NW Riverside News

• Sinusitis can be caused by viruses, bacteria, fungus and allergies. 
• Symptoms of sinusitis often include yellow or green nasal drainage, facial pressure and pain, nasal congestion, bad breath, coughing up mucus, and in some cases, fever and chills.
• When sinusitis persists for more than three months, it is classified as chronic sinusitis.

Statistically, women may be more susceptible to sinus issues and sinusitis compared to men. According to Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free, sinusitis should be taken care of early on to help long-term health.  

“When you intervene earlier, your success is much higher and in addition, you're also going to lead to a quicker and easier recovery,” Dr. Hershcovitch told the NW Riverside News. “Those with very advanced sinus disease, even to the point of sinus failure, will require more intervention and treatments addressing the sinuses.”

Nasal inflammation, also referred to as sinusitis, involves the inflammation or swelling of the sinus lining, according to the American Sinus Institute. This condition can obstruct air passages, leading to increased mucus production and the potential for infection. It's a relatively common issue, often triggered by something as ordinary as the common cold.

Sinusitis tends to affect women more than men, according to JNJ Med Tech. It is estimated that sinusitis affects 16% of women each year, compared to 10% of men. Overall, chronic sinusitis affects 35 million people per year. 

Gender differences can also influence the symptoms experienced as a result of sinusitis. According to the Consequences of Chronic Rhinosinusitis on Blood Pressure study, it was concluded that 2% of men and 4% of women who experience inflammation of sinus also experience a significant increase in blood pressure, especially in patient groups over 50 years of age.

While there is no consensus on why women experience sinusitis more frequently than men, several theories have emerged. Some researchers propose that women's greater willingness to report symptoms and seek medical care may contribute to this discrepancy. Additionally, factors such as differences in tobacco susceptibility, hormonal influences, and smaller sinus ostia have been speculated to increase women's overall susceptibility to sinusitis.

According to SoCal Breathe Free's website, Dr. Matt Hershcovitch earned his undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He attended medical school at the State University of New York. Hershcovitch completed his residency in head and neck surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and further specialized with a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stanford University.