Question 1

How can I tell if my summer sinus pressure is from dry air and dehydration rather than a true sinus infection that needs antibiotics?

Accepted Answer

Sinus pressure related to dry air and dehydration often comes on gradually during hot weather or long periods in air conditioning and may ease when you hydrate well, use saline sprays and manage your environment. Symptoms are frequently more of a dull, heavy feeling with congestion but without high fever or severe pain. A true sinus infection is more likely to cause stronger, localised facial pain, thick discoloured discharge, fever and a feeling of being generally unwell. If symptoms are severe, last more than a week without improvement, or you are unsure, it is important to see your GP, who can help decide whether antibiotics are needed and whether referral to an ENT specialist such as those at Melbourne ENT is appropriate.

Question 2

Could my child’s snoring and mouth breathing in hot weather be a sign of an underlying sinus or nasal problem that will not resolve once summer is over?

Accepted Answer

Snoring and mouth breathing can definitely worsen in hot weather, especially when bedrooms are dry or air conditioned and children are a little dehydrated. However, persistent snoring, frequent mouth breathing, restless sleep or pauses in breathing can be signs of underlying issues such as enlarged adenoids or tonsils, chronic nasal congestion, a deviated septum or chronic rhinosinusitis. If these symptoms continue outside the hottest weeks, or if your child is tired, irritable or struggling at school, it is wise to have them assessed. Your GP can review them initially and may refer to an ENT surgeon at Melbourne ENT for a detailed examination of the nose, adenoids and tonsils.

Question 3

If my voice keeps getting hoarse at the end of hot days in Melbourne, how do I know when it is just temporary strain and when I should see an ENT specialist?

Accepted Answer

Mild hoarseness that appears only after an unusually long or loud day, and settles completely after one or two days of rest and good hydration, is often due to temporary strain. You can usually link it to heavy voice use, such as meetings, social events or teaching in a noisy environment. If hoarseness or voice changes occur most days, last longer than two to three weeks, are getting worse, or are accompanied by throat pain, difficulty swallowing or a feeling of something stuck in the throat, you should seek professional advice. An ENT specialist, such as Dr Stephen Kleid or Dr Simon Braham, can examine your vocal cords and help identify whether dehydration and strain are the only issues or whether another condition needs attention.

Question 4

Is it possible that my asthma flare ups in summer are actually being triggered by post nasal drip from my nose and sinuses rather than by the lungs alone?

Accepted Answer

For some people, especially those with both asthma and nasal or sinus disease, symptoms can be closely linked. Thick mucus dripping from the back of the nose into the throat can irritate the airway, trigger coughing and in some cases contribute to wheeze or chest tightness. Dry air and dehydration can make this post nasal drip more prominent in summer. Asthma must never be ignored, and any flare up should be managed according to your asthma action plan in consultation with your GP or respiratory specialist. At the same time, it can be helpful to have your nasal and sinus health assessed. Treating chronic rhinosinusitis or nasal allergy effectively, sometimes with help from Melbourne ENT, can reduce the upper airway contribution to lower airway symptoms.

Question 5

I already use allergy sprays and tablets but still feel congested and heavy headed every summer, could there be a structural issue in my nose or sinuses that is being unmasked by the dry air?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is possible. Allergy medications help reduce inflammation and swelling, but if there are structural problems such as a deviated septum, narrowed drainage pathways or nasal polyps, the underlying airflow and drainage may still be restricted. During summer, when mucus becomes thicker and the lining is drier, these structural limitations can become more obvious, leading to ongoing congestion, sinus pressure and a heavy headed feeling despite correct use of medications. If this sounds familiar, an ENT assessment can be useful. At Melbourne ENT, nasal endoscopy and, when appropriate, imaging such as a CT scan can help identify whether a structural problem is contributing to your symptoms and whether any additional treatments or surgery should be considered.

Question 6

Can improving my hydration and nasal care routines actually reduce how often I might need sinus surgery in the future, or do these measures only ease symptoms in the short term?

Accepted Answer

Good hydration and consistent nasal care can do more than just offer short term relief. By maintaining thin, mobile mucus and supporting healthy mucociliary clearance, you may reduce the frequency and severity of sinus infections and flare ups over time. Combined with appropriate medical treatment for allergies or chronic rhinosinusitis, these measures can sometimes prevent progression to more severe disease. They may not remove the need for surgery in everyone, especially where there is significant structural narrowing or advanced disease, but they form a vital foundation of long term management. Even for patients who eventually undergo sinus surgery, continuing these habits afterwards helps protect the results and support ongoing sinus health.

Question 7

If I have had sinus surgery in the past, are there specific things I should do differently during Melbourne’s hot weather to protect the long term results and keep my sinuses functioning well?

Accepted Answer

If you have previously had sinus surgery, the principles of care in summer remain similar, but they become even more important. Keeping well hydrated, using saline sprays or rinses as recommended by your surgeon and avoiding irritants such as cigarette smoke help keep the sinus openings clear and functioning. It can be helpful to be especially cautious about prolonged exposure to very dry air, to manage air conditioning sensibly and to address early signs of infection or flare up with your GP. If you notice a significant change in your usual pattern of symptoms, recurrent infections, or a return of persistent nasal obstruction or sinus pressure, a review with your ENT specialist, such as those at Melbourne ENT, is sensible so that any issues can be addressed before they progress.

Category: Throat & Voice Conditions

How Summer Heat and Dehydration Affect Your Sinuses and Throat

Why Recurrent Sore Throats Should Not Be Ignored During School Holidays

When a Persistent Cough After Winter Needs an ENT Opinion

Tonsillitis Myths: Why Ice Cream Is Not The Treatment

Silent Reflux Gets Worse In Summer – Here Is Why

Summer Allergies vs Colds: How to Tell the Difference (and When to See an ENT in Melbourne)

How Summer Socialising Damages Your Voice Without You Realising

Breathing Problems for Kids – Causes and Solutions

How to Prevent Kids Inhaling Foreign Objects (Under 3 Years)

Using the STOP-BANG Questionnaire to assess Sleep Apnoea & OSA