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 Causes of Sinusitis
The most common causes of sinusitis are:
- Allergens such as pollen, pet dander, or dust mites, can trigger an attack response from your body.
- Air pollution plays major role in sinusitis. Airborne toxins irritate mucous membranes and can cause infections.
- Cigarette smoke contains numerous harmful toxic chemicals known as carcinogens among others. It causes nasal irritation and inflammation.
- Work environment with extremely cold or hot, dirty and dry air may pose high risk to nose and sinuses by causing irritation, hypersensitivity of mucus membranes, and injury to delicate cilia.
- Emotional stress is a major factor in most of the illnesses including rhinosinusitis. Research validates strong impact thoughts and feelings have on physical health.
- Immune system is the body’s natural defense against infection. When this vital function is impaired, you are much more vulnerable to disease-causing organisms.
- Dental problems such as infection of the upper teeth can extend to the maxillary sinuses (behind cheeks) and cause sinusitis due to their close proximity.
- Infections like cold or flu can inflame and thicken your sinus membranes, causing mucus build-up where bacteria can easily grow and spread. These infections can be viral, bacterial or fungal in nature.
- Sinus passages may get obstructed by fractured or broken facial bones.
- Nasal polyps, deviated septum, cysts, and enlarged adenoids are physical malformations that can block small sinus openings.
- Mold in the sinuses can trigger allergic reaction.
- Airborne fungi may be a cause of chronic sinusitis. Although all of us are exposed to these fungi, some may become overly sensitive to them and experience inflammation in nose and sinuses.
- Side effect of medications such as birth control pills, blood pressure medications, and antidepressants.
- Pregnancy or hypothyroidism could be a systemic contributing factor.
- Participation in long-term water sports in chlorinated pools.
- A nutritional imbalance could lead to sinus problems.
Go to Sinus Allergy Care
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