Mucus: A Primer

Sinus pain and pressure comes from mucus that has become trapped and started pressing outward on the bones and tissues of your face. But what causes the blockage, and how does it form?

This article takes a deep dive into understanding mucus as a phenomenon: where it comes from, where it goes, and some of the many purposes it serves. The money passage for sinus pain sufferers is this one, which describes why our bodies make so much of the stuff when illness strikes:

Mucus production is normal and serves many purposes, even when you’re healthy. It protects the tissue that lines your lungs, throat, and nasal and sinus passages, keeping it from drying out. It also works to trap unwanted bacteria and allergens (such as dust or pollen), preventing them from spreading through your body and making you sick. Mucus even contains antibodies, or enzymes, designed to kill or neutralize these harmful materials.

All good things, right? Yet when inflammation closes the ostia, or small holes that let mucus drain out of your sinuses, then all those good intentions can become stuck, crowding ever tighter as new mucus continues to flow into the blocked chambers of your sinuses.

Resolving this pain may be as simple as taking a decongestant, but when home remedies don’t work, it’s time to consider a sinus surgery procedure such as balloon sinuplasty, which can restore drainage in a matter of minutes.

To learn more about how you can manage mucus more effectively, call the LA sinus doctors today.