Sinus issues are a common occurrence during the rainy season. However, according to ENT expert Dr Trisha Srivastava, it is not always an infection, and the rains are less to blame than people believe.
In an interaction with HT Lifestyle, Dr Srivastava explained what causes sinus trouble in the monsoon, and what can be done about it.
People often blame the damp air for thickening mucus and causing sinus troubles, but Dr Srivastava explained that they have it backwards.
“Water thins mucus,” she explained. “Your nose is lined with a fine mucus sheet, and beneath it millions of microscopic cilia beat in waves, sweeping it toward your throat at about a centimetre a minute, all day. That system works best in warm, near-saturated air and worst in dry air, which is why air-conditioned offices wreck noses, not rain.”
But then why do sinus issues flare in the monsoon? According to Dr Srivastava, it is less about the weather itself and more about what the weather allows to thrive.
“Dust mites need humidity above 50 percent to breed; mould needs sustained dampness. Give both a fortnight of Indian monsoon, and their numbers explode,” she stated.
Thus, when a person breathes in several times their allergen load, their linings swell and stop. Thus, while the condition looks like an infection, it is in fact an allergic reaction.
The doctor pointed out that the nose genuinely feels blocked at such times, but that is not from the blocked airflow. The sense of an open nose comes from cool air triggering cold receptors in the lining. In warm, saturated air, that cue vanishes, so the nose feels blocked while measurements show no narrowing.
There are a few steps one can take to reduce the risk of having sinus trouble in the rainy season, noted Dr Srivastava. They are presented as follows.
“See a doctor for fever with facial swelling, symptoms past ten days, the improve-then-worsen pattern, one-sided blockage or bleeding, or any visual change,” she further advised.
Note to readers: This article is for informational purposes only and not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions about a medical condition.
Dr Trisha Srivastava is an ENT surgeon with over 10 years of experience in diagnosing and managing a wide spectrum of ear, nose, and throat conditions, who is engaged as an ENT consultant at Artemis Hospitals. A postgraduate in ENT from Bangalore Medical College, Dr Srivastava is proficient in performing the full range of ENT surgeries across both adult and pediatric populations.
Debapriya Bhattacharya is a Content Producer at Hindustan Times. He started his career in 2022, working in newsrooms in beats like education, US news, trending stories, and entertainment. In his new role in the lifestyle desk, he seeks to deliver a balanced blend of research-driven reporting and creative storytelling from health and recipes to art and culture. Science, philosophy, food and pop culture are what pump his veins and help bring heart to his stories. Debapriya tries to see out subjects that will allow him and readers to explore new frontiers and improve the quality of life for all. The explorations can be both external and internal, as thoughts seek to be as chaotic as the greater universe. As a citizen of the world, Debapriya has been fascinated by the lives of people across the globe throughout time. His curiosity leads him to explore new linguistic and cultural landscapes to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding of global narratives. Beyond the newsroom, Debapriya loves to participate in debate and theatre, spaces that he considers to be holy grounds for nuance and self-expression. A graduate from Ashutosh College, University of Calcutta, Debapriya completed his Master's degree from the same university in 2022. An ambiverted bibliophile, he loves his solitude as much as he adores stimulating conversations. And despite his reverence for tech, libraries continue to be his favourite place for research.Read More
