What Does a Sinus Specialist Do?
A sinus specialist is an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) provider with expertise in nose and sinus conditions. Your sinuses are the air-filled spaces in your forehead, cheeks, and nose.
Sinus specialists can see if sinus problems are at the root of your symptoms. They can treat these sinus problems and increase your quality of life.
Symptoms of Sinus Problems
Sinus problems can cause a variety of symptoms:
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Difficulty breathing through your nose
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Mucus or discharge from your nose
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Facial pressure, pain, or fullness
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Changes in your sense of smell
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Frequent sinus infections (more than three per year)
Many of these symptoms overlap with other conditions that aren’t related to your sinuses. These unrelated conditions include migraines, jaw grinding, or nerve problems. That’s why it’s important to see a specialist if your symptoms don’t improve after several weeks of treatment. You may have a different underlying problem.
When to See an ENT for Sinus Problems
Your primary care provider can treat mild, short-term sinus problems. For example, you should see your primary care provider first to get treatment for a sinus infection or ongoing nasal congestion. Your primary care provider can also treat conditions that mimic sinus issues, such as allergies or headaches.
There are some situations when it’s best to see an ENT who specializes in sinus problems:
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You’ve had sinus symptoms for 12 weeks or longer.
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You get sinus symptoms more than several times per year.
When to Get Urgent or Emergency Care for Sinus Problems
You can visit an urgent care center for sinus infection treatment. Use urgent care when your primary care provider isn’t available. Urgent care providers can treat sinus issues like your primary care provider would.
You should go to the emergency room if you experience any rare, severe sinus symptoms:
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Severe headaches
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Significant swelling in your eyes or face
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Vision changes, including blurry or double vision
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High fever
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Neck stiffness
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Sensitivity to light
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Behavioral changes, such as sudden confusion
Most viral sinus infections will start to improve within 10 days of illness. If your symptoms don't improve after a week, you may have an infection. You may need to visit the urgent care to get antibiotic treatment for an infection.
Sinus Specialist Near You
What Causes Sinus Problems?
The most common cause of sinus problems is sinusitis, also called rhinosinusitis. Sinusitis occurs when the lining in your sinuses gets inflamed. There are three main types of sinusitis:
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Acute sinusitis lasts for about 1–4 weeks. Acute sinusitis usually develops when a cold or another infection turns into a sinus infection. Most viral sinus infections get better within 10 days. But you may have a bacterial sinus infection if your symptoms don't improve after a week. You may need antibiotics to treat your bacterial sinus infection.
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Chronic sinusitis lasts 12 weeks or longer. It may cause nasal congestion, nasal blockages, nasal discharge, changes in your sense of smell, and sometimes facial pressure or pain.
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Recurrent acute sinusitis is when you have flares of acute sinusitis four or more times a year.
There are many causes of other sinus problems:
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Exposure to pollutants
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Nasal blockages, like a septal deviation. A septal deviation is when the middle piece of tissue that divides your nostrils veers to one side.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment With a Sinus Specialist
Your sinus specialist will gather a full health history at your first visit. They will ask you about your symptoms. They will also ask if you’ve tried any treatments and whether they worked.
You will fill out a questionnaire asking about your quality of life. This helps us understand how disruptive your symptoms are. You will take this questionnaire at specific times throughout treatment. This helps us gauge how well treatment is working.
Your sinus specialist will examine your ears, nose, and throat. They may also perform a nasal endoscopy. In this test, they insert a small instrument through your nostril and into your sinuses. This allows your sinus specialist to examine your sinuses clearly. They will look for inflammation, swelling, or scarring.
You may get some follow-up tests, depending on your exam findings:
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Allergy testing to identify or rule out certain allergies that could cause sinus symptoms.
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Blood tests to detect or rule out unusual types of inflammation.
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CT scan to get a clear image of your sinuses.
Your sinus specialist will diagnose a condition based on the exam and test results. They will talk with you about all the ways to treat your condition.
Treatment for Sinus Problems
Usually, the goal of sinus treatment is to reduce inflammation in your sinuses. Specialists use two main treatment approaches:
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Saltwater rinses: You rinse your nasal passages with salt water daily. You may use a bulb syringe, squeeze bottle, or device called a neti pot to flush salt water through your nose. We recommend you distill or boil and cool about 8 ounces of salt water. Then, use about 4 ounces of the water to rinse each nostril. This treatment is safe and effective.
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Steroid sprays: You apply a steroid spray to the inside of your nose. Applying steroids to your nasal lining is different from taking them by mouth. It causes fewer side effects, so it’s safe to use them long-term.
Your sinus specialist may recommend other treatments if these two options don’t manage your symptoms:
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Antibiotics: You may take these medicines to treat a bacterial sinus infection.
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Sinus surgery: Surgery can treat sinus conditions when medicine doesn't work. Sinus surgery opens your sinuses. Medications work better when your sinuses are more open.
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
Our sinus specialists are board-certified ear, nose, and throat providers. They have additional fellowship training in nasal and sinus conditions. Our team includes experts who are recognized around the world.
Our providers are all faculty in the Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah. We train the next generation of medical providers. This role requires our providers to be at the cutting edge of treatment, research, and innovation.
We pride ourselves on compassionate, patient-centered care. We understand how overwhelming and disruptive chronic sinus problems can be. Our entire team of doctors, nurses, medical assistants, and office staff support you. We work hard to help you get timely, expert treatment to enjoy a higher quality of life.
Schedule an Appointment
Call 801-587-8368 or request an appointment online. You don’t need a referral to schedule an appointment. Our team will help you verify your insurance coverage before your visit.
