Is Nausea A Symptom Of Sinus Infection

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Recognizing common signs of a sinus infection can be helpful, but there is no substitute for getting a proper diagnosis and treatment from trusted specialists. At the Center for Allergy and Asthma of Georgia, our Board Certified specialists have extensive experience treating patients withsinus issues and a range of other conditions. You can learn more about finding the best treatment for you by booking an appointment online orcontacting us today. We serve the Atlanta metro area and beyond from multiple office locations.

Children And Sinus Infections

Unfortunately, there is no age minimum for sinus infections, and they are more difficult to detect and diagnose in children. As with adult cases, be suspicious if a runny nose or a cough lasts more than a couple of days, if a child seems lethargic, stops eating or drinking, sleeps restlessly or complains of frequent headaches.

Teach your children the benefits of proper hygiene and be prudent during flu and cold season and watchful when the pollen count or pollution index are high. As with other respiratory problems, the sinuses can be affected by environmental factors, by smoke and sometimes by strong odors.

Armed with a normal measure of knowledge and concern, you should feel confident in your ability to deal with the signs and symptoms of sinus infections, and to find effective advice and treatment if you suspect that’s what ails you or your family.

Contact Houston ENT today at 649-7000 if you feel you or a loved one is suffering from a sinus infection!

How Coughing And Sinus Infections Are Related To Each Other

When you experience excess mucus draining into your throat, this is actually known as post nasal drip, and it is just one of the many cold symptoms also associated with chronic sinus infections. Post nasal drip doesnt just cause coughing, though. It can also bring about a sore throat, a hoarse voice, nausea, and even bad breath.

But why exactly does post nasal drip during a sinus infection lead to coughing? Well, imagine mucus running down your throat. Is your throat irritated? Probably. Do you feel a tickling sensation? Most likely. All of these sensations can trigger a reaction that reaction is coughing.

Unfortunately, all the nose blowing and coughing that youll continue to do as a result of the mucus drainage will only lead to more mucus and more irritation. This is why its important to understand the best way to stop a sinus infection and relieve post nasal drip.

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Sore Throat And Hoarse Voice

Postnasal drip can leave you with a raw and aching throat. Although it may start as an annoying tickle, it can get worse.

If your infection lasts for a few weeks or more, mucus can irritate and inflame your throat as it drips, resulting in a painful sore throat and hoarse voice. Frequent coughing and throat clearing can make a hoarse voice worse.

Favorite Resources For Finding A Specialist

Through research, education, and advocacy, the American Rhinologic Society is devoted to serving patients with nose, sinus, and skull base disorders. Their website provides a valuable search tool to find a doctor, as well as links to other medical societies and resources that are useful for patients.

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Preventing A Sinus Infection

To prevent sinus infections altogether, borrow strategies from your cold-prevention playbook. Most notably, practicing hand hygiene is the easiest way to prevent a sinus infection, Iloreta says. Sinus infections come from chronic allergies, or chronic inflammation in the nose, so by treating your allergies taking antihistamines, avoiding pollen exposure youll also help prevent subsequent sinus infections.

Kimberly Goad is a New Yorkbased journalist who has covered health for some of the nations top consumer publications. Her work has appeared in Womens Health, Mens Health and Readers Digest.

More on Health

Can Sinus Infection Cause Nausea

Sinus infections are very common and everyone may have them. However, symptoms vary from person to person. It depends on the cause of the infection, whether it’s bacterial, fungal, or viral. You can also develop a sinus infection from allergies. It also depends on the makeup of your body. Your sinuses are small cavities in the bones of your face. They contain air, but blockage can cause an infection. This article will help you understand if nausea is one of the many symptoms of a sinus infection and how to deal with it.

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Is My Sinus Infection Making Me Tired

You feel worn-out, no matter how much sleep you get. Youre sluggish throughout the day. On top of that, every little thing seems to bug you. So whats going on? In some cases surprisingly it might be sinus infection fatigue.

Sinus infections, or sinusitis, have long been associated with chronic fatigue syndrome, a health condition in which no amount of sleep seems to keep you your normal, alert self.

Sometimes, the fatigue that comes with a sinus infection can be extreme, and other sinusitis symptoms can lead to trouble sleeping, making the situation worse.

If you know youre dealing with a sinus infection or if you just cant shake that tired feeling get the advice of a doctor. There are certain home remedies, medicines and surgical options that could offer help.

In the meantime, if youre trying to get some much-needed shuteye while dealing with a sinus infection, here are some tips.

