Sinusitis is an inflammation, or swelling, of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities. This can interfere with normal sinus drainage and cause increased mucus production. When this drainage from the nose and sinuses drips down the back of the throat it is known as postnasal drip. Symptoms can include a headache or pain in the area of the affected sinus, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, laryngitis, and thick, yellow to green nasal drainage.
It is most commonly thought to be due to an infection, especially when the mucus is green. However, inflammation of the sinuses can be due to an allergy, an infection or chronic exposure to an irritant, such as pollution or smoke. Sinus infections can be difficult to treat. You may need to take an antibiotic for 2 weeks or longer since sinus infections respond slowly.
If any one or all of your sinuses are blocked, your cycle of illness will continue until that blockage is cleared. There is short-term symptom relief, but the problem persists and the symptoms continue to reappear. I would highly recommend seeing your doctor. Then the openings of all your sinuses could be evaluated to determine if a blockage is the cause of your reappearing symptoms.
You will need to be seen by your doctor to determine why your symptoms are reappearing and what treatment would be best for you. The following treatments are often recommended at National Jewish Medical and Research Center: nasal washes, nasal steroid spray like the FlonaseŽ (fluticasone) that you are using, decongestant and/or antihistamine, and an antibiotic if the symptoms are due to a bacterial infection. Please read our Sinusitis MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/sinus.html for further information. National Jewish does not treat with alternative medicine or acupuncture, so we are unable to help you with these treatments.
