What Is Chronic Sinusitis?
鼻窦是相互连接的，位于颅骨内的空心空间与鼻道相连. 它们有助于过滤大发娱乐呼吸的空气，并作为另一级免疫防御. 鼻窦内衬有软组织，并有一层薄薄的粘液，使它们保持湿润和健康.
When working properly, the sinuses drain mucus regularly. Chronic sinusitis interferes with that. 它发生在鼻窦发炎和阻塞12周或更长时间，尽管治疗. 这会让你难以自由呼吸、睡个好觉，甚至无法清晰地思考.
Chronic sinusitis is treatable. At University of Utah Health, our fellowship-trained rhinologists 是专门治疗鼻窦问题的专家吗. 他们可以诊断慢性鼻窦炎并大发娱乐提供个性化治疗, including non-surgical therapies and, if needed, endoscopic sinus surgery. 他们参与临床研究和临床试验，包括探索慢性鼻窦炎的新疗法的研究.
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Chronic Sinusitis Causes
专家们并不总是知道为什么有些人会患上慢性鼻窦炎，而有些人却不会. You may be more likely to develop this condition if you have:
- allergies,
- asthma,
- an underlying condition, such as cystic fibrosis,
- a family history of chronic sinusitis, or
- nasal polyps （鼻子或鼻窦内壁上柔软的、无痛的、非癌性的生长）.
Bacterial infections do not cause chronic sinusitis, 但有些慢性鼻窦炎患者会出现持续性细菌感染.
Chronic Sinusitis Symptoms
Common symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:
- difficulty breathing through your nose,
- difficulty sleeping due to breathing discomfort,
- increased mucus in your sinuses and nose,
- inflammation (swelling) in your nose (nasal congestion),
- loss of smell and taste,
- pain in your ears, upper jaw, and teeth, and
- 后滴鼻（粘液从喉咙后部流出）.
Other symptoms can include:
- fatigue,
- headaches, and
- sore throat.
The symptoms of acute 鼻窦炎与慢性鼻窦炎相似，但持续时间较短.
When to Seek Treatment
If you experience symptoms of sinusitis for more than 10 days, 考虑与你的初级保健大发娱乐提供者预约. Your provider may recommend treatments such as:
- antibiotic medication,
- decongestant medication,
- rest, and
- rinsing your sinuses with a saline solution.
If your symptoms persist, you may need to make an appointment with a specialist, such as a rhinologist. U of U Health的鼻科医生是诊断和治疗慢性鼻窦炎的专家.
在极少数情况下，慢性鼻窦炎会引起需要立即就医的症状. 当细菌感染在鼻窦发展并扩散到身体的其他部位时，就会发生这种情况. If you experience loss of vision, confusion, or dizziness along with sinusitis symptoms, call your primary care provider right away.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
During your first appointment with a rhinologist, 目的是了解更多关于你的症状和病史，以制定个性化的治疗计划.
Your doctor will talk with you about:
- your symptoms and how long you have been experiencing them,
- what treatments you have already tried, and
- 任何可能使你的症状加重的潜在疾病.
你的医生可能想在决定推荐什么治疗之前做一些检查. These tests can occur during your first visit and may include:
- 做鼻内窥镜检查（这包括使用带有小型相机和灯的细管来观察鼻子和鼻窦通道的内部）,
- doing blood tests, and
- testing a small mucus sample.
有些测试可以单独订购，并在稍后的时间进行. These include:
- allergy testing and
- a computed tomography (CT) scan to get a better view of your sinuses.
Non-Surgical Treatments for Chronic Sinusitis
在所有的测试结果出来后，鼻科医生会和你谈谈治疗计划. 这可能发生在你的第一次约会或在后续的谈话中.
治疗的第一线可能包括非手术治疗来控制炎症, reduce symptoms, and improve your quality of life. 这有时被称为“适当的医疗管理”，可能包括：
- flushing your sinuses with a saline solution,
- 使用含有皮质类固醇（抗炎）药物的鼻腔喷雾剂或将这种药物添加到盐水冲洗中,
- using oral steroid medication, and
- using oral antibiotic medication.
大多数患有慢性鼻窦炎的人通过这些非手术治疗方案得到缓解. 有些人由于潜在的疾病需要额外的非手术治疗. 例如，过敏的人可能需要去看过敏专家.
Chronic Sinusitis Surgery
If appropriate medical management isn’t successful, the next step may be to have endoscopic sinus surgery. 这个手术打开阻塞的鼻窦，这样它们就能更好地排干，你就能更好地获得消炎药，更容易地到达你的鼻窦.
Surgery alone is not a cure. 根据医生的指示，你需要使用含有抗炎药物的鼻腔喷雾剂或冲洗液. As a result of the surgery, more of the medicine will reach your affected sinuses, which will provide more symptom relief.
Endoscopic sinus surgery: what to expect
护理团队会让你知道需要做什么以及如何为你的手术做准备. If you take blood thinners or certain supplements, you will need to stop for two weeks before surgery. The rhinologist may have you take antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, 或者在手术前后服用类固醇药物.
内窥镜鼻窦手术是微创的，通常作为门诊手术进行. Patients with other health problems, such as sleep apnea or heart disease, may need to stay at the hospital overnight.
在手术过程中，外科医生将使用插入你鼻子的内窥镜检查你的鼻窦. The surgeon may:
- remove polyps that are causing blockages,
- 打开发炎的鼻窦，为引流创造更多的空间，更好地获得药物，或者
- 引导一个小气球进入你的鼻窦，轻轻地充气以清除通道.
内窥镜鼻窦手术不需要任何外部切口. 你不会有任何明显的手术症状，比如眼睛浮肿. 手术后的头几天你可能会感到一些疼痛或不适, but over-the-counter pain relievers should provide relief.
After endoscopic sinus surgery
For the first few days after surgery, 你需要用生理盐水冲洗鼻窦以保持鼻腔清洁. The care team will teach you how to do this.
术后一周左右，你会和你的鼻科医生有一个后续预约. 医生会用内窥镜检查你的鼻窦，确保一切都恢复得很好. 在此之后，您可以逐渐恢复正常的活动. 你通常会开始定期使用抗炎鼻腔喷雾剂. This will help keep your symptoms well-controlled.
Living with Chronic Sinusitis
Thanks to appropriate management, 大多数慢性鼻窦炎患者的症状都有了明显的改善. 对这种慢性疾病过程的患者特异性护理和持续管理是获得最佳结果的关键.
Making an Appointment with a Rhinologist
推荐是受欢迎的，但不是必要的，当预约与一个鼻科医生在U的U健康. To make an appointment, call 801-587-8368 or use our online form. 大发娱乐的团队将在您访问之前核实您的保险范围. If you have had medical tests related to your condition, we will request the results from your provider. 大发娱乐的目标是使您的访问尽可能高效和有用.