• Sleep on your back, propped up with a few pillows. Elevating your head and neck can help your sinuses drain easier.
• Use a humidifier. Dry air can worsen sinusitis symptoms, so keep those moisture levels up.
• Try herbal teas. Caffeine-free teas like chamomile, eucalyptus and lavender can soothe you and your sinuses. Plus, inhaling a bit of steam from your cup can help loosen your nasal passages.
• Resist technology. It can be tempting to jump on your phone, tablet or laptop when your symptoms are preventing you from sleeping, but the light can disrupt your system and keep you up longer.

How Is Sinus Infection Diagnosed

Diagnosis depends on symptoms and requires an examination of the throat, nose and sinuses. Your allergist will look for:

• Redness
• Discolored nasal discharge
• Bad Breath

If your sinus infection lasts longer than eight weeks, or if standard antibiotic treatment is not working, a sinus CT scan may help your allergist diagnose the problem. Your allergist may examine your nose or sinus openings. The exam uses a long, thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and a light at one end that is inserted through the nose. It is not painful. Your allergist may give you a light anesthetic nasal spray to make you more comfortable.

Mucus cultures: If your sinus infection is chronic or has not improved after several rounds of antibiotics, a mucus culture may help to determine what is causing the infection. Most mucus samples are taken from the nose. However, it is sometimes necessary to get mucus directly from the sinuses.

Knowing what kind of bacteria is causing the infection can lead to more effective antibiotic therapy. A fungus could also cause your sinus infection. Confirming the presence of fungus is important. Fungal sinus infection needs to be treated with antifungal agents, rather than antibiotics. In addition, some forms of fungal sinus infection allergic fungal sinus infection, for example do not respond to antifungal agents and often require the use of oral steroids.

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Throat Irritation And Cough

As discharge from your sinuses drains down the back of your throat, it can cause irritation, especially over a long period of time. This can lead to a persistent and annoying cough, which can be worse when lying down to sleep or first thing in the morning after getting up from bed.

It can also make sleeping difficult. Sleeping upright or with your head elevated can help reduce the frequency and intensity of your coughing.

Treatments From Your Gp

See your GP if your symptoms are severe, don’t start to improve within 7 to 10 days, or are getting worse. They may recommend additional treatment with corticosteroid drops or sprays, or antibiotics.

If these treatments don’t help, you GP may refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist for an assessment and to discuss whether surgery is a suitable option.

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Sinus Infection Signs And Symptoms You Need To Know

Sinus infection symptoms overlap so much with allergy, cold, and flu symptoms that it can be hard to differentiate between them all. A runny and itchy nose, congestion, fatigue, difficulty sleeping, fever, and phlegm are pretty standard across the board. But there are some unique symptoms that can help you determine if youve got a sinus infectiona bacterial infection that usually needs to be treated with antibiotics.

A sinus infection usually starts as a virus, like the cold or flu. The virus then makes your mucous so thick that it doesnt cycle through your system like it normally would. Bacteria then overgrows in that mucous. Thats how a virus turns into a bacterial infection, Erich Voigt, M.D., director of the division of general otolaryngology at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells SELF.

Since the initial virus wont respond to antibiotics, doctors want to make sure youre actually experiencing a bacterial infection before they give you meds. Theyll usually want to confirm your symptoms have lasted long enough and may also take a culture of your sinus mucous to check for bacteria.

So how can you tell when youve got a sinus infection? Here are the sinus infection symptoms to look out for.

Your symptoms will also become more sinus-focused when a sinus infection develops. The congestion and stuffiness may get worse, and mucous coming out of the nose may be more productive and discolored, Voigt says.

Those symptoms include these, from the Mayo Clinic:

How Long Do Symptoms Last

Typically, a sinus infection clears up within 2 to 3 weeks. COVID-19 lasts for about a week or two depending on its severity and your overall health.

A 2020 study surveyed 270 outpatients with COVID-19. Among them, 175 people reported returning to their usual level of health about 7 days after a positive COVID-19 test.

Some symptoms like cough and loss of smell or taste may linger temporarily after COVID-19. Some people may experience long-haul COVID-19, a group of symptoms that persist in the weeks and months following an infection.

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Home Remedies For Sinus Pressure And Nausea

Sinus pressure and nausea are common symptoms of a wide variety of illnesses and often occur together. Sinuses are moist air spaces in the skull, behind the face. The spaces may fill with fluid, causing pressure behind the eyes, cheekbones and nose. Sinus pressure may be due to allergies, a cold or flu, sinus congestion or infection. Nausea may be the direct result of postnasal drip, a common side effect of sinus congestion. Nausea may also be caused by a condition unrelated to sinus pressure, such as medications or a virus.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Whats The Main Difference Between Sinus Infection And Covid

The main difference between COVID and a sinus infection is what causes them. A sinus infection is caused by inflammation of the sinuses and often follows a cold or allergy flare-up. COVID-19 is only caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit our coronavirus news page.

