Sinus infections can leave you congested, achy, tired, and struggling to breathe, sleep, or focus on daily life. Dr. Ryan E. Stern, MD, our board-certified ENT specialist, provides sinus infection treatment in Federal Way or Auburn, WA using thoughtful, minimally invasive approaches designed for lasting relief.
Constant Congestion That Won’t Go Away?
Sinus infections occur when the lining of your sinuses becomes swollen and inflamed, trapping mucus instead of letting it drain normally. This buildup creates pressure and allows bacteria or viruses to grow, leading to symptoms like congestion, facial pressure, headache, nasal drainage, and a reduced sense of smell. Sinus infections may be short term, often following a cold, or chronic when inflammation lasts for several months. Chronic sinus infections can affect your breathing, sleep, energy levels, and overall quality of life if left untreated.
Signs & Symptoms of Sinus Infections
Sinus infections can cause various symptoms that affect how you breathe, sleep, and feel day to day, often starting subtly and worsening over time.
Common signs and symptoms include:
- Facial pressure or pain around the eyes, cheeks, or forehead
- Nasal congestion or ongoing stuffiness
- Thick, discolored nasal drainage
- Post-nasal drip irritating the throat
- Headaches that worsen when bending forward
- Reduced or lost sense of smell or taste
- Fatigue or feeling run down
- Cough, especially at night
What Causes Sinus Infections?
Your sinuses are small, air-filled spaces around your eyes and nose that rely on tiny drainage pathways to stay healthy. When these drainage pathways become swollen or blocked, mucus can become trapped, airflow can decrease, and inflammation can build, allowing viruses, bacteria, or other irritants to grow and trigger infections.
Several factors can lead to this blockage, including:
- Viral upper respiratory infections, such as colds
- Seasonal or year-round allergies causing nasal swelling
- Structural issues like a deviated septum
- Nasal polyps blocking normal sinus drainage
- Chronic inflammation of the sinus lining
- Exposure to smoke or environmental irritants
Sinus Infection Treatment
Your visit starts with a detailed consultation focused on why your sinuses are not draining properly. Dr. Stern carefully reviews your symptom history, examines the inside of your nose with a small camera, and may order a sinus CT scan to see swelling, blockage, or trapped mucus. You’ll receive clear explanations of what’s happening inside your sinuses and why infections keep returning, with a treatment plan tailored specifically to you.
Treatment often begins with targeted medical therapy, including prescription nasal sprays to shrink swollen tissue, saline rinses to flush trapped mucus, or short courses of medication to calm inflammation. If infections persist, Dr. Stern may recommend in-office balloon sinuplasty to widen narrowed sinus openings or minimally invasive endoscopic sinus surgery to remove diseased tissue, restore airflow, and improve long-term sinus drainage.
Why Choose Dr. Stern?
Dr. Ryan E. Stern is a board-certified ENT and subspecialty-trained rhinologist with over 25 years of experience caring for patients in the Pacific Northwest. For nearly three decades, he has served the local community with a patient-first approach focused on sinus infection treatment in Auburn or Federal Way, WA. Dr. Stern takes time to listen, explain your options clearly, and recommend treatment only when it’s truly needed. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Stern to explore your options.
