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crs-about-the-disease

Back Sinuses In this module, we will cover the basics to help you understand chronic rhinosinusitis or CRS. But first, let us begin with an important question: Why do we have sinuses in the first place? Sinuses are small, air-filled spaces inside your head, connected to your nose. Think of them as tiny air pockets behind your nose, cheeks, and forehead. They are covered with soft, moist tissue and help your body in three important ways: Cleaning the air you breathe: They trap dust and germs. Adding moisture and warmth: This makes the air more comfortable before it reaches your lungs. Protecting your brain: They act like airbags to absorb shock if you bump your head. Plus, they even play a role in giving your voice its unique sound! What is CRS? CRS happens when the soft tissue inside your sinuses and nasal passages gets swollen and irritated. This swelling and irritation are called inflammation. It is your body’s immune system working to protect you, similar to what happens when you have a cold. However, with CRS, the immune system does not calm down when it is supposed to, or the soft tissue is continuously irritated by external triggers (like cigarette smoke, air pollution, or workplace irritants like dust, gases, fumes and smoke). This ongoing inflammation or irritation can lead to symptoms that last 12 weeks or longer, including: A stuffy or blocked nose that makes breathing through the nose harder A runny nose or mucus dripping down the back of your throat (postnasal drip) Reduced sense of smell Facial pain or headache CRS is a pretty common condition—about 1 in 10 people in Europe suffer from it. It can be hard to make CRS go away completely, but with the right care and preventive measures, a lot of people feel much better and find it easier to deal with their symptoms in daily life. What causes CRS? The exact reasons behind this long-lasting inflammation are not fully understood. However, we do know that several factors can contribute to CRS, such as: Cigarette smoke Breathing in dirty or polluted air that irritates your nose Allergy to pollen, house dust mite, pet dander, mould, or other inhaled particles Hormone changes, such as during pregnancy or menopause Traits passed down from your family (genetics) Major abnormalities in the internal structure of the nose https://s3.nl-ams.scw.cloud/euforea-wp-develop/uploads/CRS-Patient_classification-of-CRS_30.1.25.mp4 What are nasal polyps? There are two types of CRS: With nasal polyps (CRSwNP) Without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) Nasal polyps are soft, round growths that can form inside your nose or sinuses. They look like tiny grapes and occur because of this long-lasting inflammation. Although these polyps can become larger, the good news is that they are not cancer and will not turn into cancer. If you have (large) nasal polyps, you might: Have trouble smelling Feel facial pain/pressure Feel like your nose is always blocked Be more prone to infections Together with our Patient Advisory Board, we’ve termed this subtype (CRSwNP) as Nasal Polyp Syndrome. We even wrote a full paper around this patient-friendly term, which is free to access here. At a glance CRS Infographic CRS Patient Pocket Guide button-block-bg check checkmark CME badge C M E cmebadge C M E download euforeatv eye facebook faq globe icon_1 icon_2 icon_3 Middel 1 iconmonstr-facebook-1 iconmonstr-info-8 iconmonstr-linkedin-1 iconmonstr-twitter-1 iconmonstr-video-13 iconmonstr-youtube-1 infographic-blue infographic-blue infographic-bulb infographic-darkblue inforgraphic-yellow instagram linkedin pdf pinterest questionmark smartphone spotify tweets twitter youtube Disclaimer This website does not provide medical advice. The information, including but not limited to, text, graphics, images, and other material contained on this website is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. EUFOREA is not a medical organisation and cannot provide specific medical advice to patients via the Internet and/or E-mail. All patients are encouraged to direct their specific questions to their personal physicians. EUFOREA presents this information to patients so that patients can understand and participate in their own medical care. EUFOREA strongly emphasises that the information contained on this website is not a substitute for thorough evaluation and treatment by a qualified healthcare provider. Copyright © 2025 – EUFOREA – All rights reserved. All content on this portal, such as text, graphics, logos and images, is the property of EUFOREA. They may not be reproduced, copied, published, stored, modified or used in any form, online or offline, without prior written permission of EUFOREA. Overview About the disease Sinuses What is CRS? What causes CRS? What are nasal polyps? At a glance

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