Sinus and migraine go hand in hand as one of the most basic head or brain problems a person can face. Sinus usually occurs due to the buildup of mucus in the nasal tract or the inflammation of the sinuses in the nose. Sinus can be a mild problem for many people but for some people sinus can be torture on a plate.
Sinus can hound you with headaches and nausea day and night if not treated properly with the necessary care. It has been noted that sinus affects at least 60 out of 100 people but mostly all of them suffer with a mild case of sinus which they get rid of by the age of 25. Sinus makes it hard to breathe gives you a bad headache and adds to the mucus in the brain causing you to feel heavy headed. But this particular illness is treatable not with steroid rich nasal sprays that are abundant in the market but with patience and many available home remedies that are available also in abundance.
Nasal sprays will no doubt give you the relief you need but it will also add to many chemical imbalances in your body in the long run, therefore it is necessary to get doctors advice before indulging in these many available products.
There are many causes of sinus that will not only trigger this illness but will supply it with the encouragement it needs to wreck havoc in your nasal tract.
Causes And Symptoms Of Sinus:
Some of these causes and symptoms of sinus are as follows.
Causes Of Sinus:
1. Allergy:
Allergies may trigger sinus, especially dust allergies. Dust enters the nose and mouth when you breathe in causing you Also to inhale a lot of bacteria. This bacterium invigorates your allergies thus causing you to start developing a cold also known as hay fever. This cold builds up mucus in your nasal tract and blocks the sinuses. In turn the sinus is caused to inflammation further blocking the breathing in your nasal tract. This is the root cause of sinus. A warm water inhalation will help soothe the tract along with reducing the mucus build up in the nose.
2. Sunlight:
Sunlight causes both migraine and sinus the first being more dangerous that the latter. Migraine is more of an advanced form of sinus and causes blackouts when exposed to too much sunlight. Everybody has sinus glands in their nasal tract. Some people go their entire lives without worrying about what problem they are facing with their breathing due to sinus. But some people when exposed to too much sunlight have a problem that needs medical treatment to stop it from escalating. The heat inflammates the sinuses in the nasal tract causing them to grow in the nose making the person have a little trouble breathing.
3. Irregular Diet:
It is the truth that an irregular diet can cause a person to get sinus. This is because sinus does not only affect the nasal tract but also affects the head in total. A large mucus build up along with a low amount of blood filled with nutrients causes the person to feel weak and exhausted even when they have not exerted themselves in any way. Irregular diet also causes blackouts when exposed to extreme weather which is another root sign of sinus. Therefore eat healthy and you will always stay healthy.
4. Viruses:
You might be aware by now that most of the sinus infections begin with normal cold. A virus infection in the nasal tract leads to cold and causes swelling in the nasal tissues and congestion. This blocks the outlets for sinuses to drain. A Sinus infection that is caused by a virus cannot be completely treated by taking antibiotics as these medications only work on bacteria. The symptoms might however get better in a week’s time. The most effective way to treat this virus infection is by maintaining proper hygiene, taking flu shots and avoiding the company of other infected people.
5. Fungi:
According to experts, Fungi are the most unusual causes that could lead to sinus infection. It has been found that sinus infections through Fungi are more predominant in people with weaker immune system, although it can even impact healthy individuals. The most common Fungus that causes Sinusitis is Aspergillus. Fungal sinus infection can be treated with the help of antifungal therapy, scraping the infected sinus or using surgical methods to remove the fungal growth.
6. Polyps:
Medically speaking, nasal polyps are growth extensions that occur inside the nose and sinus tissues. These benign growths block the sinus cavities and restrict the mucus from draining, resulting in a sinus infection. The polyps also cause blockage in the airway passages that lead to severe headaches. Nasal polyps are medically cured by using nasal steroid sprays or by taking a course of oral steroids. However if this also does not help, surgery is necessary.
7. Excessive use of Nasal Products:
You might be using nasal decongestant sprays to relieve a blocked nose, little aware of the fact that they can also constrict the blood vessels present in the nose. Prolonged use of such nasal products can even worsen the symptoms if they are not followed as directed. Overuse of sprays may reduce sensitivity towards their effects and cause the nose to swell again. This can again lead to recurrence of congestion and trigger sinus infection. The use of nasal sprays should therefore be stopped after a period of 4-5 days.
8. Swimming and Diving:
Sinus can also be triggered by physical activities like swimming and diving. People who are susceptible to sinus infection must avoid staying in chlorinated pools for long time. The chlorine water in the swimming pools may cause irritation in the sinuses and nasal lining. Not only this, diving can also trigger the problem. When you dive, the pressure pushes to water up into the sinuses and may inflame or irritate the tissue.
9. Flying:
Frequent flying can be another cause that could lead to sinusitis. While flying, especially during takeoff and landing, the reduced air pressure in flight can exert pressure in the head that may block the air passages and sinuses. This can even aggravate the cold symptoms. If your work demands frequent traveling by air and you are prone to sinus infection, carry an inhaler or nasal decongestant drop to keep your sinuses clear.
