The human respiratory system is a very delicate and complex mechanism that performs a variety of functions. This is not only providing the body with oxygen, but also moisturizing the air, cleaning it from dust and fines, as well as the ability to distinguish odors. The main sinus of the nose is the maxillary sinus. A person has two of them: to the left and to the right of the nose; and any pathology in this organ can lead to serious consequences.
Types of Nasal Sinuses
The main sinus is not the only one. There is a number of air ducts in the facial part of the skull, which have their own name and function:
- Frontal sinus - located in the frontal lobe, between the eyebrows.
- The ethmoid sinus is on the left and right of the upper part of the nose bridge.
- Nasal cavity.
- Sphenoid sinus - located near the temporal part of the skull.
- Throat - also applies to the sinuses.
The inside of the sinuses is covered with a network of thin blood vessels and the mucous membrane.
Maxillary sinus
Where is the main sinus located? In the upper jaw, to the right and left of the nose, is a tetrahedral irregular cavity. On average, in an adult, it occupies a volume of up to 17-18 cm 3 .
The maxillary sinus is a complex structure consisting of the medial, facial, ocular, posterior and lower walls. In other words, very important human organs are located around the main sinus of the nose: eyes, teeth, pharynx.
Functions Performed
The complex structure and size of the main sinus of the nose suggests that it has a lot of both internal and external functions:
- Protection from harmful and dangerous microorganisms, which is achieved due to the presence of the mucous membrane on the walls of the sinus.
- Cavities in the upper jaw allow a person to form speech sounds.
- Sinuses are involved in olfactory processes.
- Under their influence, pressure is regulated in the front of the skull.
- The presence of sinuses in the upper jaw significantly reduces its weight - compared with the lower jaw, it is much lighter.
- Internal functions include air exchange and fluid outlet. This feature allows for the outflow of mucus into the nasopharynx through the mouth during inflammation of the mucous membrane.
Any violation of the air exchange or outflow of fluids leads to their stagnation in the sinuses and, consequently, to the development of various anomalies. The proximity of such important organs as the eyes and brain increases the risk of inflammation for human life.
Causes of sinusitis
Inflammation of the main sinus of the nose is called sinusitis. It is characterized by swelling of the mucous membrane, overlapping of the mouth with subsequent difficulty in the outflow of fluids and accumulation of pus in the sinuses.
With improper air exchange, when the air stream is directed in one place by the narrowed sinus, neoplasms appear, one of which is the cyst of the main sinus of the nose.
Sinusitis can develop for a number of reasons:
- Not enough complete treatment for a common cold.
- The appearance in the nasopharynx of viruses or bacteria carried there by air.
- Acute respiratory viral disease: flu, common cold.
- Fracture or injury of the periosteum of the upper jaw.
- Getting into the sinuses of small particles of industrial dust harmful to health, accompanying a person being in a hazardous production (cement plant, chemical or metallurgical plant, and the like).
- Living in a dry, hot air.
- Lack of habit of brushing your teeth and rinsing your mouth after eating.
- Cigarette smoking, tobacco use in other ways.
- Severe hypothermia.
- Weakening of the body’s immune system.
- Allergy to dust, pollen, benzene and other pathogens.
- The presence of adenoids or polyps in the sinuses.
- The development in the sinuses of tumors of various etiologies.
One of the reasons for the development of sinusitis is the prolonged and unsystematic use of drugs that narrow the vessels of the mucous membrane. Long-term use of sprays and drops for the nose cause a thickening of the mucous membrane to such a state that it completely blocks the sinuses and other ducts in the upper jaw. Thus, the main sinuses are destroyed by the person himself.
What diseases are in the sinuses?
The complexity and variety of sinuses lead to dangerous diseases. Most often, a person suffers from sinusitis, but there is also sinusitis, frontal sinusitis, ethmoiditis, and a polyp of the main sinus of the nose (it is a consequence of the growth of the mucosa, is practically insensitive to touch, but can provoke the pathologies listed here), and, of course, everyone knows rhinitis. By the way, it becomes a cause of addiction to the aforementioned drugs, which narrow the vessels of the mucous membrane.
Signs of sinusitis
Symptoms of sinusitis affect the general well-being of a person and affect various body systems:
- First of all, the patient has nasal discharge. They have an unpleasant putrefactive odor and green-yellow color. But this is only in a severe stage of the disease - at the initial stage, the mucus is transparent, with small impurities of green color.
