Sinus 12 September 2026 · 5 min read · By Dr. Marcus Hale
Every spring and autumn our clinic fills with the same story: weeks of sneezing, a blocked nose, pressure behind the eyes and nights of broken sleep. Most patients assume it is "just allergies" — and many are right. But a surprising number actually have sinusitis riding on top of their allergies, and treating only one half keeps them stuck.
Allergies or sinusitis? How to tell
Allergic symptoms come and go with exposure — worse outdoors on high-pollen days, better after rain or indoors with filtered air. The discharge is usually clear and watery, and itching (eyes, nose, throat) is prominent. Sinusitis, by contrast, lingers: thick yellow-green discharge, facial pressure or toothache, reduced sense of smell and a heavy cold that never quite clears after ten days.
The two often travel together. Swollen allergic nasal linings block sinus drainage, and blocked sinuses invite infection. That is why antihistamines alone sometimes feel like they "stop working" — they were never treating the sinus component.
What actually helps
Start with the basics done properly: a daily steroid nasal spray used consistently (not just on bad days), saline rinsing to clear mucus and allergens, and keeping bedroom windows closed during peak pollen hours. Shower and change clothes after long periods outdoors.
If symptoms persist beyond two to three weeks despite correct treatment, or keep returning every season, it is time for proper testing. A 20-minute allergy test plus nasal endoscopy shows exactly what is inflamed and why — and opens options like immunotherapy that reduce sensitivity long-term rather than masking it.
When to see a specialist
Book an appointment if you have facial pain lasting over ten days, repeated courses of antibiotics that never quite finish the job, loss of smell, or asthma that worsens every allergy season. These are signs the sinuses need direct attention — and most respond well once correctly diagnosed.
Struggling every allergy season? Our nose and sinus clinic offers same-week allergy testing and endoscopy — or start with a booked consultation.