What happens to your Sinuses during Fall?

The cases of sinusitis increase during the fall season when the air is dry and cool and when hay fever is prevalent. Allergy symptoms become more common and people complain of sinus headaches, sinus infections and post nasal drip.

Many people attribute these symptoms to a cold or flu that comes ahead of winter when they may actually have a sinus infection or allergies.

What is a Sinus Infection?

A sinus infection is the swelling and irritation of the sinus cavities caused by infections (bacteria invading the sinuses).

What are Allergies?

When you are allergic to something your immune system reacts abnormally and mistakes the substance to be harmful to your body. To protect your body, your immune system will produce IgE antibodies to the allergen. The IgE then cause your body to produce histamine and other chemicals that are released into your bloodstream. The histamine is what causes your body to produce those allergy symptoms.

Symptoms of Sinusitis and Allergies

Some of the symptoms of sinusitis include, but not limited to:

• A runny nose
• Congested feeling
• Bad breath
• Stuffiness
• Loss of smell and taste
• Swollen eye lids
• Headaches
• Pain in the sinus regions (nose, forehead, jaw, cheeks, eyes)
• Coughing
• Weak and tired feeling
• Post nasal drip
• Low grade fever
• Ear pain or pressure with sinus problems
• A blocked nose

Some of the symptoms of an allergy include, but not limited to:

• Itchy nose
• Congestion
• A runny nose
• Itchy watery eyes
• Post nasal drip
• Itchy and/or inflamed skin in affected areas
• Rash or hives

Many of these symptoms are very common in autumn, but should not be ignored. If sinus infections and allergies are left untreated or are not treated correctly (in cases when it is treated like a cold or flu) then further complications can arise that affects the nose, lungs, ears, eyes and jaw. Conditions such as nasal polyps, chronic sinusitis, asthma, antritis and even ear infections can occur. These conditions can then become chronic and last for months or even years at a time.

Chronic conditions make a person weak and fatigued all the time causing debilitating effects. Remember if you have a number of these symptoms and your usual cold and flu medication is not working you may have a sinus infection or even an allergy. If this is the case, see your doctor today.