- There is severe pain in the front of the face, namely around the nose. The pain intensifies if a person tilts his head forward.
- Disturbed air exchange on the right or left side of the nose. This condition is called nasal congestion.
- In the acute form of the disease, body temperature can reach 40 degrees Celsius.
- Pain and lack of oxygen cause loss of sleep and impaired memory.
- The general condition of a person is accompanied by apathy, disability, weakness in all members.
- With the development of the disease, the pain in the head becomes comprehensive, it covers not only the face, but the entire skull. Filling the maxillary cavity with pus and mucus gives the person’s voice a characteristic timbre - it becomes “nasal”.
With severe pain, discharge from the nose becomes abundant, sometimes blood appears in them. In such a situation, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, since self-medication at this stage is not effective and even life-threatening.
Drug therapy for sinusitis
The main diseases of the nose and paranasal sinuses are allergic, rhinogenic, polypous sinusitis, as well as sinusitis, frontal sinusitis and a number of other similar pathologies. The treatment for almost all of these types of diseases is approximately the same. Preparations and procedures are prescribed individually and only by a specialist, depending on the general condition of the person. It is very important to comply with the dosage and dosage regimen of the prescribed drugs.
To combat bacterial infection, Sulbacin, Unazin or Amoxiclav are used. Amoxicillin-containing preparations are also prescribed. Swelling of the mucous membrane is stopped with the help of "Phenylephrine", "Oxymethazoline", "Lekonil" or "Nazola".
If rhinitis has an allergic origin, then the patient is prescribed a course of "Loratadine", "Kestin" or other antihistamine.
In order to cure a person of a disease that caused sinusitis, such as a cold or flu, he needs to take Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Paracetamol or another similar remedy.
To accelerate the release of mucus from the sinuses, the treatment complex includes such drugs as Ambroxol, Acetylcysteine, and Licorice Root Syrup. They belong to the so-called mucolytic agents.
Surgical intervention
With sinusitis, surgical treatment is often recommended. In this case, a long needle is inserted into the maxillary sinus through the nostrils and the pus and stagnant mucus are aspirated. The procedure is painful and unpleasant, but it is performed only when the patient is conscious.
Treatment of cysts of the main sinus of the nose rarely ends after taking medications. Most often, the formation is removed surgically. In addition, this type of therapy is used in situations where the mucous membrane has undergone a change during prolonged use of vasoconstrictor drugs. The surgeon simply cuts off the thick outer layer of the sheath. Unfortunately, it can grow again quite soon. Polyps and adenoids are also removed surgically.
Useful Tips
During the treatment of sinusitis, the patient is recommended to drink more fluids in order to accelerate the outflow of mucus infected by the infection. Inhalations with essential oils should also be performed. It also helps fight the virus.
For the duration of treatment, the patient is placed in an isolation ward or in quarantine. He should not walk the streets and go to work. In a special room, a comfortable air temperature is maintained, as well as its humidity. Dry air causes mucosal irritation.
Sinuses are cleared of mucus by regular blowing. In young children, this procedure is carried out using a special suction or enema.
Doctors recommend flushing the nasopharynx and maxillary sinuses with the help of special solutions. Usually it is "Miramistin", "Furatsilin" or other antiseptic. The procedure is performed by an ENT doctor in his office. Usually several sessions are prescribed, depending on the severity of the disease.
Preventive actions
Sinusitis can lead to chronic migraine, impaired vision and hearing, eye sores abscess, phlegmon, intracranial abscess and meningitis. Therefore, it is recommended to treat the disease only under the supervision of specialists.
It is best to prevent the occurrence of the disease. For this, a number of preventive recommendations must be observed. First of all, the body should be protected from hypothermia. To do this, dress appropriately for the weather, especially in the winter season.
In order for the flu and colds to go quickly and without complications, doctors recommend that you do not ignore the annual vaccination. During the treatment of colds, it is necessary to undergo a full course of therapy, despite the improvement in well-being. Incidentally, this is the main mistake of all patients: they stop drinking prescribed pills and syrups as soon as they feel better.
To strengthen immunity, you must regularly exercise and temper your body. Bad habits must be discarded. Smoking cigarettes and drinking weaken the body as a whole, and especially the respiratory system and immunity.