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Causes Of Sinus Infection Vertigo Or Dizziness

As listed above, some people may experience vertigo or dizziness with a sinus infection. Vertigo describes a severe type of dizziness that feels like your body spins or moves while standing still. This separates it from lightheadedness, which makes you feel faint. Lightheadedness goes away shortly after lying down. However, dizziness or vertigo persists even after you recline. Discover how your sinus problem could cause this issue and what you need to do about it.

When To Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have:

• Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
• Symptoms that get worse after initially improving.
• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement.
• Fever longer than 3-4 days.

You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.

This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.

Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:

• Seasonal allergies
• Colds

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Untreated Sinus Infection Risks

Sinus infections often start to improve on their own after about 10 days. If your symptoms last longer without improving or if they worsen, a doctor may need to treat the underlying cause of the infection.

If a sinus infection affects a sinus cavity close to the brain, it can spread to the brain if left untreated. Though rare, an infection can also pass into the eye socket and cause vision changes or blindness. These types of infections are more common in kids.

While uncommon, a serious fungal sinus infection left untreated may pass into the bones.

Make an appointment with a doctor if you have severe symptoms, or if the following symptoms last longer than 10 days or keep coming back:

• fever
• congestion
• facial pain

Because the cause of your sinus infection can affect your treatment options, its important to see a doctor for a diagnosis. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if youre looking for a doctor.

If you believe you have chronic or recurring sinusitis, consider asking for a referral to an otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat specialist. You may need imaging and other tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.

An ENT specialist can take a culture of nose drainage to better understand the cause of an infection. The ENT specialist can also examine the sinuses more closely and look for any problem in the structure of the nasal passages that could lead to chronic sinus problems.

• earaches

Can A Sinus Infection Cause Dizziness

Yes. One possible side effect of sinus infections is a feeling of dizziness. It might be hard to see how an infection in the sinuses has any effect on your sense of equilibrium and balance. So its first important to explain the interconnection of your ears and nose. Your ears actually connect to your nasal passageways. So issues that affect the nose may have an effect on the ears, and vice versa .

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How Severe Are The Symptoms

Most sinus infections go away on their own without severe symptoms or complications. If a sinus infection is caused by bacteria, you may need antibiotics.

Many cases of COVID-19 may be mild or moderate. The World Health Organization estimates that

Heres what to do next whether you think that you have a sinus infection or COVID-19.

Remedies And Treatments For Chest Congestion

The common cold and chest congestion are the result of a virus. The only cure for this kind of virus involves resting and waiting for the virus to clear. Antibiotics are only helpful in treating diseases like pneumonia and whooping cough. However, some home remedies and treatments can soothe your aching chest and relieve your symptoms.

Doctors suggest these home remedies for chest congestion:

• Drink plenty of clear fluids to keep your body hydrated and thin the mucus inside your throat and lungs.
• Place a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier in the room to soothe any lung irritation.
• Sleep with your head propped up on several pillows to make breathing easier and prevent mucus from accumulating in your chest overnight.
• Take a hot shower and breathe in the steam to ease congestion.
• Try an over-the-counter pain reliever like ibuprofen or acetaminophen to ease body aches and reduce fever.
• Use saline drops or nasal spray to alleviate congestion.
• Use lozenges to keep your throat moist.
• Use bronchodilators, which relax the muscles in your lungs and widen your bronchi to make breathing easier. Bronchodilators are often used to treat long-term conditions where your airways become inflamed and narrow, such as asthma.

Symptoms usually start to go away within seven days to two weeks if you donât have an underlying condition like chronic pulmonary disease. Medicines like may also loosen mucus and ease other symptoms.

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How Is Each Condition Diagnosed

A common cold can usually be diagnosed with a standard physical examination and a review of symptoms. Your doctor may perform a rhinoscopy if they suspect a sinus infection.

During a rhinoscopy, your doctor will insert an endoscope gently into your nose and sinus cavity so they can look at the lining of your sinuses. An endoscope is a thin tube that has a light at one end and either has a camera or an eyepiece to look through.

If your doctor thinks an allergy is causing your sinus inflammation, they may recommend an allergy skin test to help identify the allergen causing your symptoms.

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Does A Sinus Infection Cause Dizziness

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Sinus infections are well known for resulting in pain or uncomfortableness, as well as trouble breathing properly. But if you are experiencing feelings of dizziness during a sinus infection, youre probably wondering if it could be caused by your sinus infection or whether its a completely different issue. In this blog well go over whether sinus infections can cause dizziness, and why its so.

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