When to See an ENT for Chronic Sinus Pressure and Congestion

Your face feels tight and heavy, like your cheekbones are about to give way, and you can’t breathe through your nose after weeks of over-the-counter treatments. If this sounds familiar, you’re one of nearly 29 million adults who have chronic sinusitis, a condition of recurring sinus symptoms that linger beyond the typical length of a cold, worsen after you start feeling better, or come back several times a year. 

Read on to get clear answers on what can be normal while you recover and when it’s time to stop guessing and get answers from the best ENT in Los Angeles.

Chronic Sinusitis, Allergies, or a Common Cold: How to Tell the Difference 

Most of the time, a sinus cold really is just a cold, but how long it lasts and when it happens can tell you when it’s something else: 

• Most viral colds last about 10 to 14 days, and even if you still sound congested, you should notice a gradual, steady improvement in breathing and less pressure. 
• If you pass the 10-day mark with no real improvement, or you start to feel better and then suddenly crash with thicker drainage, heavier facial pressure, or a stronger headache, that double-worsening pattern can point more toward sinusitis than a simple virus. 
• Chronic rhinosinusitis is likely when you have two or more symptoms that stick around for 12 weeks or longer, such as ongoing nasal blockage, thick drainage or postnasal drip, facial fullness, or a reduced sense of smell, especially when your nose never truly clears and smell and taste stay muted. 
• Allergies can muddy the picture because triggers like dust, pets, and pollen can cause nasal congestion and drip, too, so it’s important to notice whether the same symptoms linger even after you’ve tried over-the-counter antihistamines, nasal sprays, and saline rinses or if they rebound quickly. 
• It also helps to remember that sinus pressure is not always from the sinuses, since migraine headaches or TMJ pain can sit in the cheeks and around the eyes in a similar way. 

If the pattern of your sinus congestion continues to repeat, worsens, or lasts 12 weeks or more, seeing an ENT specialist can help you identify the underlying cause so you can stop guessing.

When Sinus Pressure Could Be Something More Serious

Sinus pressure is always miserable, but there are a few signs that indicate you’re dealing with something more serious:

• Pay close attention if anything around your eye changes, like a puffy eyelid that looks swollen, redness that spreads, sharp pain when you look side to side, or vision that suddenly turns blurry or double. Those symptoms matter because a sinus infection can rarely spread to the tissues around the eye. 
• Another line in the sand is a severe headache with a high fever, a stiff neck, confusion, or new neurological symptoms like weakness or trouble speaking. These are not typical sinus infection symptoms and may indicate a serious complication that requires emergency care. 

Structural Sinus Issues That Can Cause Chronic Sinus Problems 

If your sinus congestion keeps coming back, it can be because something is blocking airflow and trapping mucus so it never fully drains. You might notice it in small, annoying ways first, like postnasal drip every time you talk, or pressure that throbs in your cheeks when you bend to tie your shoes. Chronic sinus symptoms can stem from ongoing sinus inflammation, nasal polyps, or structural issues in your nose, like a deviated septum.  

Polyps are soft growths that can block the nasal passages, which can make it harder to breathe through your nose and can affect your sense of smell. A deviated septum can narrow one side and leave you feeling like one nostril is always plugged, especially at night. That’s often when sleep apnea and snoring show up, since blocked nasal airflow pushes you to breathe through your mouth when you’re asleep. 

What to Expect When You See an ENT for Chronic Sinus Pressure

Finding the best ENT in Los Angeles is a pivotal moment, especially if you have been dealing with persistent nasal congestion and sinus pressure that interfere with your life. Your visit will start with questions about timing and patterns, like how long your symptoms have been going on, whether they come in waves, and what makes them better or worse. 

Chronic sinusitis is diagnosed based on symptom history and objective findings, not symptoms alone. So, looking inside your nose with a small camera called a nasal endoscopy to check for swelling, drainage, or nasal polyps is important.

If your history and physical exam point toward a chronic issue, imaging is sometimes the next step. A CT scan can show exactly where sinus inflammation or blockage is and help guide what to do next. Personalized treatment options include: 

• Prescription-strength medications to reduce inflammation
• Allergy treatments like allergy shots or immunotherapy
• Minimally invasive sinus surgeries aimed at opening blocked pathways or treating polyps

Finding the Best Sinus Surgeon in Los Angeles for Long-Term Relief from Chronic Sinus Pressure and Nasal Congestion

When your day starts with that same thick postnasal drip or a heavy feeling under your eyes, you want an ENT who can explain why it keeps happening and what will actually provide relief you can count on. 

At our state-of-the-art offices in Santa Monica and Torrance, Dr. Payam Daneshrad focuses on effective treatment of sinus problems by taking the time to understand your symptoms and identify the underlying causes. When surgical procedures are the best next step, we offer minimally invasive treatment options like balloon sinus dilation and endoscopic sinus surgery.