What is Sinus Pain?
Sinuses are air spaces found in the bones of your head and face. There are four pairs of sinuses and they are located in the forehead bone above the eyebrows (frontal), between the eye sockets (ethmoid), below the eyes in the cheekbones (maxillary) as well as in the back part of the eye sockets towards the nasal area (sphenoid). Sinus pain or sinus health usually refers to sinusitis (also known as rhinosinusitis), an inflammation or infection of the sinus area.
Who Is At Risk?
Sinusitis is a common complaint affecting both children and adults. It can affect allergy sufferers or be transmitted from person to person via infection. Fungal infections are also thought to cause sinusitis although it is more common in those suffering from diabetes or other illnesses which are known to cause immune deficiencies. Those with nasal polyps (a small mass of tissue), a deviated septum or prior bouts of sinusitis have a greater chance of developing an infection.
What Causes Sinus Pain?
Sinusitis can be caused simply by an allergy, a cold or more rarely, a toothache. Infections of the sinus area and nasal passages can cause the area to swell affecting the opening of the sinus passages. If the opening is blocked, secretions can collect causing pressure to be felt on the cavity walls. Bacteria can then quickly infect the mucus rich area causing sinusitis.
Sinusitis can be categorised by being either acute or chronic. Acute sinusitis usually lasts for a period of less than 4 weeks and chronic sinusitis continues for a period of more than 3 months.
Acute sinusitis is usually transmitted by a viral infection or cold. Chronic sinusitis can be caused by either a bacterial infection although is also thought to be caused by allergies, dust or pollution.
What are the Symptoms of Sinus Pain?
Symptoms of sinus pain can include a blocked or runny nose, cough, formation of abscesses, fever, sinus pressure or pain, toothache, light-headedness or fatigue and headaches. Symptoms in children may vary including irritability, earache and snoring.
The location of the symptoms is dependent on which area the pain is located. Blockage of the ethmoid sinus causes pain alongside the nose for example. Blockage of the frontal sinus causes an ache or pain located in the forehead.
Acute sinusitis is the more prevalent form and is usually caused by bacterial infections. However a small percentage of adults and children can become susceptible to a second bacterial infection causing acute bacterial sinusitis. Symptoms of both acute and chronic are relatively similar and often hard to differentiate between.
Managing Sinus Pain
To aid in sinus remedy and avoid the recurrence of sinusitis, the following are recommended:
- Avoid air travel
- Drink water
- Get a flu vaccine
- Minimise dairy products in your diet
- Refrain from diving or swimming
- Eliminate alcohol and/or smoking
- Avoid temperature extremes
- Maintain a healthy diet
Over the counter medicine can be used to combat mild bouts of sinusitis and to maintain sinus health. However a doctor is recommended to advise the best form of medication or sinus remedy. One should also be directed to not only see their doctor but also by visiting their local health products retailer to speak to an alternative medicine practitioner.
A doctor will usually check for tenderness and other signs of sinusitis before determining the correct form of medication. The doctor will also check for any abnormalities in the structure of the nasal and sinus areas.
In more serious cases of chronic sinus pain, nasal irrigation may be required to help relieve the accompanying symptoms. This involves washing out the cavity to remove excess mucus from the nose and sinus area.
A doctor may also request a nasal endoscopy to view the structure in more detail or check for polyps. A Computer Tomography (CT) scan may be required if there is a risk of complications or if the patient is experiencing a severe infection.
