Staying healthy in pregnancy

Sinuses are cavities found around your nose and eyes. Their main purpose is to produce mucus that helps protect your lungs and airways from dirt, infectious organisms and even pollutants. Inside the sinuses are cilia (tiny hair-like structures) that help push the mucus that has trapped dirt into your nostrils. You then have to blow your nose to get rid of it.

It is not uncommon for sinuses to have problems, and that is why you might hear an ENT specialist inform you that you have a sinus infection. You can also experience sinus swelling from an infection or some abnormal growths in your sinuses, or your sinuses may have developed with an abnormal structure. All these conditions may bring about symptoms such as sinus irritation, pain, headaches, difficulty breathing, coughing, blocked ears, reduction in sense of smell and taste, snoring, facial pain, sleep apnea, a running or blocked nose, etc.

Sinus Infections

An ENT will try medicinal remedies before recommending surgery. However, if the infection is severe enough that it has damaged tissue and caused swelling, you might require surgery because the medicine may not effectively treat damaged tissue; it needs to be removed surgically.

By the time the tissue becomes damaged, you may also be in severe pain or discomfort and might be finding it difficult to breathe.

Abnormal Growths

Abnormal growths can only be effectively removed through surgery. You don't want them to grow excessively large and start giving you difficulties in breathing. If this happens during your sleep, you might suffocate. That is why your ENT specialist will push for the quick removal of any abnormal growths.

Abnormal Sinus Structure

Sometimes, you can just be born with an abnormally structured sinus, which can cause sinus problems as you grow. Surgery is required to restore it to its normal structure.

How Is Sinus Surgery Performed?

You are put to sleep and the doctor accesses your sinus through your nostrils. You don't have to worry about scars or distortion of your facial structure. Depending on how the surgery is done, you might stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring or more procedures or you may leave a few hours after the surgery. You can expect some pain and discomfort during the healing period.

Your ENT specialist will give you instructions to follow after your sinus surgery. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure you recover well without complications. You might be required to visit the ENT specialist so that he or she can check that you are healing well and that there are no complications.