To those who suffer from allergies and sinus problems, it certainly comes as no surprise that the two are related. Indeed, recent tests conducted by scientists at the Allergy Research Foundation in the Netherlands have revealed that nasal allergies may be involved in some cases of chronic sinus disease, Medical News Today reports.

The tests involved exposing patients with chronic sinus disease to allergens and then obtaining repeated images by x-ray or ultrasound. For purposes of comparison, patients with allergies but no history of sinus disease were also studied. Almost all of the patients with sinus disease developed positive nasal responses to the tests, confirming the association between nasal allergy and chronic sinusitis.

Zdenek Pelikan, M.D., Ph.D., lead researcher of the study, writes in an article published in the December issue of Archives of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, "The possible involvement of allergy, and especially of nasal allergy, in some forms of sinus disease has already been reported in the literature … The maxillary sinuses open into the nasal canal through a valve known as the ostium. If mucus membranes in the nasal cavity are swollen, the ostium can become blocked, trapping fluids in the sinus … The confirmation of involvement of nasal allergy in patients with chronic disease of the maxillary sinuses would indicate an additional treatment of the nasal allergy."

The findings of the study underscore the importance of keeping allergen exposure to a minimum, especially for those prone to sinus problems. Using allergy relief bedding, an air purifier, and vacuuming regularly with a HEPA vacuum cleaner go a long way in cutting down on allergies within the home. In addition, using nasal irrigation products such as the SinuPulse Elite Advanced Nasal Irrigation System not only moisturizes sinuses, but also helps wash allergens out of the nasal cavities.