Common throughout the United States and affecting over three million people a year, sinus infection or sinusitis is an inflammation or infection of the sinuses.
If you have a cold that lasts longer than 10 days or begins to worsen after it was getting better, it is likely that you have sinusitis.
Find out more about sinusitis and how the Chiropractors at AICA Conyers can help.
Symptoms of Sinusitis
The most recognizable sign of sinus infection is pain in the nose, face, sinuses, forehead, behind the eyes or ear.
Other signs and symptoms include congestion, yellow-green nasal discharge, headache, difficulty sleeping, cough, throat soreness or irritation, fever and fatigue.
Causes of Sinusitis
Your sinuses provide an important function; the hollow cavities in your cheekbones, around your eyes and behind your nose contain mucus that moistens, warms and filters the air you breathe. An infection is typically caused by something that blocks the mucus from draining.
Usually, a sinus infection will start as a cold and then a virus or bacteria infects the sinuses. Some good rules of thumb for figuring out if your infection is viral or bacterial relate to the symptoms and duration.
If you have been sick for less than 10 days and are not getting worse, it’s likely viral. If you have not improved at all within 10 days, or have begun to get worse after it was getting better, it is likely bacterial.
The Chiropractic Connection: Preventing Illness
In the US, preventative guidelines are often unheeded. Building a routine of healthcare around maintaining wellness and preventing illness versus treatment after-the-fact is an important part of a wellness lifestyle.
Chiropractic therapy focuses treating subluxations in order to promote a perfectly functioning nervous system. Subluxations, a misalignment of one or more spinal vertebrae that create irritation or stress on nearby nerves, can hinder the optimal function of the nervous system.