Start at the beginning.

As you inhale, the air passing through your nose is filtered, warmed and humidified by structures on the sidewalls called turbinates and your sinus cavities. Like rooms off of a main hallway, your sinus cavities are air-filled spaces on each side of your nasal passages.

Within these spaces, there is a delicate balance of microorganisms (a microbiome of bacteria, viruses, and fungi). There are nerve endings that can sense changes in pressure, temperature, and blood flow.

The mucous layer moistens, protects, and moves irritants out. There are delicate cilia (microscopic hair-like structure) that “beat” in unison to cycle the mucous around the nose and sinuses.

Near the back of the nose and down the throat are lymphoid tissues that are the first line defense against viruses and other pathogens. Overstimulation of this tissue can lead to chronic symptoms such as post-nasal drip, sore throat, ear fullness, and facial pressure-often referred to by patients as “congestion”.

What you breathe in, how you breathe, what you eat and drink and much more impacts the health of this guarded, sacred portal.