Chronic Sinus Pressure

What Causes Chronic Sinus Pressure?

Sinus pressure occurs when the tissues lining your sinuses become inflamed and swollen, trapping mucus and blocking normal drainage. When this persists for 12 weeks or longer, it's considered chronic sinusitis. Common causes include:

• Recurring or untreated sinus infections
• Nasal polyps that block sinus openings
• A deviated septum that impairs drainage
• Allergies, especially in the Austin area where allergen counts are among the highest in the country

Symptoms Beyond Pressure

Chronic sinus pressure rarely comes alone. Most patients also experience:

• Persistent facial pain or headaches
• Thick, discolored nasal discharge
• Nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose
• Reduced sense of smell and taste
• Postnasal drip and sore throat
• Fatigue and difficulty sleeping

Treatment Options

Initial treatment typically includes nasal saline rinses, steroid nasal sprays, and sometimes antibiotics. But when medications don't provide lasting relief, it may be time to consider a more definitive solution.

Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive, in-office procedure that gently opens blocked sinus passages to restore normal drainage. There is no cutting and no nasal packing, and most patients return to normal activities within 24 to 48 hours. Capital ENT and Sinus Center's sinus surgeons were among the first in the world to implement this procedure, and hundreds of thousands of patients have safely experienced lasting relief.

If you've been living with chronic sinus pressure and medications aren't working, don't wait — learn more about balloon sinuplasty or schedule an appointment with one of our sinus specialists.