Sinus Infection

A sinus infection can be debilitating.  The pain and discomfort can become so intense that it is impossible to work or function doing normal daily activities.  What starts out as a runny nose and congestion quickly becomes a big headache, accompanied by facial pain, and additional unpleasant symptoms.  Trying to wait it out, and hope it goes away on its own is not always the answer.  In no time at all, it becomes an unbearable illness that requires immediate treatment and a possible visit to the family doctor.

What is a Sinus Infection?

Looking at a picture of a skull, it is easy to see where there are places that are indented or missing, where the sinuses would have been in life.  For example, the nose is basically made up of cartilage, and the nostrils allow for breathing and evacuating mucus when a person is sick.

But, most people don’t think about the fact that the sinuses involve much more than the nose.  There are cavities above the cheekbones, the ears can be affected by sinus trouble, the forehead may feel swollen, and even the teeth and gums influence the sinuses.

A sinus infection happens when one of these cavities gets clogged and the mucus naturally produced by the body cannot evacuate properly.  Then, the yucky stuff just sits there collecting pollutants, bacteria, or fungus.  After a while of trying to fight off harmful microorganisms, the sinuses become infected.

In other instances, a sinus infection can occur if the individual suffers from poor dental health.  If the teeth or gums are diseased, the infection can spread to the sinuses.  In fact, it is recommended that chronic sufferers visit their dentists and make sure their oral health, or lack thereof, is not the main culprit of their recurring pain and discomfort.

Sinus Infection Differences

Not all sinus infections are created equal.  Some can be treated with home remedies to ease the symptoms, while a virus runs its course.  Others are caused by bacteria and will not go away without the intervention of antibiotics.  But, the worst kind of sinus infection is caused by naturally occurring fungus.

Normally, the body can fight off any fungus that may be harmful and comes in contact with the body.  But, if the sinuses cannot function and drain properly, the fungus just sits in the body and festers, until a person has to contend with a potentially fatal infection.

Fungus will not respond to antibiotics.  It requires an anti-fungal medication to fight the disease.  If the fungus has congregated in a sinus cavity, it may require surgery to remove the mass of mucus and fungus.  For people with compromised immune system, this can be a potentially fatal malady.  So, it is vital to see a doctor right away, if you have had a fungal infection before, or low immunity is an issue.

If the sinus infection is caused by bacteria, it should respond well to a course of antibiotics.  There are different types of prescription medications that may work well for one patient, while another person may continue to suffer.  A doctor will need to have a complete patient history, including recurrences or allergies, which might influence the chosen course of treatment.

If it is determined that the sinus infection is viral in nature, there is no medicine that will kill the virus that caused the sinus trouble.  The best course of treatment is a combination of over-the-counter remedies to help reduce the symptoms, until the infection is gone.

Chronic Sinus Infection

For anyone who has ever had a sinus infection, one is enough. The symptoms can be very painful and debilitating. When a patient suffers from a chronic problem, those signs can last for weeks.  Then, when the sinus infection finally seems to be cleared up, another one is not far behind.

As a result, it can be very difficult to hold down a job or take care of a family.  Doctors will want to discover the underlying cause and treat it, before it can turn into another infection.  Oftentimes, the culprit is allergies to pollen, dust, or pollutants in the environment.  There are some changes that can be made inside the home, in order to make the atmosphere more sinus-friendly.  Treatments for the allergies, including regular shots, can also reduce the chances of getting another sinus infection.

It is also important to know what home remedies can be used to promote good sinus health, and treat sinus problems before they have a chance to turn into a real illness.  It is often easier to prevent a sinus infection, rather than to wait until a cure is necessary. It is also a lot less painful.

Chronic Sinus Infection

Having a sudden onset sinus infection is bad enough; but, the majority of people with allergies and related illnesses also suffer from chronic sinus infection.  Thus, it becomes a lifelong medical condition.  Individuals have to be constantly vigilant, when it comes to their sinuses, so they can prevent flair ups and recognize the symptoms of an impending infection, before it causes debilitating symptoms.

Chronic Causes

For patients with chronic sinus infections, the pain and discomfort can adversely affect their quality of life for months at a time.  The sinuses are resistant to any treatment efforts, and it seems like the symptoms will never go away.  Sufferers may feel like they keeps tissue companies in business, because they are always blowing their noses.  In addition, they likely have ever-present pain and swollen sensations around their sinus cavities.  Frequent headaches are also a common complaint.

Chronic sinus infection can be debilitating.  It makes it difficult to concentrate and go about daily living.  Many people simply want to close their eyes and go to bed, where they can suffer in peace.  However, knowing the causes will help doctors know how to treat the sinuses and hopefully get rid of the chronic pain.  The cause may be:

• Infections
• Deviated septum
• Nasal polyps

Infections

The first thing most people think, when they start suffering the symptoms of sinus trouble is that they have another infection.  So, they make an appointment to see the doctor, so he/she can prescribe medicine that will make them feel better in a day or two.  Unfortunately, this is not always the case.  Sinus infections may be due to a virus or fungus, which will not be helped by antibiotics.  If it is a bacterial infection, a prescription should help; but, virus related infections basically need the home remedies used for anyone with a cold or the flu.  Conversely, fungal infections may require minor surgery to promote healing.

Deviated Septum

People who suffer from chronic sinus infection often have other underlying health concerns that adversely affect the sinuses natural function to drain properly.  For example, a patient may have a deviated septum.  The septum is that piece of cartilage that separates the two nostrils.  If it is misaligned and leans one way or the other, it can reduce proper drainage of the sinuses, which, in turn, promotes infection.  Fortunately, this problem can usually be surgically corrected.  Then, the chronic sinus infections become only an unpleasant memory.

Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are growths that stem from the sinus membranes.  While they are usually not tender, they can prevent the sinuses from draining properly, and ultimately cause infection. To get rid of these obstructions to good nasal health, a doctor will generally prescribe one of three treatment options:

1. Steroids
2. Topic ointments
3. Surgical removal

Naturally, it depends on the polyps and the level of discomfort suffered by the patient.

Symptoms

The symptoms of chronic sinus infection are almost the same as acute or sudden onset of an infection.  The differences are in the fever and the duration of the sinus trouble. Generally acute sinusitis will be accompanied by a temperature; but, once treated, the symptoms will go away.
Conversely, chronic sinusitis can last for months, and include any or all of the following symptoms:

• Yellow or greenish drainage
• Pain and swelling of the sinuses
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Reduced ability to taste or smell
• Difficulty breathing through a clogged nose
• Coughing
• Ear pain
• Aching teeth and jaws
• Bad breath
• Sore throat from the drainage
• Upset stomach

Sometimes the symptoms can cause serious health risks.  So, it is extremely important to see a doctor right away if there is shortness of breath, double-vision, visible swelling around the eyes and face, forehead swelling, terrible headache, or a stiff neck that cannot be attributed to sleeping in a chair, in order to breathe easier at night.

Treatment

The treatment for chronic sinus infection depends upon the underlying causes for the continued illness.  For instance, people with allergies are also likely to suffer from chronic sinus trouble.  Once the allergy is under control, the sinus trouble will also abate. 

Although the doctor may prescribe treatment for various underlying causes, there are many home remedies and lifestyle changes that will also promote better sinus health and reduce the severity of the symptoms. For some, it might require alterations to the environment, such as more humidity or filters for air vents.  It may also mean less alcohol and more water in the system, or a change in diet to reduce the foods and beverages that cause the body to create more mucus. Living with chronic sinus infection is possible, once the root causes are dealt with, and the beginning symptoms are addressed, before they get out of control.