When your body chemistry changes you may find that you begin to have symptoms of sinus congestion and inflammation. A change from your regular or normal bacteria or virus can signal your body to send you a distress signal that is usually interpreted as a headache or other common cold symptoms. If your sinus cavities become infected, they may rupture or they may become too full of mucus. At that point inflammation occurs and you begin to experience sinus headaches.
Sinus headaches are often very severe. A common symptom is nasal congestion. Sometimes the nasal stuffiness leads to a headache but it’s not always true. Other symptoms that may occur include sore throat, difficulty breathing through the nose, pain and pressure behind the eyes, and headaches. All these symptoms may lead to a more serious condition and should not be ignored.
Nasal congestion can result in a headache, facial pain, a fever and a feeling of nasal congestion. Your throat and eyes may feel heavy or sore. Other people notice a dripping sensation from their nose to their mouth and throat. A sore throat is one of the more frequent complaints associated with sinus infections. Frequent and prolonged sore throat can lead to temporary deafness.
Sinus infection or a bad breath is also a possible sign that you are afflicted with sinus trouble. If you are experiencing a chronic sore throat, or a persistent cough that doesn’t heal, you should see your doctor. Coughing is usually a signal that a sinus infection is present and that antibiotics will need to be prescribed for treatment.
There are also a few things that you can watch out for. If you have a stuffy nose and nasal discharge you should see your doctor. The stuffy nose may be due to an allergy, but it could also be associated with nasal discharge and inflammation. The nasal discharge often has a bad odor to it. When you try to blow your nose it produces a white-ish colored nasal discharge.
Sinusitis can cause some other signs and symptoms such as post-nasal drip, facial pain, dizziness and loss of balance. You might also experience sinus headaches or sinus congestion. Most of these symptoms disappear within a week or two, or they will simply improve. Other common conditions that are associated with sinusitis are allergic rhinitis, post-menopausal women and menopause. If you experience any of these 10 days or longer, you should contact your doctor immediately.
There are several types of acute sinusitis. Acute refers to an attack that lasts for more than four or five days. There are also chronic forms of sinusitis that last for many months or years. Chronic means that the condition has existed for a long time and is chronic. The most common symptoms of acute sinusitis are yellowish colored nasal discharge with a distinct odor, feeling of pressure on the bridge of the nose and tenderness around the eyes.
The most common type of chronic sinus infection is an inflammatory form of sinus called a deviated nasal septum. A deviated nasal septum is when a portion of the nasal passages grow wider than the rest and become inflamed. Infection occurs when the swollen nasal passages make it difficult for mucus to drain from the sinus cavities. Deviated nasal septum is the leading cause of sinus infections.
If you have had a cold or allergy in the past year and it has not gone away, visit your doctor. It could be an indication of worsening allergies or a new onset of colds or allergies. If you get chronic sinusitis and it goes away after about three weeks, you should visit your doctor to rule out any other causes of your colds. This can save you a lot of money on treating them when they return.
People who are smokers or are exposed to a lot of smoke or dust may increase their risk of developing sinuses problems. Other risk factors include people who have chronic asthma and are already on a long term anti-inflammatory treatment. If you are prone to sinus infections because of allergies or a family history of allergies, you are at a greater risk for getting chronic sinusitis. The bacteria that cause these infections are carried by airborne particles and allergens.
Doctors usually prescribe an antibiotic to treat the infection. If the infection does not clear up on its own, surgery may be required to remove the nasal polyps and sinus cavities. Surgery is also sometimes recommended for people with weakened immune systems because a sinus infection tends to bring on other health issues. But if you take good care of your sinuses, they should heal on their own and you will not need to seek the help of medical professionals for chronic sinusitis.