So you think you have a sinus infection?

So you think you have a sinus infection?
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Okay, so what kind of infection do you have? Viral or Bacterial?

So, most "sinus infections" are viral. Antibiotics don't help these.

Mucous production associated with sinusitis is a great media for bacteria to grow.

Now, sinusitis does not mean bacterial infection. "Itis" means inflammation!

So sinusitis is inflammation of the sinus.

So when sinuses become inflamed, we get increase in blood vessels, increase in mucus cells, increase in tissue formation and swelling of lymphatic tissue in the nasopharynx and the oropharynx, and the laryngeaopharynx.

Okay, so what? So, all this inflammation can block drainage from the sinuses, out the nose, the mouth and throat. So what happens next? Well, here's where this blockage of draining can lead to a bacterial infection.

What are the signs of a bacterial infection? Well first, a bacterial infection takes time to accumulate, so really it doesn't show up until after 7-10 days. It comes along with fever, sinus pain, and in some cases, but not all - thickly discolored discharge.

Do antibiotics really treat sinus infections? Well, yes and no. Antibiotics kill bacteria yes, but if the mucus is stuck and cant get out, it just becomes a breeding ground for more bacteria. And here's the real kicker - this is usually good bacteria that we like and need that just gets over grown because it's trapped in a place where the environment has changed enhancing it's survival.

So, antibiotics aren't the whole story. We have to deal with the mucus and the inflammation. How do get mucus, out from where it's trapped? Trapped behind inflamed tissue that's really just doing it's job. Well, that's where the procedure I've been getting done comes in handy.

The endonasal part is like balloon angioplasty for the nasal turbinates. It opens them up, so stuff can get out!

Next is the laryngeal sweep, more like a pharyngeal sweep, because we are going up into the nasopharynx to remove tissue that's grown by inflmmation, and removing adhesions that are causing parts of the nasopharynx to create pockets, wall off areas of bacteria and mucous, etc. This is like a D&C for the face........

It's removing overgown tissue, opening airways, unblocking the eustachian tubes, getting rid of pockets of ick.

Is this all because of a bacterial infection? NO. Can it cause re-current bacterial infections? Yes. Would this respond to antibiotics - maybe enough to get relief, but not completely. What happens is an endless cycles of colds worsening in severity, duration, and the need for care. Get this treated by treating the root cause (inflammation) and my body can heal better, and more effectively, and I can help by doing my homework to keep stuff cleared out!

So, do you really have a bacterial sinus infection? Is bacteria really the problem? Not so much.