What you should know about your sinuses

They usually only get attention when there’s a problem. They’re your sinuses.

Your sinuses are hollow air spaces behind your nose, cheeks and lower forehead. Their job is to produce mucus, which is a protective coating that covers surfaces in your mouth, nose, sinuses, throat, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. The mucus keeps these sensitive tissues from drying out.

Mucus also traps small particles such as bacteria and dust before they can get into your body. Antibodies, enzymes and proteins in your mucus recognize invaders such as bacteria and actually work to kill them.

So, when things go wrong with the sinuses, what kinds of issues are most common? What symptoms should you watch for?

Sinusitis

This is an inflammation of the sinuses that’s often caused by an infection. Sinusitis can start with a cold that turns into a bacterial infection. It can also be caused by a virus, fungus or nasal allergy. Other causes can include injuries to the facial bones and diseases such as cystic fibrosis.

Symptoms of sinusitis can include:

• Fever
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Cough
• Congestion

You may also have a drainage in the back of the throat known as postnasal drip. Treatment can include antibiotics, decongestants and pain relievers. A heat pad, saline nasal sprays and/or a vaporizer can also help. If you have long-lasting sinusitis, that may be a sign that you have a deviated septum.

Deviated septum

Your sinuses consist of two halves with a barrier — the septum — between them. The septum is made of bone covered by a mucous membrane. Ideally, the septum is centered up between the halves. If it’s well off center, that’s a deviated septum.

If you have a deviated septum, it can interfere with drainage of your sinuses. This can result in frequent sinus infections. With a deviated septum, you may also notice:

• Blockage of congestion in one or both nostrils
• Facial pain, headaches or postnasal drip
• Frequent nosebleeds

In infants and young children, you may notice noisy breathing while sleeping. People with a slightly deviated septum may only notice these types of symptoms when they have a cold.

Nasal polyps

These polyps are soft, sac-like growths that develop in the lining of the nose or sinuses. They hang down from the nasal lining like rain drops. They can result from inflammation caused by asthma, allergies, repeated infections, drug sensitivity or certain immune disorders.

Nasal polyps are not cancer and, if small, they may not be a problem for the person who has them.

If the polyps grow, they can block sinuses or the nasal airway. This can lead to breathing problems and/or more sinus infections. In some people, their sense of smell may be affected.

Signs of nasal polyps may include:

• Headache or facial pain
• Pain in the upper teeth
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Postnasal drip
• Pressure over the forehead and face
• Reduced sense of smell or taste
• Snoring

Nasal cancer

A severe malady of the sinuses is nasal cancer, which is rare. Cancer can develop in the nasal cavity, which is the space behind your nose. It can also develop in the paranasal sinuses. These are the small hollow spaces in the bones around the nose. These spaces are lined with cells that make mucus. The paranasal sinuses open into the nasal cavity.

Those at the highest risk for this unusual form of cancer are:

• Men over age 40
• Workers exposed to workplace chemicals
• Individuals infected with human papillomavirus (HPV)
• Smokers

Nasal cancer may have no symptoms at first. Later, a person may notice infection-like symptoms.

If you have questions or concerns about sinus or nasal discomfort that lasts more than a week, see your health care provider. If the pain is severe, don’t wait that long.

Seek immediate care if you have:

• Suddenly worsening symptoms
• Trouble breathing
• Double vision, reduced vision or difficulty moving your eyes
• Swelling around your eyes
• Headache accompanied by high fever
• Inability to tilt your head forward