The Impact of Untreated Sinus Issues on Your Health

You know that constant stuffiness you’ve been brushing off, or those headaches you’ve been popping painkillers frequently? Well, these symptoms may be telling you that there is something serious going on with your body. 

Sinus issues may not just be inconveniences.

These issues can be silent indicators of underlying health problems. So, if left untreated, they can worsen to significant medical concerns. Some people tend to dismiss sinus issues as just a common cold symptom or another seasonal allergy in Winter Haven, but the truth is far more impactful on your overall well-being. 

Here, we’ll look at the impact of untreated sinus issues on your health.

Paranasal Sinus Mucocele

Paranasal sinus mucocele is a condition that occurs when mucus accumulates in your sinuses. The accumulation leads to cyst-like structures. When you don’t treat this condition, you can experience severe sinus pressure, pain, and sometimes even facial deformity.

The best treatment for this condition is to drain the mucus. But if your condition is very serious, the best treatment is surgery. During surgery, your doctor will remove the affected sinus and ensure the restoration of normal function.

Decreased Sense of Smell

One of the most noticeable impacts of untreated sinus issues is a decreased sense of smell. Your olfactory receptors are positioned on the upper side of your nasal passage. They are responsible for detecting smell.

So, blockage and inflammation can happen within your sinuses when you have an untreated sinus infection. The blockage and inflammation can make your olfactory receptors not work as efficiently as they used to.

In some cases, it can affect your ability to smell well. Also, if your sinus issue is very serious, the blockage and inflammation can lead to a permanent loss of smell.

Therefore, it is essential that you seek treatment if you have sinus issues. Consulting an ENT specialist, such as an ear nose & throat doctor in Winter Haven, can help identify the root cause and preserve your sense of smell through targeted treatment.

Eye Infections

In some cases, if you fail to treat a sinus infection, the infection can spread to your eyes. This can lead to the inflammation of the orbital septum, infection of the fat and muscles that surround your eye, a collection of pus inside your eye socket, and blood clots in the cavernous sinuses.

An antibiotic can easily solve this issue. But, if your case is extremely severe, you may need to undergo surgery.

Brain Infections

Some of the sinus cavities in your body are near your brain. So, if you don’t treat sinus issues, there is a high chance that the infection can spread to the brain. The brain infection is rare, but when it happens, it can be life-threatening. 

Its signs include a pool of blood between the protective covering of the brain and the skull, subdural abscess, epidural abscess, and even meningitis. Therefore, to prevent this severe impact, go for immediate treatment as soon as you suffer from sinus issues.

Bone Infections

When you have a frontal sinus infection and fail to treat it, you risk Osteomyelitis. Osteomyelitis is a condition in which you may experience inflammation and infection of the bone. It occurs when the sinus infection enters your bone from the surrounding tissue or bloodstream.

Osteomyelitis mainly affects the legs and arms, and it can be treated with antibiotics. But if your case is very serious, surgery may be needed to help remove unhealthy areas or repair any bone damage.

It can lead to sinus thrombosis

In some of the rare cases, an untreated sinus can lead to the severe issue of sinus thrombosis. This condition happens when the sinus infection causes blood clots. The blood clot can spread to other parts of your body and risk complications, like pulmonary embolism or stroke.

If the blood clot appears in the vein that runs under the brain or behind the eyes, there is a high chance that it can expand and produce pressure on the brain. The pressure can lead to things like seizures, vision loss, and droopy eyes. In most cases, sinus thrombosis can be fatal to you.

Conclusion

Sinus infection is easy to dismiss as a normal cold. But as you can see from above, if you don’t go for treatment, it can lead to very severe consequences, like sinus thrombosis that can be fatal to you. Therefore, to avoid any complications, always visit an ENT specialist when you experience a sinus infection.

Photo by Jorge Franganillo on Unsplash