For years, Roger Hardy kept trying to explain away the agonising pain in his nose.
As a sculptor, the 56-year-old was used to working amid clouds of sawdust, metal shavings and white spirit, so when his nose began throbbing, it seemed logical to blame the fumes and dust in his Suffolk studio.
But gradually the burning sensation spread across his face. His nose became red and inflamed, mucus left him struggling to breathe and the pain became so severe at night that he could barely sleep.
‘It started taking over my life,’ recalls Roger. ‘The constant throbbing pain – which was accompanied by mucus – was really exhausting. It was so sore at night that I had to breathe through my mouth.’
Eventually, his GP diagnosed sinusitis – inflammation of the air-filled spaces behind the forehead, cheeks and nose – and prescribed antibiotics, followed by steroid nasal sprays.
The treatment helped, but each time Roger stopped using the spray, the pain returned.
Yet today, after years of recurring symptoms, Roger says he is virtually symptom-free – thanks not to another drug, but to one surprisingly simple change to his diet: He gave up dairy.
Within four or five days of making that one small tweak, he says, the burning pain and congestion that had plagued him for years had almost completely disappeared.
As a sculptor, Roger Hardy was used to working amid clouds of sawdust, metal shavings and white spirit, so when his nose began throbbing, it seemed logical to blame the fumes and dust
‘I couldn’t quite believe it,’ he says. ‘After years of pain, my symptoms had virtually gone.’
The idea that dairy can worsen congestion and other respiratory symptoms is hardly new. For generations, milk has been blamed for producing ‘excess mucus’ – a claim largely dismissed by doctors as a myth because studies found that drinking milk does not actually increase nasal secretions.
But scientists are now investigating a subtly different possibility: that in a small group of people, an allergy or sensitivity to foods including cow’s milk can contribute to the inflammation underlying chronic sinus problems.
And emerging research suggests diet more generally may have a greater influence on the condition than previously thought.
The turnaround for Roger came four years after his problems started, when his wife suggested he consult a private nutritionist.
Initially, he was sceptical. ‘I’ve never smoked, I don’t drink alcohol, I’m fairly fit and I eat a well-balanced diet. I couldn’t see what a nutritionist could do for me,’ he says.
But during the consultation, the possibility was raised that something in his diet could be contributing to his symptoms – with dairy identified as a potential trigger.
At the time, dairy featured heavily in Roger’s diet, from yoghurt at breakfast and after dinner, to butter and cheese at lunch. He decided to cut it out completely – and within days, he says, his symptoms had virtually disappeared.
While experts stress that dairy is unlikely to explain every case of chronic sinusitis, there is some evidence it may contribute to symptoms in some patients
While experts stress that dairy is unlikely to explain every case of chronic sinusitis, there is some evidence it may contribute to symptoms in some patients.
A 2011 study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy found that hidden milk allergies may play a role in some cases of chronic sinus disease.
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna found that one in seven patients with chronic sinusitis had an undiagnosed cow’s milk allergy – compared with none of the healthy volunteers studied.
According to Dr Carl Philpott, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and professor of rhinology at the University of East Anglia, questions about dairy are common among sinusitis sufferers. ‘A lot of people in my clinic ask me about dairy,’ he says.
‘I typically recommend what’s known as an elimination diet – whereby patients cut out dairy for a week and see if their symptoms improve.’
More recently, a 2026 review found that anti-inflammatory diets were linked with better sinus health, while diets high in fat and ultra-processed foods were associated with a greater burden of symptoms.
However, the review’s authors stressed that the evidence remains limited, adding that larger clinical trials are needed before dietary changes can be routinely recommended as a treatment.
But Dr Philpott says there is a plausible biological explanation for why diet may influence symptoms in some patients.
‘I couldn’t quite believe it,’ says Roger. ‘After years of pain, my symptoms had virtually gone’
‘Chronic sinusitis appears to be a local immunological problem,’ he says. ‘The lining of the nose and sinuses becomes overly sensitive to environmental exposures, such as dust, pollen and infections over time – which is why most patients present with symptoms later in life, often in their early 50s.
‘So it is plausible that underlying allergies, intolerances and dietary factors could contribute to symptoms in some patients.’
For most sufferers, however, treatment will still involve more conventional measures.
Specialists often recommend regular saline nasal rinsing, which can help wash away mucus, allergens and inflammatory debris.
And while steroid nasal sprays can be used to control inflammation, patients should be wary of relying for too long on a different type – over-the-counter decongestant sprays.
This is because of the risk of ‘rebound’ congestion – i.e. they end up making symptoms worse with overuse – something that 60 per cent of pharmacists believe patients are unaware of, according to research by the Royal Pharmaceutical Society.
‘Like with many health conditions, early diagnosis and treatment of chronic sinusitis can make a significant difference,’ says Dr Philpott. ‘Long-term antibiotics do not seem to help the majority of patients, and if the condition is picked up late, many can end up relying on steroid nasal sprays for life.
‘Since the pandemic, we are seeing more patients presenting with quite severe disease, which can be much more difficult to manage.
He adds: ‘If you do suffer from persistent symptoms, be religious about nasal rinsing twice a day. And if you’ve done that for three months and are still struggling, ask your GP for a referral to an ENT specialist.’
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