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| Can allergy cause sinusitis? | |
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Yes, the most common cause is allergy. If you are an allergic individual, your immune system mistakes common substances such as pollen, pet dander, or dust mites as harmful and fights back resulting in symptoms such as a stuffy nose, drainage, and sinus pressure.
Normally, sinuses drain into your nose through small openings called ostia; nasal congestion and mucus block the openings. Allergy affects the cilia, microscopic finger-like projections forming the mucosal layers inside the sinuses, which sweep or beat mucus and debris into the nose and toward the throat. When this sweeping-like motion is impaired, sinus drainage is poor. Bacteria can multiply and cause infection; in addition, swelling due to infection makes it even harder for sinuses to drain and a cycle of congestion and infection occurs. |
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