What are chronic sinus conditions?

Chronic sinus conditions involve sinuses that remain swollen or blocked for 12 weeks or more. According to Allergy Asthma Network this can lead to persistent stuffy or runny noses, headaches, difficulty breathing through the nose, and other symptoms.

Can I have a chronic sinus headache without the congestion?

Chronic sinus conditions are associated with ongoing symptoms including headaches, persistent nasal congestion, and mild facial pressure. However, according to Medical News Today it is possible to have a sinus headache without congestion

How do I clear sinus congestion?

Clearing congestion involves management such as periodic nasal rinses and avoiding triggers. According to Allergy Asthma Network treatment may include corticosteroid nasal sprays or other corticosteroid delivery methods.

Your Toolkit for:

Chronic Sinus Conditions

Q: Acute or Chronic Sinusitis: What’s the Difference?

There a few differences between acute and chronic sinusitis including the cause, symptoms and length of symptoms. According to Allergy Asthma Network sinusitis is when your sinuses get swollen or infected, but it can happen in two different ways: acute or chronic. Acute Sinusitis: Short-term: Lasts less than 4 weeks. Causes: Often from a cold, virus, or bacteria. Symptoms: Stuffy nose, facial pain, thick mucus, and sometimes fever. Treatment: Rest, nasal sprays, or antibiotics if needed. Chronic Sinusitis: Treatment: Nasal sprays, allergy care, or surgery for severe cases. Long-term: Lasts 12 weeks or more. Causes: Allergies, nasal polyps, or ongoing inflammation. Symptoms: Long-lasting congestion, reduced smell, thick mucus, and mild facial pressure.

Q: What causes chronic sinus congestion?

According to Allergy Asthma Network chronic congestion is often caused by underlying factors such as allergies, nasal polyps, or continuous inflammation.

• AERD
• Allergic Rhinitis
• Chronic Rhinosinusitis
• CRSwNP
• CRSwNP and Asthma
• Nasal Polyps
• Sinusitis

Chronic sinus conditions happen when your sinuses stay swollen or blocked for a long time, lasting 12 weeks or more. This can cause ongoing stuffy noses, headaches, and trouble breathing, making it hard to feel your best every day. This toolkit explores the various chronic sinus conditions, symptoms, and treatments.

Take the SNOT-22 Quiz

The SNOT-22 Quiz is a quick, 2-minute, easy-to-use tool to help you evaluate your sinus and nasal symptoms. It can help you have more informed conversations with your healthcare provider.

The quiz is for anyone living with ongoing sinus or nasal symptoms, including chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps.

Check Your Symptoms Now

Acute or Chronic Sinusitis: What’s the Difference?

Sinusitis is when your sinuses get swollen or infected, but it can happen in two different ways: acute or chronic.

Acute Sinusitis

Short-term: Lasts less than 4 weeks.
Causes: Often from a cold, virus, or bacteria.
Symptoms: Stuffy nose, facial pain, thick mucus, and sometimes fever.
Treatment: Rest, nasal sprays, or antibiotics if needed.

Chronic Sinusitis

Long-term: Lasts 12 weeks or more.
Causes: Allergies, nasal polyps, or ongoing inflammation.
Symptoms: Long-lasting congestion, reduced smell, thick mucus, and mild facial pressure.
Treatment: Nasal sprays, allergy care, or surgery for severe cases.

Feature	Acute	Chronic
Severity	Symptoms are often more intense	Symptoms are milder but persistent
Cause	Often viral or bacterial infection	Often due to structural issues, allergies, or chronic inflammation
Treatment	Short-term (e.g., rest, antibiotics)	Long-term management or surgery
Duration	Less than 4 weeks	12 weeks or longer

This toolkit includes pages of medically reviewed information, patient reviewed content, podcasts, webinars, and in depth articles on the condition.

Articles Podcasts Patient Stories Webinars Blog Posts Videos

Chronic sinus conditions involve sinuses that remain swollen or blocked for 12 weeks or more. This can lead to persistent stuffy or runny noses, headaches, difficulty breathing through the nose, and other symptoms.

Chronic congestion is often caused by underlying factors such as allergies, nasal polyps, or continuous inflammation.

Chronic sinus conditions are associated with ongoing symptoms including headaches, persistent nasal congestion, and mild facial pressure.

First-line treatments for chronic sinus issues typically involve corticosteroid nasal sprays. These reduce inflammation. There’s also a breath-powered device that contains a corticosteroid. If nasal polyps are present and symptoms are moderate to severe, biologics may be considered.

Clearing congestion involves management such as periodic nasal rinses and avoiding triggers. Treatment may include corticosteroid nasal sprays or other corticosteroid delivery methods.

