Having problems with sinusitis again? There are around 37 million Americans who suffer from the condition at least once every year, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. What some don't understand are the sinusitis mucus problems that occur whenever you have to deal with this condition. To help you get a better grip on the situation, here are some of the things you should know.

What is Sinusitis Mucus?

Basically, whenever you get a bout of sinusitis, the membranes lining your sinuses get inflamed. The sinuses are actually spaces inside your skull that serve as air filters for the body. The passage ways into these spaces can be very small and tight. Once the membranes get inflamed, they tend to get swollen and some of the passageways can get blocked. As the sinus usually filters out dirt and other material, the mucus inside usually traps these unwanted materials. Normally, the body gets rid of the mucosal secretions, but when the passages are swollen shut, this becomes impossible, hence the problems begin.

What Happens Now?

The trapped mucosal secretions and materials create an environment perfect for infections. This is what leads to the thick yellow or green discharges that usually accompany prolonged cases. If the malfunctions in drainage are left untreated, the environment becomes ripe for the growth of bacteria. This can lead to other complications like the spread of the bacterial infections to other nearby organs like the eyes. These are rare complications but are very serious in nature.

Causes

According to the Mayo Clinic, allergies and respiratory tract infections are some of the most common causes of the condition. Any of these can cause the narrow nasal passages to constrict and create problems for proper drainage. Chronic conditions can also be caused by tumors and nasal abnormalities but these are rarer.

Solutions

You can try to relieve the symptoms by helping the body drain and clean out the passages of the unwanted mucus build up. The Mayo Clinic suggests saline nasal sprays. Corticosteriods are also advised. These are anti-inflammatory medicines that can either be nasally administered or injected. Contrary to popular belief, antibiotics are usually not necessary for sinusitis. Even the Mayo Clinic suggests this in both the acute and chronic cases. Acute cases mostly self-limit and improve with time while chronic cases are usually caused by something other than bacteria.

Your doctor may still prescribe antibiotic treatment but there are other causes that should be checked out. Fungal, viral, and allergic reactions are all possible causes so talk to your doctor about the possibility of diagnosing and also treating these conditions. The American Academy of Otolaryngology suggests fungal infections as one of the possibly overlooked causes.

The basic problem with the condition is drainage. Normally, the body uses the mucus to clean out the offending materials but if they can't get out you may have to help out your body with the clean up. If you can drain the mucosal secretions, chances are you can get rid of the offending materials as well. The Mayo Foundation has published articles on the efficacy of Neti Pots in these situations. Remember to use warm salt water and not plain water when using a Neti Pot