Why Are Your Experiencing Sinus Infection Symptoms?

A sinus is a general term which refers to the hollow space formed by the bends and curves of the bones or other tissues in the body. Paranasal sinuses, or commonly referred to only as “sinuses”, are the four pairs of air-filled hollow spaces in the head; shaped by the cranial bone. As part of the upper respiratory tract, they are connected with the passageways to the nose and are named after the particular cranial bones in which they are situated: the maxillary sinuses (beneath the cheeks); the frontal sinuses (in the forehead region); the ethmoid sinuses (in between the eyes); and the sphenoid sinuses (in the deep center of the skull).

Importance/functions of the Paranasal Sinuses in the body

The importance of paranasal sinuses is not fully known, though some of their possible functions are:

To decrease the skull weight

With the presence of these air-filled spaces, the skull weighs lighter. It also enables the head to float on water and is useful especially when swimming.

To increase the vocal quality and resonance

The transmission of the sound waves produced by the larynx, the voice box of the body, to the hollow sinus spaces prolongs and intensifies the vocal sound.

Warms and moistens the breathed air

Sinuses are covered with a special lining called mucous membranes. Most experts believe that the chief function of the sinuses is to produce mucus that moistens or humidify and warms the air that we are breathing thereby preventing the tissues inside from drying.

Immune System Function

The mucous membrane, which covers the surface of the sinuses, is continuous to the passageway inside the nose and particularly produces mucus. The mucus is important because it traps the dust, pollens, microscopic dust mites and bacteria, and other foreign particles entering the nose via breathed air.

Working with the mucus for the body’s defense are the tiny brush-like structures present on the surface of the mucous membrane. When a foreign particle such as dust or bacteria is inhaled, they are capable of moving, brushing it out and draining it outside from the body.

Insulator function

Sensitive structures such as the dental roots and eyes are insulated from temperature fluctuations by the presence of sinuses.

How Does a Sinus Infection Occur?

The mucous membranes ability to produce mucus and brush off microscopic matters is important in the process of breathing and respiration.

However when there is swelling and inflammation of the mucous membranes of the sinuses due to viral or bacterial infection or presence of abnormal nasal structures such as polyps and tumors, the opening from the sinuses to the nose may be obstructed leading to a buildup of mucus secretions in the obstructed drainage site causing the signs and symptoms of sinusitis. The clearance of the drainage channel basically determines the level of infection.

How will you know that you have Sinusitis?

Symptoms of sinusitis vary among people; are dependent on the age of the person and the particular paranasal sinus affected; and whether the infection is acute or chronic. Most infections in adults involve the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. Two of the most basic symptoms of sinus infection are the following:

Facial Pain and Headache

When an obstruction occurs, the mucus secretion accumulates inside the sinus. This will increase the pressure inside thereby causing a dull and constant pain in the area of the affected sinus. Due to this increased pressure, the pain worsens if the person bends over or if the affected sinus area is pressed.

The location of the pain is clearly dependent on the location of the sinus affected. If the maxillary sinuses are affected, the pressure is on the cheek area and a toothache sensation is felt. In case of a frontal sinus infection, the inflammation and pain is concentrated on the area above the eyes. And if the ethmoid or sphenoid sinuses are inflamed and infected, the pain area is concentrated between or behind the eyes.

Post-nasal Drip (PND)

Post-nasal Drip (PND) is also known as Upper Airway Cough Syndrome (UACS). This happens due to the blocked drainage and the inflammation of the sinus. This causes an increase in the mucus production leading to mucus accumulation in the throat and back of the nose. With this, the patient will have a sensation of something dripping and tickling at the back of the nose and throat. The patient will try to clear the dripping mucus behind the nose by blowing or snorting; and behind the throat by frequent coughing, spitting and throat clearing. He may also try to clear it by swallowing. Later on, the mucus, which carries some bacteria, causes bad breath and inflammation of the tonsils, called tonsillitis.

Other symptoms of sinus infection include:

• Nasal congestion with discharge.
• Nasal obstruction.
• Fever in acute sinusitis.
• Toothache and sensitiveness of tooth may develop in some cases of maxillary sinusitis.