Written by MGP Member Christopher French, MD, Sinus Specialist at Associated Otolaryngologist of Pennsylvania  

Nasal and sinus issues are very common in Central Pennsylvania. Symptoms can include:

• Trouble breathing through your nose
• Blowing your nose frequently or having a drippy nose
• Postnasal drip causing you to clear your throat or cough frequently
• Sinus headaches
• Problems with your sense of smell

If you suffer from any of these symptoms for more than a couple weeks, you may have rhinitis (inflammation inside the nose) or sinusitis (inflammation that extends into the sinuses).  The good news is that there are effective treatments for these diseases.

Typical treatment begins with steroid nasal sprays that help reduce the swelling inside your nose. If these don’t lead to improvement, further evaluation by a sinus specialist can be beneficial. The sinus specialist may perform a nasal endoscopy (a quick painless office procedure to look inside your nose with a camera) or order a sinus CT scan. The results of these studies can help narrow down the cause of your symptoms so you can be more effectively treated with medical or surgical measures.