Sinus Problems in Delhi’s Smog Season: Symptoms, Home Care and When to See an ENT
Every winter, sinus problems fill my OPD in South Delhi. From October to February, smog, Diwali smoke and cold, dry air all hit the same place: the lining of your nose and sinuses. I’m Dr. (Major) Rajesh Kumar Bhardwaj, an ENT surgeon with over 35 years of practice, 15 of them in the Indian Army Medical Corps. Most of the sinusitis I see in this season gets better without antibiotics or surgery, once people know what is going on and what to avoid. This guide covers what your sinuses are, why Delhi’s winter air sets them off, and how to tell a cold from a sinus infection or an allergy. It also covers what helps at home, what makes things worse, and when a blocked nose needs a doctor. What are the sinuses, and why do they get blocked? Your sinuses are air-filled spaces in the bones of your face, and each one opens into your nose. There are four pairs: the frontal sinuses behind the forehead, the ethmoid sinuses between the eyes, the maxillary sinuses behind the cheeks, and the sphenoid s...
