Sinus infections can be viral or bacterial. “Either way, it's best to stay home,” Wigmore says. Viral sinus infections are often contagious. If you have had symptoms longer than one week, or if you have severe facial pain, teeth/jaw pain, or fever, you may have a bacterial infection and should consult your doctor.
While it may be difficult to perform strenuous exercise while you're suffering from chronic sinus infections, light physical activity can be good for you. It can boost the body's immune system to boost white blood cell production to help fight your illness. It can release endorphins, which can make you feel better.
Clogged nasal passages can cause you to become dizzy, which can affect your coordination and sense of balance. For these reasons, it's recommended that you don't lift weights if you have a sinus infection. You should also avoid exercise or sports if you have chest pressure with a sinus infection.
Most people get better on their own after seven to 10 days. Antibiotics are only helpful for bacterial infections. Most sinusitis is due to viruses or other causes that are not cured by antibiotics. Other treatment options include ways to manage your symptoms.
An infection of the sinus cavity close to the brain can be life threatening, if not treated. In rare cases, it can spread to the brain. Normal sinuses are lined with a thin layer of mucus that traps dust, germs and other particles in the air.
Unilateral facial pain / swelling. Persistent bleeding/crusting with unilateral nasal obstruction. Persistent clear watery discharge (CSF leak - presents like a dripping tap from tip of nose) Persistent bulging eye associated with partial or total loss of vision, painful eye movements or double vision.
As your body works hard to fight off the sinus infection, you'll feel more tired than usual. Fatigue can be also be caused by head pain, a lack of adequate sleep, and difficulty breathing due to sinusitis.
Instead, your doctor looks largely at symptom duration to determine the source of your infection. A viral sinus infection will usually start to improve after five to seven days. A bacterial sinus infection will often persist for seven to 10 days or longer, and may actually worsen after seven days.
Don't breathe irritating materials or smoke:avoid breathing in harmful materials or fumes when you have a sinus infection. You should not smoke cigarettes or cigars. And, you should avoid high pollution areas. Try to breathe in clean, fresh air.
Seasonal allergies, cologne, perfume, smoke, and other airborne particulates can mess with your sinuses, especially when suffering from a sinus infection. Unfortunately, other than staying in a hermetically sealed room, there's not much you can do about some of these.
While sinusitis is never pleasant, its symptoms can be worse at night for several reasons. For starters, allergies tend to be worse at night in general. And then there's the fact that when you lie down, fluids no longer drain as they do when you're standing or sitting. This can result in increased discomfort.
Lack of sleep compromises your immune system
Chronic sleep deprivation prevents your immune system from producing enough infection-fighting cytokines. These substances combat bacteria and viruses, so when you don't get enough sleep, you may be sick more often or it may take you longer to recover from an illness.
Yoga and other light exercises such as walking (a short distance) and pilates are perhaps the best means to exercise for sinus relief. As described above, yoga can help your blood vessels contract and reduce both congestion and sinus pressure.
Most people with sinusitis will feel better within two or three weeks and can look after themselves at home. You can help relieve your symptoms by: taking over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Typically, antibiotics are needed when: Sinus infection symptoms last over a week. Symptoms worsen after starting to get better. Sinusitis symptoms are severe (high fever, skin infection or rash, extreme pain or tenderness around the eyes or nose)
Fatigue: Sinusitis patients typically feel tired and achy. Getting plenty of rest and drinking lots of fluids can help to combat this symptom and get you on the road to recovery more quickly.
Acute sinusitis comes on suddenly, usually by a virus or bacteria. Acute sinus infections caused by viruses (like the ones behind colds) are the most common. Fortunately, most of these infections go away on their own without any special treatment.
Antibiotics and sinus infections
This may give you the idea that you need antibiotics, but most clear up without them. Antibiotics have no effect on viruses and aren't recommended within the first week of developing a cold. About 70% of sinus infections go away within two weeks without antibiotics.
The main symptoms of sinusitis are pain and a feeling of pressure in your face. You may also get a blocked or stuffy nose, green or yellow mucus coming from your nose, a raised temperature, a cough and a general feeling of being unwell.