What Is Sinusitis

How It Happens

Step by Step

A quick walkthrough of what's actually going on, so the treatment makes sense too.

1
Your sinuses are hollow. They're air-filled spaces behind your forehead, cheeks, and eyes, lined with a thin, moist membrane.
2
Something irritates that lining. A cold, allergies, or a structural blockage like a deviated septum or nasal polyps sets off irritation.
3
The lining swells. Swelling narrows the small openings that normally let the sinuses drain.
4
Mucus can't drain properly. It builds up, and the trapped mucus is what causes pressure, congestion, and, if infection sets in, thicker discolored drainage.

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Signs to Watch For

Common Symptoms

Facial pressure or fullness around the forehead, cheeks, or eyes.
Congestion that doesn't fully clear even after a cold has passed.
Drainage that changes color or thickness over the course of the illness.
A reduced sense of smell while symptoms are active.

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How It's Diagnosed

Diagnosis usually starts with a physical exam and a conversation about your symptoms, sometimes followed by a nasal endoscopy or imaging if the picture isn't clear.

Next Steps

If this sounds like what you're experiencing, our Sinusitis and Sinus & Rhinology pages go into more detail on treatment options.

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Step by Step

Common Symptoms

How It's Diagnosed

Next Steps

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