Sinusitis and Mucous Membrane - Topic Overview
The nose and the sinuses are lined with a membrane that produces mucus.
- When air enters the nose, it is warmed, moistened, and filtered before passing into the lungs.
- Dust, smoke, bacteria, and other irritants often become trapped in the mucus that lines the nasal passages.
- This mucus is pushed to the back of the throat by tiny hairs (cilia) that line the inside of the sinuses and nose, and the mucus is eventually swallowed.
If the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, it may swell, blocking the openings that drain the sinuses. Mucus inside the sinuses then becomes trapped. Both the inflammation and the pressure of trapped mucus cause pain. Also, bacteria trapped in the mucus can grow, causing a bacterial sinus infection.
It's hard enough to cope with allergies on the weekend, but dealing with allergies at work is even more challenging. Ask anyone who's ever dozed off in the middle of an important meeting because of allergy symptoms or medications. "Allergy symptoms are the No. 2 reason adults miss work," says James Sublett, MD, a board-certified asthma and allergy specialist in Louisville, Ky. The average worker with allergies misses about one hour per week over the course of a year. But that sick time is...
Read the Managing Allergies at Work article > >
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