUSITIS
Chronic sinusitis is a term that means you’ve had inflammation in the sinus cavities for a long time. Low-grade, ongoing bacterial infection in the sinuses and poor drainage of the sinuses is a common cause of sinus symptoms that often are mistaken for allergies. Both children and adults can have longstanding, low-grade infections that can be relieved with antibiotics, but they must be given for a long period of time, not just a week or 10 days. An ear, nose and throat exam and X-rays can be helpful in identifying this common problem.
3. DEVIATED SEPTUM
If you often struggle to breathe through your nose or find yourself dealing with constant congestion, it might be tempting to chalk it up to allergies, but there’s another possibility: a deviated septum. This common condition occurs when the cartilage between the left and right side of your nose is off-center. A doctor can examine you to determine if you have a deviated septum. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct it and provide relief. However, not all cases of deviated septum need surgery; in fact, the symptoms often can be treated with prescription or over-the-counter sprays such as Flonase. Sprays reduce swelling and provide more room for air to pass around the deviation.
4. ACID REFLUX
Many people are surprised to find that acid reflux can be the culprit behind their feeling of postnasal drip. If you often suffer from hoarseness or have a mucous feeling that causes you to clear your throat often, nighttime acid reflux is a common cause. It can occur even in the absence of indigestion and heartburn. These symptoms can often be confused with si-nus problems, but addressing the underlying acid reflux issue may be the key to finding relief.
Overall, sinus issues can take many forms, and sometimes they aren’t what they seem. If you suffer from ongoing sinus problems, you should talk to your doctor about working together to identify the cause and create a treatment plan to help you breathe easier and feel better.
Dr. Peter Casano is an ear, nose and throat physician at Ochsner Health in Diamondhead, Mississippi. To schedule an appointment, visit Ochsner.org/schedule.