Since anti-smoking campaigns hit schools, almost everyone alive knows how damaging it is for your health. Smoking can impact your blood pressure, immune system, lungs, throat, and teeth. However, it can also severely affect your sinuses.
Sinusitis occurs when the mucus in your sinuses becomes infected, leading your sinuses to become irritated and inflamed. This condition can go away on its own, but in some cases, it requires a visit to a professional for sinusitis treatment.
Our sinus specialists see an increase in visitors during allergy season since sinusitis is linked to the mucus overproduction that occurs when you inhale allergens and a lot of these visitors are smokers. This is because cigarette smoke irritates your airways, and the chemicals in tobacco smoke like ammonia and formaldehyde cause your body to produce more mucus. Smoking also lowers the immune system, making it more difficult for your body to fight off a sinus infection.
Smoking paralyzes the cilia located inside your nose, which impedes the drainage of mucus. Without the cilia facilitating your body’s natural draining process, mucus stays in your sinuses. Mucus buildup paired with a low immune system is a recipe for a sinus infection. Oftentimes, a noninvasive sinus surgery called balloon sinuplasty is needed to remove the infected mucus.
Smoking cigarettes or even exposure to secondhand smoke increases your likelihood of developing allergies, catching a cold, and eventually being diagnosed with throat or lung cancer.
While your sinuses are likely feeling irritated or congested, you can find relief through our office. To add to the good news, it’s important to note that sinus complications often subside when you quit smoking.
If you need help quitting smoking, we encourage you to visit Quit.com. If you need to speak with a sinus specialist regarding a possible sinus infection or chronic sinus issues, contact our office at 310-947-8873 to set up an appointment.
