What Happens to Your Sinuses When You Quit Smoking?

It’s no secret that smoking is bad for your health. However, it’s not just your lungs that can be affected. Smoking can cause significant damage to your sinuses as well.

Why Smoking and Sinus Issues Are Linked

Your sinuses and nose are lined with hair-like structures called cilia, just as your lungs are. Cilia work to keep these areas safe from things like bacteria and airborne particulates and help to prevent mucus buildup. Smoking damages the cilia in both your lungs and sinuses, leaving you vulnerable to infection.

Four Sinus Conditions Made Worse by Exposure to Cigarette Smoke

Chronic sinusitis: Sinusitis is another term for sinus infection. It’s considered chronic if it lasts longer than 12 weeks. Symptoms can include facial pain and pressure, nasal congestion and thick nasal discharge. Smoking increases your risk of developing infections and also hampers your immune system’s ability to fight it off. Research has found that cigarette smoke, both inhaled directly and via second-hand smoke, contributes to the development of chronic sinusitis.
Snoring/sleep apnea: Smoking causes airways congestion which can increase your risk of snoring and worsen obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Sleep apnea interferes with breathing while you sleep and, left untreated, can lead to long-term health consequences, including heart disease.
Decreased senses: Smoking can worsen your ability to both smell and taste. This makes it harder to enjoy the smell of flowers in the spring or savor the food at Mare Monte or any of your favorite New Jersey restaurants.
Various cancers: Most concerningly, cigarette smoking has been linked to an increased risk of nose and sinus cancers.

Quitting Smoking Will Benefit Your Sinuses

If you are a smoker, quitting smoking can help to clear up any sinus issues you may have. A study published in 2017 followed former smokers and non-smokers and measured their sinus symptoms. While former smokers had more sinus issues than non-smokers, the results also showed that former smokers showed continued improvement in their sinus symptoms every year since they quit smoking.

Schedule an Appointment with an ENT Specialist

Regardless of where you are in your journey to quit smoking, it’s important to visit an ENT specialist for any lingering sinus issues. They can assess your symptoms, perform any appropriate testing and come up with the right treatment options to reduce your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Advanced ENT & Allergy today.