Risk Factors for Sinusitis
Condition InDepth
A risk factor is something that raises a person's chances of getting a disease or health problem. A person can have sinusitis with or without the risks below. The more risks a person has, the greater the chances are.
Risk factors for sinusitis are:
Smoking
Smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke increases the risk of getting sinusitis.
Smoking
Smoking and being exposed to secondhand smoke increases the risk of getting sinusitis.
Certain Medical Conditions
Health problems that raise the risk of sinusitis are:
- A recent cold
- Long term use of decongestant sprays
- Nasal blockage due to:
- Polyps
- Deviated septum
- Facial bone abnormalities
- Swollen adenoids
- Cleft palate
- Tumor
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Certain long term illnesses, such as:
- Cystic fibrosis
- Kartagener syndrome (a disorder of the cilia throughout the body)
- Granulomatosis with polyangiitis
- HIV infection
- Diabetes
- Immotile cilia syndrome
- Head injury—or other condition requiring a tube inserted in the nose
Gender
Women have a higher risk of chronic sinusitis than men.
Environmental Factors
Possible risks for sinusitis include exposure to:
- Secondhand smoke
- Air pollution
Activities
Flying and diving both increase the risk of getting sinusitis.
References
- Acute rhinosinusitis in adults. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/acute-rhinosinusitis-in-adults. Accessed November 15, 2021.
- Chronic rhinosinusitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/chronic-rhinosinusitis. Accessed November 15, 2021.
- Jaume F, Valls-Mateus M, et al. Common cold and acute rhinosinusitis: up-to-date management in 2020. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020;20(7):28.
- Sinusitis. American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery website. Available at: https://www.enthealth.org/conditions/sinusitis/. Accessed November 15, 2021.
- Sinusitis overview. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology website. Available at: https://www.aaaai.org/Conditions-Treatments/allergies/sinusitis. Accessed November 15, 2021.
Contributors
- David L. Horn, MD, FACP
(C) Copyright 2022 EBSCO Information Services
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com.