Chronic sinusitis can leave you feeling congested, tired, and weighed down by facial pressure, headaches, and infections that disrupt daily life. Dr. Ryan E. Stern, MD, our board-certified ENT, offers personalized minimally invasive treatments to help you breathe easier again.
Always Congested, No Matter What You Try?
Chronic sinusitis is a long-lasting inflammation of the sinus lining that makes it hard for mucus to drain properly. When your sinuses stay blocked and swollen for 12 weeks or longer, pressure, congestion, facial pain, headaches, thick drainage, and a reduced sense of smell can become part of daily life. Unlike a short-term sinus infection, chronic sinusitis doesn’t simply clear up on its own. It’s often caused by ongoing inflammation, structural issues inside the nose, nasal polyps, or repeated infections that require a targeted treatment.
Signs & Symptoms of Chronic Sinusitis
Chronic sinusitis often shows up as a combination of lingering symptoms that don’t fully go away and can gradually wear you down over time, including:
- Persistent nasal congestion or blockage
- Facial pressure or pain around the eyes, cheeks, or forehead
- Thick nasal drainage or post-nasal drip
- Ongoing headaches or sinus pressure
- Reduced or lost sense of smell
- Frequent sinus infections
- Fatigue or feeling run down
- Difficulty breathing through the nose
What Causes Chronic Sinusitis?
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces lined with soft tissue that normally produce and drain mucus to keep your nose healthy. When these drainage pathways become swollen, narrowed, or blocked, mucus can become trapped, leading to ongoing inflammation that can persist for months rather than clearing naturally.
Several factors can contribute to this ongoing blockage, including:
- Structural issues such as a deviated nasal septum
- Chronically swollen turbinates
- Nasal polyps blocking sinus openings
- Ongoing allergies causing persistent inflammation
- Recurrent or poorly resolved sinus infections
- Thickened mucus that doesn’t drain properly
Chronic Sinusitis Treatment
Your consultation starts with a detailed conversation about your symptoms, how long they’ve lasted, and how they’re affecting your sleep, breathing, and daily routines. Dr. Stern performs a focused nasal exam using a small endoscopic camera to look deep inside your nasal passages and sinus openings. If needed, a CT scan is reviewed to pinpoint exact blockage, inflammation, or structural narrowing so treatment targets the true source of your symptoms.
Treatment is based on what’s physically causing your sinus blockage. This may include prescription nasal sprays to calm inflammation, in-office balloon sinuplasty to gently widen narrowed sinus drainage pathways, or endoscopic sinus surgery to remove inflamed tissue or nasal polyps. These minimally invasive techniques restore normal airflow and drainage while preserving healthy tissue, helping you recover faster and breathe more comfortably.
Why Choose Dr. Stern?
Dr. Ryan E. Stern is a board-certified otolaryngologist and subspecialty-trained rhinologist with 25+ years of experience treating nasal and sinus conditions. For nearly 30 years, he has cared for patients throughout the Pacific Northwest, offering minimally invasive treatments that restore breathing and drainage while preserving healthy tissue. If chronic sinusitis is affecting your life, schedule a consultation with Dr. Stern in Auburn or Federal Way, WA, to explore your options.
