Sinus pain, pressure, and swelling can leave you feeling miserable.
Your cold and flu symptoms simply won’t go away. You are experiencing any or all of the following:
- Sneezing, sniffling
- Sleepless nights
- Sore throat or persistent coughing
- Constant runny nose/postnasal drip
- Puffy, watery eyes
- Loss of smell and/or taste
- Facial pain, pressure, and/or swelling
- Relentless headaches
You might be suffering from what’s known as sinusitis which is characterized by chronic sinus infections.
Normal sinus function becomes impaired by swelling, which traps bacteria and viruses within the sinus cavities behind and around the eyes and nose. Sinusitis, often with infection, results and causes nonstop sinus pain.
What is sinusitis
Sinus cavities are the air-filled spaces that surround the eyes and nose. These areas often go unnoticed, but they play a critical role in the body’s ability to breathe, speak, and sing. They also manage the air that you breathe by regulating humidity and temperature.
Mucus produced in the sinus cavities plays an important role in disease prevention. This mucus traps foreign substances such as dust, mold, bacteria, or viruses and drains them through the body. This natural process protects the body from sickness, infection, and disease. However, there are times when the body responds to foreign substances with swelling and inflammation that may block this natural flow and trigger an infection of the sinus cavity. Sinus infections can also be triggered by allergies, colds, nasal polyps, a deviated septum, or other physical conditions.
Each person’s body responds to a sinus infection in unique ways. Your reaction will depend on your overall health, any other medical conditions, specific allergies, and the presence of a related illness such as a cold, flu, or virus.