- Sinusitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungus and allergies.
- Symptoms of sinusitis often include yellow or green nasal drainage, facial pressure and pain, nasal congestion, bad breath, coughing up mucus, and in some cases, fever and chills.
- When sinusitis persists for more than three months, it is classified as chronic sinusitis.
Statistically, women may be more susceptible to sinus issues and sinusitis compared to men. According to Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, sinusitis can severely impact one’s quality of life.
“If people listed the serious health issues in life, they probably put chronic sinusitis at the bottom of the list, but I always find it interesting that if you look at quality of life scores, people that have chronic sinusitis consistently have lower quality of life scores than people with almost any other condition,” Dr. Trimble told the SE Dallas News. “I think the number one reason is that no one has ever felt bad for someone who has sinus problems. Number two reason is the fact that people greatly underestimate the impact on someone’s quality of life and well-being that chronic sinusitis has.”
Nasal inflammation, also referred to as sinusitis, involves the inflammation or swelling of the sinus lining, according to the American Sinus Institute. This condition can obstruct air passages, leading to increased mucus production and the potential for infection. It’s a relatively common issue, often triggered by something as ordinary as the common cold.
Sinusitis tends to affect women more than men, according to JNJ Med Tech. It is estimated that sinusitis affects 16% of women each year, compared to 10% of men. Overall, chronic sinusitis affects 35 million people per year.
Gender differences can also influence the symptoms experienced as a result of sinusitis. According to the Consequences of Chronic Rhinosinusitis on Blood Pressure study, it was concluded that 2% of men and 4% of women who experience inflammation of sinus also experience a significant increase in blood pressure, especially in patient groups over 50 years of age.
While there is no consensus on why women experience sinusitis more frequently than men, several theories have emerged. Some researchers propose that women’s greater willingness to report symptoms and seek medical care may contribute to this discrepancy. Additionally, factors such as differences in tobacco susceptibility, hormonal influences, and smaller sinus ostia have been speculated to increase women’s overall susceptibility to sinusitis.
According to Dallas Breathe Free’s website, Dr. Monty Trimble is certified in otolaryngology. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Texas A&M University and completed his medical education at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. Dr. Trimble then completed his residency in otolaryngology at the University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics.
