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Asthma and sinusitis
Sinusitis is inflammation of the nasal passages around the nose and eyes. These passages are called sinuses. The sinuses warm, filter, and moisten air as we breathe. Symptoms of sinusitis include thick, colored drainage from the nose, coughing, post-nasal drip that may taste bad, headache, and head congestion, as well as a feeling of facial fullness or swelling, tooth pain, and sometimes fever.
Sinusitis and asthma frequently coexist. When present, sinusitis can make asthma harder to treat. Remember that asthma is inflammation of the lungs and sinusitis is inflammation of the nasal passages. Controlling the inflammatory process in the nose can help lead to better control of asthma symptoms.
Treatment of sinusitis includes use of anti-inflammatory nasal sprays (steroid nasal sprays) as well as antihistamine and decongestant medications. If the sinuses become infected, appropriate antibiotic therapy will be prescribed to treat the infection.
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