Common Symptoms of Sinus Infections

When you wake up with sniffling, sneezing and other respiratory symptoms, it can be difficult to pin down the cause. Is this an allergy symptom, or is it caused by a cold? Or, could it be a sinus infection causing your problems? Knowing why you are dealing with these symptoms can help you find the right remedy, whether you need allergy medicine, pain relief or antibiotics. A few of the symptoms that can indicate a sinus infection:

Pain and Pressure

There are sinus cavities behind your nose, above your top teeth and behind your forehead. During a sinus infection, these areas are prone to inflammation. You can experience pain and pressure in any of your sinuses when you are dealing with sinusitis. A sinusitis headache is characterized by pain and pressure in the face and forehead. You may also see swelling or redness in the area.

Congestion

When the tissue inside your sinuses becomes irritated and inflamed, it is harder for fluids to pass through the sinus passages. Congestion is the result. You may feel it as a heaviness in your head or as an inability to breathe freely through one or both nostrils.

Post Nasal Drip

Sometimes, your body will create extra mucus in order to wash away viruses or bacteria that are responsible for a sinus infection. However, when you are congested, you will often find that this contributes to post nasal drip.

Coughing

If you have a cough, that's a sure sign the problem is a cold or flu, right? Not necessarily. The post nasal drip associated with a sinus infection can irritate the delicate tissue in your throat, leading to a cough or a sore throat.

What to do about a sinus infection

A sinus infection can pass on its own within a few days. Staying hydrated and taking decongestants or allergy medicine can help ease symptoms. You may also get relief from congestion by using nasal irrigation tools like neti pots.However, if you suffer from sinus infections frequently, you may be suffering from chronic sinusitis. Sinusitis symptoms that last for four weeks or more are considered chronic. In some cases, these are caused by narrow or blocked passages in your sinuses. In cases when there are problems like these, fluids are less able to flow freely, contributing to breathing problems and more frequent sinus infections.Medications can help reduce symptoms, they cannot offer a cure for sinus problems. However, many patients have experienced a reduction in sinus problems or complete relief after getting balloon sinuplasty. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that helps open up sinus passages so you can breathe more freely. Most people experience relief right away and find that they are able to avoid frequent medication and life without sinusitis symptoms.Do you suffer from frequent sinus infections? We can help. Contact us today, we can help find the root cause behind your sinus infections and create a plan of care to get you relief.