Sinusitis sounds pretty tame.  Some people believe it is a mild case of stuffiness that a decongestant can cure. For the 31 million Americans who suffer with from this disease, it is far from a trivial matter. In fact, they spend one billion dollars each year for over-the-counter medication to fight the condition. If you suffer from acute or chronic sinusitis, you should consider exploring a different treatment.

Sinuses

You actually have four sets of sinuses: Maxillary, frontal, ethmoid, and sphenoid, located in the cheekbones, the forehead, between the eyes, and behind the nasal cavity, respectively. So many sinuses can lead to so much pain. If you develop sinusitis, an inflammation of the sinuses that traps mucus inside them, you may experience excruciating pressure and a multiplication of bacteria that can lead to infection. In addition, you may have a fever, runny nose, headache, loss of smell, bad breath, and a toothache. In short, the condition can make you absolutely miserable for quite a long time. 

Treatments

Treatments include using medications such as decongestants, nasal sprays, saline solutions, and corticosteroid injections. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics although these are not always successful in treating chronic conditions that result in nearly constant inflammation. If you continually suffer from this illness, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Surgery

New techniques make sinus surgery much less invasive than it was just a few years ago. Some doctors may still use endoscopes and cutting tools to access your sinuses and remove bone or excess tissue that is blocking drainage from the sinus passages. Fortunately, they can now use lasers to do the job, resulting in less pain and faster recoveries. An endoscope with a camera is inserted into the sinuses, and a laser cuts away the diseased tissue, including any polyps that may be blocking the sinus passages. The surgeon is guided by the image projected by the camera onto a screen. The endoscope also runs warm water into the area to flush out the dead tissue. Patients can have this surgery done as an outpatient, and recovery time is minimal. 

If you suffer from a chronic sinus condition, laser surgery may be for you. Less invasive treatments work for some people, but if you continually suffer from major congestion and frequent infections, a surgeon can easily relieve your pain and prevent a recurrence of sinusitis. Although it is a common complaint, the condition can have a negative impact on the quality of your life. 

For more information about laser surgery, contact an office such as Eastern Carolina Ear Nose & Throat-Head.