Sinusitis Specialist

Norman J. Chan, MD Our Services Sinusitis
Norman J. Chan, MD - - Otolaryngologist

Norman J. Chan, MD

Otolaryngologist located in Chinatown, New York, NY

Sinusitis is a major health issue that affects almost 30 million Americans. It’s often mistaken for a cold, but if you don’t treat it, a sinus infection can spread to your eyes or brain and lead to life-threatening conditions like meningitis. Norman J Chan, MD, in Chinatown, New York, provides diagnosis and treatment with medications and minimally invasive procedures or surgeries for sinusitis. If you’re experiencing pain in your sinuses along with other symptoms, you could have a sinus infection. Call the office, or use the online scheduling tool to make an appointment and receive treatment today.

Sinusitis Q & A

What is sinusitis?

Your paranasal sinuses are a system of hollow spaces in your skull. They contain mucus to help moisten and filter the air you breathe.

Sinusitis, also called a sinus infection, happens when the mucus in your sinuses can’t drain. This happens because of infections, allergies, or structural defects, which cause your sinuses to become blocked and inflamed.

Among the most common kinds of structural abnormalities that contribute to sinus infections are nasal polyps, which are noncancerous growths in your nose, and deformities of your nasal septum, which is the partition between the two sides of your nose.


What are the symptoms of sinusitis?

When your sinuses become infected, you develop a number of symptoms that include:

  • Stuffy or runny nose
  • Postnasal drip
  • Headache
  • Pain or pressure in your face or forehead
  • Decreased sense of smell
  • Fatigue

Get medical attention from Dr. Chan right away if your symptoms aren’t going away or if you develop any of the following additional symptoms: 

  • Fever
  • Yellow-green mucus
  • Confusion
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea

You may also find that the infection keeps coming back or your symptoms aren’t responding to medication. If this is the case, you may have chronic rhinosinusitis and need medical help.


How is sinusitis treated?

Norman J Chan MD provides a number of diagnostic tests and treatments for acute or chronic cases. 

To diagnose your condition, Dr. Chan physically examines your sinuses, nose, and throat to look for symptoms like redness, swollen nasal tissues, discolored mucus, and bad breath. 

The practice offers on-site nasal endoscopy exams, in which a long, thin tube is inserted into your nose. The procedure provides Dr. Chan a detailed view of your nasal passages.

If Dr. Chan can’t diagnose the problem with a physical exam, he may also perform a nasal culture or order a CT scan of your sinuses to get a more detailed understanding of what is causing your symptoms.

Based on the results of your diagnosis, Dr. Chan can suggest a number of treatments that are customized to address your particular case of sinusitis and what is causing it. 

Treatments for sinusitis include:

Antibiotics

Dr. Chan may prescribe a course of antibiotics if your sinusitis is caused by a bacterial infection.

Immunotherapy

If your sinusitis is caused by allergies that are blocking your sinuses, Dr. Chan may recommend immunotherapy using allergy shots to reduce your body’s reaction to the substance triggering your allergic reaction.

Surgery

If your case isn’t responding to nonsurgical options, Dr. Chan may recommend minimally invasive balloon sinuplasty in the office to treat your sinusitis. During this procedure, Dr. Chan inserts a tiny balloon and inflates it to restructure your sinus openings and allow the buildup of mucus to drain out. 

If balloon sinuplasty is not appropriate for you, Dr. Chan may recommend endoscopic sinus surgery that would be performed in an operating room under general anesthesia.

If you have congested nasal passages or cold-like symptoms that won’t go away, call the office of Norman J Chan MD, or use the online scheduling tool to make an appointment today.

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