Sinusitis Specialist
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Lyon Primary Care
Primary Care Physician located in Midtown, New York, NY
Pain and pressure in your face and congestion that won’t go away are signs that you may have sinusitis, or a sinus infection. At Lyon Primary Care in Midtown, New York City, our medical team led by Valerie Lyon, MD, a board-certified family medicine specialist, expertly diagnoses and treats men and women with acute and chronic sinusitis. If your nose is stuffy and you have pain around your eyes, or it seems like you always have a cold, it could be a sinus infection. Call our office to schedule an appointment, so you can get the care you need to feel better.
Sinusitis Q & A
What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is a common condition that occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. It’s usually the result of a viral or bacterial infection after a cold that causes the lining of your sinuses to become irritated. You typically feel the symptoms of sinusitis behind your cheekbones, across your forehead, and in your nose.
What are the symptoms of sinusitis?
Signs that you have acute sinusitis include cloudy drainage from your nose for two consecutive weeks, or when the drainage is on one side of your face. Additionally, with sinusitis, you often experience any of the following symptoms:
- Pain, pressure, and fullness in your face, head, or around your eyes
- A persistent cold
- A stuffy, congested nose
- Headaches
- Difficulty breathing through your nose for more than 10 days
- Pain in your teeth
- Head pressure when you bend down (for example, to put on your shoes)
Acute sinusitis may become chronic sinusitis if your symptoms last at least 12 weeks, and you may even lose your sense of smell and the ability to taste. With chronic sinusitis, you may also experience:
- Thick, discolored postnasal drip
- Ear pain
- Sore throat or cough
- Pain in your jaw or upper teeth
- Bad breath
Acute sinusitis is a temporary infection, while chronic sinusitis lasts longer or is recurring. Chronic sinusitis may cause fatigue as well.
What causes sinusitis?
Some common causes of acute and chronic sinusitis include:
- Allergies
- Nasal polyps
- Viruses
- Bacteria
- Other medical conditions or a respiratory tract infection
- A deviated nasal septum
- An immune system disorder
- Asthma
- Exposure to environmental pollutants
Dr. Lyon and her team determine the underlying cause of your sinusitis symptoms, so they can prescribe effective treatments that provide immediate and long-term relief.
What treatments relieve the symptoms of sinusitis?
The goal of sinusitis treatment is to reduce inflammation of your nasal passages and allow your sinuses to drain so you can breathe freely. Your individual treatment plan may include:
- Saline nasal solutions or sprays to help rinse away irritants in your sinuses
- Nasal corticosteroid spray to reduce inflammation
- Oral or injected corticosteroids to relieve inflammation and severe symptoms
- Antibiotics to treat a bacterial infection
- Immunotherapy to reduce your reaction to allergens
In most cases, once your infection clears up and your sinuses return to normal, you can breathe without sinus pain and discomfort.
If you suffer from the symptoms of sinusitis during allergy season, or if you have a lingering cold, call Lyon Primary Care to schedule an exam.