10. Smoking:
The smoke from cigarette and smoke are also considered to be triggers for sinus infection. Just like other air pollutants, the smoke can irritate or inflame the nasal membranes. This can increase the susceptibility for sinusitis. It has been found that cigarette smoking people have higher risk of sinus infection as their sinus-cleaning system gets damaged by the smoke.
Nasal sprays will no doubt give you the relief you need but it will also add to many chemical imbalances in your body in the long run, therefore it is necessary to get doctors advice before indulging in these many available products. Sinus infection causes a lot of discomfort and pain. A stuffy nose that might seem common during the winters can even turn out to be a chronic Sinus infection. Very importantly one must be ready for anything therefore knowing the symptoms of sinus are extremely important to understand this illness better.
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Symptoms Of Sinus:
Given below are 10 symptoms of sinus that are indicative that your ‘cold’ needs extra care and treatment.
1. Pain:
The most initial sinus symptoms is the feeling of pain. Sinuses can found around the eyes and just behind the nose. During an infection these places might unpleasantly hurt. The pain is caused due to the swelling and inflammation in the sinuses that causes a relentless pressure on the membranes. The feeling of pain can be experienced in the forehead, between the eyes, in teeth and upper jaws and both the sides of nose.
2. Tooth Pain:
Pain in the upper jaws is one of the early signs of sinus infection. This pain is not the same as a regular tooth ache. During the infection the sinus membranes get inflamed and exert a pressure in the upper jaws, making you experience a severe tooth ache. So next time when the tooth ache persists for long, it’s time to check with your doctor.
3. Sinus Discharge:
The nasal discharge during sinusitis is not the same as the ones you get during the cold. During the time of infection, when you blow your nose frequently, look out for the greenish-yellow discharge. The color changes due sinus infection that trails down to the nasal passages. The Sinus discharge can even reach to the throat causing a feeling of tickling or itchiness at the back of the throat. This condition is medically known as ‘postnasal drip’.
4. Headaches:
Primarily headaches are the first symptoms of sinus. Large build up of mucus in the brain causes a strain which in turn causes the headaches. Headaches can either range from very mild and manageable to very bad and excruciating. Mild headaches are not that bad and you can determine that if you have sinus it is not bad so it is easily treatable. Excruciating headaches which occur every day is a very bad sign. Though sinus is not fatal it can cause a large amount of discomfort in breathing.
5. Blackouts:
Blackouts are another sign of sinus. Blackouts usually occur for two reasons, one is that you are exposed to extreme weather which primarily is extreme sunlight and two is that there is not enough oxygen reaching your brain and heart because the nasal tract is blocked by inflamed sinuses. Sinuses in its later stages must be operated upon and removed so that the person can breathe easily again.
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6. Trouble Breathing:
Take a deep breath from your nose. If you feel the air passing through normally that means your sinuses are fine but if you feel even the slightest trouble whatsoever it is necessary to get a doctors opinion immediately. A doctor will only be able to examine your nasal tract and tell you what the exact problem with your sinuses are.
7. Cold and Flu:
Many a times people have mistaken a cold to actually be the common cold and treated themselves so that they can get rid of this illness. But the truth is that sinus goes hand in hand with the common cold or flu. Allergies may cause congestion in the nose and chest. This mucus build up is a root cause of sinus which was mentioned earlier. Though a cold can just be a cold get a checkup just in case because you do not know what lies in wait for you after the cold is actually cured.
8. Bad Breath:
During the time of Sinus infection, the yellowish-green discharge accumulates in the sinuses and even drips down to the back of the throat. This results in the obnoxious smell from the mouth, a condition known as ‘Halitosis’. The smell is caused due to the volatile by-products that are produced by the organism, which are the main source of infection. Even the medications taken to cure the infection, causes the throat to dry and adversely affects the breath.
9. Sore Throat:
The nasal drops that you might be using could give you slight relief from the congested nose but they might cause irritation and itching in your throat. Initial use of these postnasal drips may first feel like a tickle in your nose, but the condition can get worse with time. If the infection continues for a period of more than few weeks, the mucus from the nose can cause inflation in the throat. The condition might worsen and result in a painful sore throat.
10. Fever:
Fever is never an outcome due to common cold. However when the infections become more acute, as in sinusitis, you may experience a rise in the body temperature that occurs when immune system tries to fight the infection. Most of the symptoms of sinusitis and cold overlap. However you need to be more cautious to look out for some uncommon symptoms that are indicative of sinusitis. Normally cold that persists for more than 10 days, signals the onset of sinus infection.
Sinus is something that many people have and it has become quite as common as the common cold but the discomfort it gives is ten times more than what a cold does to you. Only an operation can give you comfort once a certain point is crossed so get your nasal tract checked immediately if you are having problems breathing.
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