Colorado Springs

Allergy and Asthma Clinic

"Enjoy the Beauty of Colorado

Without the Sneeze or the Wheeze!"

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the lining of one or more of the sinus cavities in the facial bones around your nose. Sinusitis can make life miserable, causing tenderness in your face, aching behind your eyes and difficulty breathing through your nose.

Most cases of sinusitis are acute infectious sinusitis, which generally lasts less than four weeks. If the signs and symptoms of sinusitis last more than 12 weeks, or if you have frequent bouts of sinusitis, you may have chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic diseases in the United States, affecting an estimated 33 million people each year. Treatment may be with medications, nasal irrigations, or, in some cases, surgery.

Here at Colorado Springs Allergy and Asthma Clinic, many sufferers of chronic sinusitis will learn a cutting edge method of nasal irrigation. All of the major sinuses (maxillary, ethmoid, and frontal) drain into the nose. People with chronic nasal inflammation such as patients with allergies will have those openings clog with mucus and inflammation. By rinsing with salt water, these openings are better able to be kept clear and open thus allowing the sinuses to drain and preventing sinusitis. Also, Colorado happens to be a very dry place to live. Many of our patients say that they feel much better when they travel to coastal regions by the ocean, or areas of the country with high humidity. Nasal irrigations are a way of bringing the ocean to your nose. Salt water happens to be a very natural, healing rinse that can greatly improve nasal symptoms. Also, it is not a medicine and therefore has no side effects such as nose bleeds, raising heart rate or blood pressure, or any interactions with other medicines you might be taking.

For Nasal Irrigations Instructions, click here.