Introduction:

The skull contains a number of air-filled spaces called sinuses.
They perform the following functions:

• Reduce the weight of the skull
• Provide insulation for the skull
• Provide resonance for the voice

Four pairs of sinuses, known as the paranasal air sinuses, connect to the nasal passages (the two airways running through the nose) and are those that are involved in sinusitis.

These sinuses are the following:

• Frontal sinuses (behind the forehead)
• Maxillary sinuses (behind the cheekbones)
• Ethmoid sinuses (between the eyes)
• Sphenoid sinuses (behind the eyes)

Function:

Cilia moves mucus to natural opening. Boxes in anatomy with small or narrow openings will cause swelling of mucosa hence experience of increase nasal, drainage, congestion and headaches.

What is Sinusitis?

Paranasal Sinuses are the hollow cavities in the skull which are positioned around, behind and between the eyes and nose. These cavities are lined with sinus mucosal and cilia, which ultimately keep the sinuses clear of infection. The sinus mucosal creates mucus, which collects bacteria and particles from the air you breathe. Then little hair-like structures, called cilia, push the mucus and particles out of the sinuses. Interruption or alteration of either’s function can cause Sinusitis. Sinusitis, simply put, is inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities. This inflammation blocks your nasal passageways, which hinders your breathing and blocks normal mucus drainage. There are many causes for this inflammation such as outside pathogens (e.g. bacteria or virus), structural anomalies (deviates septum) and/or environmental influences (allergies). Symptoms and treatment depend on the cause and severity of the inflammation. This disease can greatly affect your quality of life and early treatment is strongly suggested.

Classification of Sinusitis:

Sinusitis is classified as Acute, Subacute, Chronic, and Recurrent The classification is based on how long symptoms last:

• Acute: Less than 4 weeks
• Subacute: 4 - 12 weeks
• Chronic: 12 weeks or longer
• Recurrent: 3 or more acute episodes in 1 year

Acute

Acute Sinusitis is the temporary inflammation of the sinuses. It is usually caused by bacteria or a virus, such as the common cold. Depending on its cause, Acute Sinusitis can be treated with a range of medications from antibiotics to steroids. Acute Sinusitis is a short-lived disease which can last up to four weeks. However, if left untreated, Acute Sinusitis can lead to more serious and even chronic disorders.

Chronic

Chronic Sinusitis is the persistent and frequent inflammation of the sinuses. It may be caused by many factors including, non-treatment of a previous condition (Acute Sinusitis or respiratory infection), anatomical problems (i.e. deviated septum) or even allergies. Chronic Sinusitis is characterized by inflammation, which recurs or lasts for more thank twelve consecutive weeks.

Symptoms depend on the type and severity of the disease. The most common signs of Sinusitis include:

• Headache
• Facial Pressure/Pain
• Ear Pressure, Pain, or Fullness
• Dental Pain
• Congestion
• Post-nasal drainage (drainage into the back of the throat)
• Yellow/Green nasal discharge
• Persistent Cough particularly during the day
• Reduced or absent sense of smell
• Labored Breathing
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Halitosis (Bad Breath)
• Symptoms that continue for 10 days or more after the start of a cold or flu
• Symptoms worsen after 5-7 days, or return after initial improvement in a cold referred to as double sickening
• Eyes may be red, bulging, or painful if the sinus infection occurs around the eyes.

Sleep Apnea

The Greek word "apnea" literally means "without breath." There are three types of apnea: obstructive, central, and mixed; of the three, obstructive is the most common. Despite the difference in the root cause of each type, in all three, people with untreated sleep apnea stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, sometimes hundreds of times during the night and often for a minute or longer.

With each apnea event, the brain briefly arouses people with sleep apnea in order for them to resume breathing, but consequently sleep is extremely fragmented and of poor quality

Sleep apnea is very common and affects more than twelve million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health. Risk factors include being male, overweight, and over the age of forty, but sleep apnea can strike anyone at any age, even children. Because of the lack of awareness by the public and healthcare professionals, the vast majority remain undiagnosed and therefore untreated, despite the fact that this serious disorder can have significant consequences.

Untreated, sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure and other cardiovascular disease, memory problems, weight gain, impotency, and headaches. Moreover, untreated sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle crashes. Fortunately, most patients with sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated successfully at the Yeung Institute.

Causes/Treatments

There are many causes of Sinusitis. Basically, anything that creates swelling in the sinus cavities or stops the movement of cilia can cause Sinusitis. A few common causes include outside pathogens, structural abnormalities, or even environmental factors. Outside pathogens such as bacteria and viruses can attack the mucosal lining of the sinuses and cause them to swell. Also, allergies and other environmental factors such as smoke, pollution, etc. can constrict your passages and trigger sinus problems. In these cases, medication such as steroids and antibiotics are typically used to reduce swelling and eliminate symptoms. Prescribing medication is usually the first step in treating Sinusitis. In some cases however, medicine may alleviate, but not completely eliminate symptoms. For example, structural issues such as a deviated septum can block the sinus passages and cause inflammation. Unfortunately, medicine cannot correct anatomical problems, and these cases often require surgery.

Sinus Anatomy *

Sinus Anatomy **