If you’ve ever had a bad sinus infection, you know how miserable it can make you feel. Now imagine those symptoms dragging on for months—or coming back over and over again, disrupting your sleep, work and daily life. That’s the reality for millions of Americans who live with chronic sinusitis.
In fact, chronic sinusitis affects nearly 30 million adults in the United States each year. It’s one of the most common chronic health conditions, and it’s responsible for millions of missed days of school and work. For many people, it’s not just a stuffy nose—it’s headaches, fatigue, brain fog and the frustration of trying multiple treatments without real relief.
The good news? You don’t have to keep suffering. Summit Health’s team of board-certified ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialists are here to help. Anita Vaswani, MD, is here to answer your questions about chronic sinusitis—explaining what it is, what causes it, and how the ENT team can help patients find lasting relief.
Q&A: What You Need to Know About Chronic Sinusitis
Q: What is chronic sinusitis? How is it different from an acute sinus infection?
A: Acute sinus infections are short-lived—usually linked to a cold or allergies—and tend to clear up in a week or two. Chronic sinusitis, on the other hand, means inflammation and swelling in the sinuses that lasts for 12 weeks or longer, despite attempts at treatment. Some people have repeated flare-ups throughout the year, making it feel like the infection never really goes away.
Q: What are the symptoms of chronic sinusitis, and why is it so debilitating?
A: Symptoms can include constant nasal congestion, facial pressure or pain, postnasal drip, headaches, reduced sense of smell or taste and fatigue. It’s debilitating because it’s not just physical discomfort—it affects your sleep, your ability to focus, and your overall energy.
Q: I get frequent sinus infections and usually go to urgent care. How do I know when it is time to see a specialist?
A: If you’ve had multiple infections in a year, or if your symptoms linger even after antibiotics, it’s time to see an ENT. Specialists can take a deeper look at what’s going on—whether that’s nasal polyps, allergies, structural issues in your nose or ongoing inflammation—and offer more targeted solutions.
Q: Antibiotics and steroids usually clear things up for me. What’s the problem with using them long-term?
A: While antibiotics and steroids can help temporarily, using them over and over again comes with risks. Long-term antibiotic use can disrupt your gut health and lead to antibiotic resistance. Steroids, meanwhile, can cause side effects like weight gain, bone loss and high blood pressure. These medications aren’t meant to be a permanent fix—and if you find yourself relying on them, it’s a sign you need specialized care.
Q: What causes sinus infections? How can an ENT help me figure out what’s going on?
A: Chronic sinus problems often stem from multiple factors—such as ongoing allergies, environmental irritants or anatomical problems like nasal polyps or a deviated septum within the nasal cavity that cause mucus not to drain properly.
ENTs use a combination of tools to get to the root cause. This may include allergy testing to see if seasonal or year-round allergens are triggering inflammation. Imaging, such as a CT scan, can reveal structural issues inside your sinuses that are causing mucus to get trapped and become infected. With this information, your ENT can create a personalized treatment plan instead of a “one-size-fits-all” approach.
Q: What other treatment options are available?
A: Treatment can vary depending on the root cause. Options may include prescription nasal sprays, allergy management, saline rinses or minimally invasive procedures like balloon sinuplasty, which gently opens blocked sinuses. There are numerous options out there that can offer relief.
Q: How successful are surgical solutions? What should I consider if surgery is recommended?
A: When medical therapy isn’t enough, surgery can be highly effective. Endoscopic sinus surgery, for example, uses tiny instruments and a camera to clear blockages and improve sinus drainage. Most patients experience long-term relief, better breathing, and fewer infections. It’s important to talk through your goals, expectations, and recovery with your ENT to decide if surgery is the right path for you.
How Summit Health ENT Can Help
Living with chronic sinusitis doesn’t have to be normal. At Summit Health, our ENT specialists use the latest technology and evidence-based treatments to get to the root of your sinus problems. Whether that means medical management, allergy testing or surgical solutions, we’re here to help you breathe easier and reclaim your quality of life. Don’t let another season pass feeling run-down and congested — schedule a visit with a Summit Health ENT today and take the first step toward long-lasting relief.