Medically Reviewed Articles on Chronic Sinus Conditions

Get trusted, medically reviewed information on chronic sinus conditions to help you better understand your diagnosis, treatment and daily management.

What is Chronic Rhinosinusitis?

Reading Time: 16 minutes

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a medical condition in which the spaces behind your nose, cheeks, and forehead become inflamed for 12 weeks or longer. For…

What is Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP)?

Reading Time: 34 minutes

At a Glance: Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) The polyps may be painless, but they can make daily life harder. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal…

How Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps and Asthma are Connected

Reading Time: 22 minutes

Many people who have chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) also have asthma. These two conditions often happen together because they share the same cause:…

Living with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP)

Reading Time: 31 minutes

Living with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) affects many parts of life, from sleep, eating, stress, work, and relationships. Finding a management plan that…

Sinusitis

Reading Time: 13 minutes

At a Glance: Sinusitis Sinusitis is a sinus infection. It can occur when mucus builds up in the air-filled pockets in the sinuses, causing a…

Nasal Allergy, Rhinitis and Allergic Rhinitis

Reading Time: 9 minutes

Rhinitis translates to “inflammation of the nose.” It’s caused by the body’s reaction to airborne allergens, irritants or viruses. Here’s how it happens: The nose…

Nasal Polyps

Reading Time: 2 minutes

What are nasal polyps? Your nose serves as the gateway to your respiratory system. When that gateway gets inflamed due to a cold or the…

Podcasts on Chronic Sinus Conditions

Tune in to our Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Innovations podcast to hear healthcare experts and patients discuss the latest treatments and everyday challenges for people living with chronic sinus conditions.

Busting the Biggest Biologics Myths for Asthma, COPD and Nasal Polyps

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Bust myths about biologics for asthma, COPD, and nasal polyps, plus get a quick look at how they work.

How Is Chronic Rinosinusitis without Nasal Polyps Diagnosed and Treated?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This podcast explains how Chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps is diagnosed by CT scan or endoscopy and treated with nasal sprays and sometimes surgery.

What is Chronic Rhinosinusitis WITHOUT Nasal Polyps?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Our latest podcast explores chronic rhinosinusitis WITHOUT nasal polyps. It is the most common type of chronic sinusitis. Learn why so many patients go undiagnosed…

How to Treat Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP)

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This podcast explains treatment options for nasal polyps in CRSwNP, including nasal sprays, surgery, and biologic medications that target inflammation.

How Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP) Is Diagnosed

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Get a look at how chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is diagnosed, including key symptoms, exams such as nasal endoscopy and CT scans, and testing.

What is Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps (CRSwNP)?

Reading Time: 2 minutes

This podcast explains chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), what causes it, and how it affects your breathing, ability to smell, and quality of life.

Tezepelumab for Nasal Polyps

Reading Time: 3 minutes

In this podcast journal review, we look at how the Tezepelumab shot reduced nasal polyps and improved breathing in a year-long study on chronic sinus…

Let Me Breathe the Air: Getting to Know AERD

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Rhonda Nelson and her husband Wayne, lead singer of Little River Band, host our new podcast. Learn about AERD and the importance of a proper…

Patient Stories

Allergy & Asthma Network connects with patients that want to share their story for others to benefit from their experience.

Managing a Chronic Condition: How Amanda Lives with CRSsNP

Reading Time: 8 minutes

Managing multiple chronic conditions like CRSsNP requires navigating complex treatments and specialist care.

When Symptoms Overlap: Monika’s Story of Living with CRSwNP

Reading Time: 8 minutes

For Monika, getting the right diagnosis changed everything – not just her breathing, but her quality of life, how she enjoys food, and how she…

Webinars on Chronic Sinus Conditions

Watch our expert-led webinars on chronic sinus conditions and get insights on symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and research advances.

More Than a Stuffy Nose: Understanding the Impact of Chronic Rhinosinusitis (Recording)

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Learn about CRSsNP symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments in this recorded educational webinar.

Managing Allergic Rhinitis: Effective Strategies (Recording)

Reading Time: 34 minutes

This webinar discusses evidence-based strategies for managing allergic rhinitis, including the latest treatments and emerging therapies.

Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD) and the Role of Type 2 inflammation (Recording)

Reading Time: 24 minutes

Dr. Rajan Merchant will review the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, management and treatment options for those living with AERD.

Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD): Questions & Answers with Dr. Tanya Laidlaw

Reading Time: 1 minute

Dr. Tania Laidlaw joined us on September 26th to lead a question and answer session about Aspirin Exacerbated Respiratory Disease (AERD).

Blog Posts on Chronic Sinus Conditions

Read the latest insights and information on chronic sinus conditions, from practical tips for controlling nasal congestion to sharing personal stories and expert perspectives.