Rare And Unlikely Causes Of Chronic Sinus Issues

7. Swimming

An individual can develop chronic issues with their sinuses if they partake in activities where their nasal passages come in contact with water frequently, like swimming. Swimming in natural bodies of water can allow for bacteria, fungi, and viruses to enter an individual's nasal passages and colonize. Swimming can also produce changes in pressure in an individual's sinus cavities that may promote the movement of the water into the nasal passages and sinus canals. Present in swimming pools, chlorine is a chemical that can also come in contact with an individual's nasal passages and sinus canals. Chlorine can cause the lining of an individual's sinus canals to become inflamed and swollen. This swelling does not allow the proper drainage of mucus from the individual's sinus cavities. In addition, the pathogen or irritant can cause the individual's immune system to produce abnormally thick mucus in the sinuses, making it more difficult to drain from the cavities. Sinus problems are not common in individuals who swim in bodies that contain saltwater, as it acts as a natural irrigation method for the nasal passageway that is similar to medical saline irrigation.

8. Smoking

An individual may develop chronic sinus problems if they are a heavy and regular smoker of tobacco products. Cilia are cells that line an individual's nasal passages with projections responsible for trapping foreign particles and sweeping them into mucus. Two chemicals that are present in cigarette smoke, ammonia and hydrogen cyanide, can impair the movement of the cilia in an individual's nasal passages. This impairment makes the individual more susceptible to problematic mucus buildup and clogged sinuses. The effect of cigarette smoke on the part of the immune system present in an individual's nasal passages and airways causes them to be at an increased risk of developing an infection in their sinuses because these defense mechanisms become impaired. Not only does regular smoking cause the immune system to be compromised, but it also causes chronic inflammation of the lining of the nasal passages and sinus canals. Cigarette smoke is also known to alter the natural flora present in an individual's nasal canals, which serves to protect them from foreign invaders.