Sinus
About Sinuses
The bones in your skull have air spaces (called sinuses) to help make it lighter and to act as resonators for your voice. Your sinuses are lined with a slippery mucous membrane that acts as a protective lining. When your sinuses are working properly, the mucus they produce drains into your nose through narrow tubes.
Just about anybody can suffer from sinus pain and congestion. However, there are certain factors that can make people more susceptible, such as:
- Smoking — since smoke inhibits mucus drainage
- Nasal abnormalities, like a deviated septum or nasal polyps (small openings between the nose and sinuses)
- Diseases that cause abnormal mucus secretion like cystic fibrosis
- Asthma or eczema as people with these diseases tend to be more affected by allergies and chronic sinusitis
Common causes of sinus pain and congestion
Things go wrong when the mucous membrane becomes inflamed, causing your sinuses to produce too much mucus. This leads to blocked sinuses and drainage tubes, resulting in a buildup in sinus pressure and nasal congestion.
Sinusitis — inflammation of the sinuses — is the most common reason for sinus pain and congestion and is usually due to infection from a virus or bacteria (like with a cold or flu) that spreads from your nose to your sinuses. The swelling and extra mucus is your body’s way of flushing out the infection.
Sinusitis can be divided into two main categories:
1. Acute sinusitis — a short-term sinus infection that is cleared up within 4 weeks.
2. Chronic, or long-term, sinusitis — a sinus infection that lasts more than 4 weeks and is often re-occurring. These infections can persist for months, or even years.
Allergies can also be the underlying cause of sinus problems, and it could be worth your while to find out. Click here for more information on allergies.
Common sinus symptoms
That extra mucus is what causes your symptoms — the same ones that keep you home from work or force you to retreat from an otherwise great event. These symptoms include:
- Sinus pain and pressure
- Headache —throbbing around one or both eyes
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
You can relieve these symptoms with easy home remedies and over-the-counter (OTC) medication. Here's how.
Common symptoms of a sinus infection
If you have the following symptoms, you could have a sinus infection and you should see your doctor:
- Pain or tenderness around your eyes and cheekbones that worsens when you bend forward
- Thick, cloudy, yellow-green nasal discharge
- Swelling of your face
- Blurred vision
- Throat pain
- White or yellow spots on your tonsils
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