Do you experience frequent headaches? Are you often dealing with congestion, a runny nose, or fatigue?
You may have a chronic sinus infection if your symptoms don’t go away. Chronic sinus infections can be painful and debilitating if left untreated.
Knowing what signs to watch out for can ensure you get the help you need and find relief sooner. Keep reading to learn more about 8 common signs of a chronic sinus infection and if you could have one!
What is a Chronic Sinus Infection?
Chronic sinusitis or a chronic sinus infection is the inflammation of the sinuses, with symptoms that persist for three months or more. The sinuses are the air-filled cavities behind your nose, in your forehead, around your eyes, and in your cheekbones.
These spaces are moist and lined with mucus that filters, moistens, and warms the air you breathe. Infection and inflammation can occur when something obstructs the airflow, preventing mucus from draining as it should.
An infection, tissue swelling from allergies, or structural abnormalities can obstruct drainage from your sinuses.
What are the Signs of a Chronic Sinus Infection?
The symptoms of a chronic sinus infection last for 12 weeks or longer without improvement, and they include:
1. Nasal Congestion
Nasal congestion or obstructed nasal passages are a common sign of chronic sinusitis. It happens when inflamed and swollen sinuses prevent mucus from draining properly, causing mucus to accumulate.
A buildup of mucus can make it difficult to breathe through your nose. It can also decrease your sense of smell or taste.
2. Facial Pressure or Pain
Facial pain or pressure is a classic sign of a sinus infection. When you have a chronic sinus infection, inflammation and swelling can prevent mucus from draining correctly.
The accumulation of mucus leads to facial pain and pressure. You may feel pain with dull pressure across your forehead, around your eyes, on both sides of your nose, and in your upper jaw and teeth.
Sometimes, sinus pain may feel like an earache, jaw pain, or toothache. Sinus pain tends to worsen when you bend forward.
3. Postnasal Drip
The thick, extra mucus produced in your sinuses can drain down the back of your throat. This is known as postnasal drip and is prominent in chronic sinus infections.
Postnasal drip can produce an itchy feeling in your throat. It may feel like something is dripping down your throat, which is more noticeable when lying down. Your voice may also become raspy or hoarse due to irritation around the voice box.
4. Sore Throat
A sore throat is a tell-tale sign of a chronic sinus infection. Sinuses usually drain through your nose and throat. The mucus is watery and thin, so you hardly notice it.
But when you have a chronic sinus infection, your body produces thicker mucus. Additionally, the inflammation can prevent your sinuses from draining normally, resulting in mucus buildup.
Consequently, the thick, excess mucus goes down the back of your throat, which can irritate the lining of your throat, causing a persistent sore throat. The mucus that drains into your throat can also spread infection.
As a result, you may experience sore throats more often.
5. Cough
A lingering cough is another sign of a chronic sinus infection. Usually, thin mucus travels down the back of the throat without you noticing.
But when you have a sinus infection, your sinuses create more mucus. The excess mucus accumulates as your swollen sinuses can’t drain it.
As it moves down your throat, it can irritate the back of the throat and trigger a cough. The cough is often wet and worsens in the morning when you wake up and at night when you’re lying down, making it hard to sleep.
6. Bad Breath
If you have chronically bad breath, a chronic sinus infection could be the reason. Bacterial infections are a common cause of chronic sinusitis.
These infections release unpleasant odors that contribute to foul breath. Sinusitis also causes postnasal drip.
The infected mucus that drains into your throat can collide with the air you breathe out, and the offensive smell from the infection may transfer to your breath. Sinus-related bad breath can persist, no matter how much you brush or floss, until you receive treatment for sinusitis from your ENT specialist at Indianapolis Sinus Center.
7. Headache
Sinus headaches are different from regular headaches. The infection and inflammation in your sinuses cause them.
With sinus headaches, you may experience a throbbing sensation in your forehead. The headaches usually intensify in the morning because fluids in the sinuses collect throughout the night.
Changing the position of your head can also exacerbate any headaches you may be experiencing.
8. Nasal Discharge
Blowing your nose regularly is another common sign of a chronic sinus infection, as any discharge from your infected sinuses drains thick, excess mucus into your nasal passages.
The increase in discharge is why you could blow your nose more frequently. People with chronic sinusitis often have yellow, green, or cloudy discharge.
Find Long-Term Relief for Chronic Sinus Infections
You don’t have to live with the frustrating symptoms of a chronic sinus infection. The expert team at Indianapolis Sinus Center can help.
We’ll accurately diagnose and treat the root cause of your chronic sinusitis so you can find the lasting relief you deserve. Do you suspect you have a chronic sinus infection?
Schedule your appointment today at Indianapolis Sinus Center in Greenwood, IN, to breathe better. Isn’t it time to do something about your symptoms and improve your quality of life?