The Link Between Smoking and Sinusitis

Also known as a sinus infection, sinusitis can make you feel like you have a cold, the flu, or both for days or even months. This common condition, affecting over one in 10 adults in the United States at some point, can stem from or worsen from a range of factors. Smoking is one of them.

At her offices in Valencia, Burbank, and Lancaster, California, Dr. Maricar Cutillar-Garcia diagnoses and treats sinusitis in people of all ages.

Here’s a closer look at sinusitis, including how it’s linked with smoking.

Sinusitis symptoms

Sinusitis causes inflammation in your sinuses. Once it sets in, you can experience:

Bad breath (halitosis)
Cough
Ear pain or pressure
Face tenderness around your eyes, nose, and forehead
Fatigue
Fever
Head pain when you bend over
Postnasal drip
Reduced sense of smell or taste
Stuffy nose
Toothache
Yellow or green nasal discharge

Sinusitis symptoms may be acute (7-10 days) or chronic (several months). Chronic sinusitis may flare up throughout your life, especially without lifestyle changes or treatment.

What causes sinusitis

Most anything that irritates your sinuses can fuel or exacerbate sinusitis. The common cold, COVID-19, and seasonal allergies can all lead to sinus infections. You can also develop sinusitis after having a bacterial infection, like strep throat.

Other factors behind sinusitis include having a deviated septum, polyp, or tumor in your nose, or cystic fibrosis. Dental infections, poor immune function, and exposure to toxins, including cigarette smoke, can also contribute.

A closer look at smoking and sinusitis

Your nostrils are lined with tiny hair-like structures called cilia. Cilia trap harmful debris to stave off infections. When you smoke, the chemicals you breathe in damage your cilia, interfering with normal function. So, while smoking may not directly cause sinusitis, it can predispose you to the infection.

Living with a smoker or working in a smoky environment also raises your risk of sinusitis. Numerous studies have significantly linked chronic sinusitis with secondhand smoke.

Smoking can also contribute to sinusitis by weakening your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections and less equipped to heal from them.

What to do about sinusitis

Mild sinusitis may resolve on its own. Helpful home treatments include:

Over-the-counter allergy, pain, or sinus medication
Nasal saline rinses
Rest
Warm compresses
Steam from a humidifier or shower

If your sinusitis symptoms have lasted for more than 7-10 days or you keep developing sinus infections, Dr. Cutillar-Garcia may prescribe antibiotics. You might also benefit from an intranasal steroid spray for a few days. Our team can recommend lifestyle changes or allergy treatments to help prevent future flare-ups.

If you’re struggling to stop smoking, consider professional support. A range of options can help ease the process and make way for improved sinus and overall health.

To get on the path to sinusitis relief or learn more about the underlying causes, including smoking, call our office or request an appointment with Dr. Cutillar-Garcia through our website today.