Pelican State 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. Adil Fatakia of ENT & Allergy of New Orleans, sinus diseases should be taken seriously.

“Chronic sinusitis can really impact us in a lot of ways,” Dr. Fatakia told the Pelican State News. “Some are obvious to us, like congestion, runny nose; others are less obvious, like sleep disturbances that can then result in other issues like headache, depression and decreased work productivity. The other thing that people don't really realize about sinus disease is that it sometimes becomes a routine part of their life, almost a new normal.”

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 ENT and Allergy of New Orleans' website, Dr. Adil Fatakia received his Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He later earned his medical degree at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Fatakia completed a five-year residency program in head and neck surgery at Tulane University, followed by a fellowship in sinus and skull base surgery at the Sinus and Nasal Institute of Florida in St. Petersburg.