Am I Just Dealing With a Cold, or Do I Have a Sinus Infection?
A Sinus Infection, medically known as sinusitis, occurs when the air-filled cavities (sinuses) around your nasal passages become inflamed and swollen. While it often begins with symptoms similar to a common cold or a flare-up of seasonal allergies, a sinus infection typically lasts longer and includes distinct indicators caused by fluid buildup and pressure.
The primary difference lies in persistence and severity. Key symptoms of sinusitis usually endure for longer than a typical cold (often exceeding ten days) and include persistent, often severe, nasal congestion and discharge that may become thick and discolored (yellow or green). Crucially, you will experience pain, tenderness, or intense pressure around the eyes, cheeks, forehead, and nose due to the inflamed tissues trapping fluid within the sinus cavities.
Other common and frustrating signs often accompany this pressure, such as a reduced or completely lost sense of smell and taste, headache, and a persistent sore throat or cough, particularly one that is worse at night or upon waking due to post-nasal drip. You will also likely feel a significant amount of overall fatigue. If your symptoms are severe, include a high fever, worsen after an initial period of improvement, or persist stubbornly for more than ten days, it's essential to consult a healthcare provider.
