If you suspect you have a sinus infection in Houston, Houston Sinus Surgery specialists can help you understand better about your symptoms. Sinus infection is one of the leading reasons you might need sinus surgery, and your doctor should confirm your symptoms to ensure you are a good candidate. The condition mainly causes breathing complications and pain that substantially lowers the quality of your life. Though your provider might recommend some conservative treatments to relieve some of your symptoms, you might only get permanent relief through surgery. Here are some common sinus infection symptoms you should know.
Inflammation
The main sign that can indicate you have a sinus infection is the inflammation of the sinuses. This inflammation will help you differentiate it from other colds. You will experience severe pressure manifesting like a throbbing, dull pain on your eyes or the cavities behind your cheeks, forehead, and nasal bones. Understand that most sinus infection symptoms are similar to some allergic reactions and colds, and experiencing this condition increases your chances of developing the painful complication.
Nasal Passage Congestion
If you feel like your head is heavy, it could be due to mucus congestion in your sinus pathways. The congestion may make it difficult to drain the mucus causing more pressure to the nerves in your face. Your provider can recommend some conservative treatments like over-the-counter medications and prescribed antibiotics to slightly improve any symptoms associated with congestion. Symptoms include cough, postnasal drip, runny nose, and sinus pain.
Dizziness
It makes sense when you experience imbalance when you stand up fast from a seated position or tip your head forward. This unsteady feeling can be due to the extreme congestion and inflammation caused to your sinus membrane when the sinus is infected. Since sinus infection is defined as inflamed sinuses, the air-filled cavities around your eyes, nose, and cheeks become blocked and painfully swollen due to congestion. Since it is difficult for the sinuses to drain, it might affect your coordination and balance, causing dizziness.
Postnasal Drip
Postnasal drip occurs when the nasal mucosa expels excessively accumulated nasal mucosa. But sometimes, the mucus can accumulate and drain down the throat from your nose, especially if the sinuses are inflamed. When healthy, the mucus will exit through tiny openings on your nose or through blowing your nose and sneezing. But with a sinus infection, mucus has no choice but to drain back your throat since the sinuses are blocked, which is how postnasal drip begins.
Decreased Sense of Smell
You can also experience decreased smell with a sinus infection due to difficulty breathing through the nose due to congestion and inflammation in the sinuses. Most smelling disorders are associated with blockage of sinuses, and sinusitis is linked to swelling, congestion, and causing extreme pressure on the sinuses. Understand that mucus is responsible for dispersing scents but can impair the smell response when in excess.
Yellow Mucus
It might feel strange to inspect your mucus, but it is crucial to understand the nature of your condition. Medical experts say that yellow or green mucus is a clear indication that you might have an infection. It is mainly produced when your white blood cells try to eliminate the infection from your body. Your mucus can also feel thicker than normal.
Reach out to Houston Surgery Specialist if you experience sinusitis-related symptoms. Your provider will evaluate the most suitable treatment option to help you, including surgery. Watch out for the symptoms mentioned earlier, as they indicate you have a sinus infection.
