Sinus infections, medically referred to as sinusitis, are among the most common concerns affecting millions of adults and kids in America. Sinus infections happen once your nasal passages become inflamed, infected, or seriously swollen. Most sinus infections make the nose red and are primarily considered the foremost sign of Los Angeles sinusitis. However, besides this symptom, other potential signs signify the occurrence of sinus infections or sinusitis. If you suspect a sinus infection, here are some warning signs to watch out for.
1. A Sense of Pressure and Pain on the Sinuses
Facial pain is among the most prevalent signs of sinusitis. You might experience serious discomfort on the sides of the nose, forehead, and the area between the eyes, upper jaw, teeth, and more. Besides the sinus discomfort, the serious inflammation in the nasal passage causes a sense of pressure. Eventually, these concerns might often result in serious headaches.
2. Runny Nose
If you got sinus infections, you might frequently experience the urge to blow your nose because of continuous irritable nasal discharges. Throughout this period, a thick yellow or cloudy-green nasal discharge may come out of the sinus infection and drains into the nasal passages. This nasal discharge might occasionally drain down the back of the throat. As such, you might frequently feel an itchy, irritable, or tickling throat. These changes may also make your voice temporarily sound hoarse.
3. Heavy Nasal Congestion
Once you have sinus infections, your sinus swelling might occasionally restrict how you breathe via your nose. The reason for this is that the inflammation might result in serious nasal congestion, and thus; a sensation of nasal blockage. The nasal congestion makes you not experience the proper smell of specific things or the taste of foods. Sometimes, the nasal congestion might make your voice stuffy.
4. Acute Sinus Headache
The persistent pressure and pain in the sinuses might result in acute sinus headaches. A serious earache or pain in the jawlines and teeth may accompany this sinus headache. These sinus headaches primarily worsen in the morning because of over-accumulation of fluids at night. Try adjusting your head positions whenever you lie down or sleep. Otherwise, you may contact an ENT doctor for some effective sinus headache-relieving medications or remedies.
5. Fever
Like other viral infections, having moderate to high fever is prevalent in sinusitis. This fever signifies your body is battling off the bacteria or viruses responsible for sinus infections. You should not disregard your sinus infections if you experience a moderate to high fever because the condition worsens if left unaddressed.
6. Annoying Bad Breath
The inflamed and infected sinus produces mucus that smells seriously bad, ultimately dripping down your throat and into the mouth, causing foul breath. To address this issue, drink lots of water and rinse your mouth with a good mouth freshener. These measures mask your bad breath and keep you from being embarrassed when suffering from sinus infections.
Leaving a sinus infection unaddressed can cause the issue to progress with dangerous consequences. In serious cases, leaving the sinusitis untreated may make it progress to the eyes or even the brain. Once this happens, you may develop more serious health concerns like blindness, brain abscesses, and meningitis. Therefore, do not allow a simple sinus infection to go unaddressed. If you notice any of the warning signs highlighted above, arrange a consultation with your ENT doctor. Your physician may suggest various treatment options, including antibiotics, decongestants, allergy shots, pain relievers, and more.