Know the Symptoms of a Sinus Infection in an Instant

Knowing the symptoms of a sinus infection may spell the difference between suffering from sinusitis and living a healthy and normal life. Nobody wants to have sinusitis as it brings about pain and discomfort in our daily lives.

With sinusitis, it may be difficult for you to breathe through your nose. Your face may also feel swollen, particularly the area around your eyes. And on top of this, you may have a throbbing headache. That is why detecting sinusitis as soon as possible is the best preventive measure that you must bear in mind.

However, it is difficult, and often tricky, to tell the symptoms of a sinus infection apart from other sickness because of their apparent similarities. Let us consider as an example the common cold. A person suffering from sinusitis may have the symptoms associated with a cold, such as nasal congestion and discharge and severe headache and pain or pressure in specific areas of the face. This is because a cold, by itself, is among the many symptoms of sinusitis. If left untreated, a sinusitis that is mistaken for just a common cold, may lead to more serious complications.

Take a look at these simple guidelines to help you differentiate a sinusitis from a common cold:

1.   Duration of the condition
Monitoring how long a common cold lasts is the most perceptible way to differentiate it from a sinusitis. The duration of a common cold actually varies but it usually lasts for not more than 10 days. On the other hand, a sinus infection lasts for approximately 10 to 14 days or more. Specifically, the symptoms of an acute sinusitis last for less than 4 weeks while those of a chronic sinusitis last for more than 8 weeks. In case the sinusitis recurs for about 3 or more acute episodes in a year, it is also classified as chronic.

2.    Nasal discharge
Another indication that there is a sinus infection is through the color of the nasal discharge. For sinusitis sufferers, the discharge is typically thick with pus that is yellowish to yellow-green in color. This is a sign of bacterial infection. On the contrary, a common cold is due to the effects of a viral infection. It is for this reason that the nasal discharge is clear or whitish in color.

3.    Facial pressure or pain
People with a common cold may sometimes feel facial pressure or pain. But with sinusitis sufferers, the pain may most likely be felt on specific areas of the face where the sinuses are located. The pain may be experienced across the forehead, over the cheeks, or behind the eyes.
If the sinus infection occurs around the eyes, the eyes may be red, bulging or painful. If it occurs over the cheeks, it may travel to the teeth and the pain in the teeth is increased by bending over.

Once you have detected the symptoms of a sinus infection, it is recommended to take immediate action either by seeking medical attention or by simply doing some self-care measures such as nasal washing. Always remember that the best medical advice remains to be the saying that an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.