On average, 35 million Americans experience having sinusitis or sinus infection at least once a year. As common as this yeast infection is, it shouldn’t be dismissed as a mild illness. Why? Because there’s a possibility that it may be more than just sinusitis and is leading up to a chronic disorder called fibromyalgia.
What Is Sinusitis and What Are Its Symptoms
You’ve most likely had a sinus infection in your life at least once. You know that yucky fluid that comes out of your nose and gives you a hard time breathing? That’s a sinus infection, and alternatively, it’s called sinusitis.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the tissue lining your sinuses and it’s caused by virus, bacterium, or fungus entering your sinus cavities, and thus causing a blockage. People with sinusitis experience the following symptoms:(1)
- facial pain and pressure
- nasal stuffiness, obstruction, and blockage
- nasal discharge that is green or yellow
- pus in the nasal cavity
- loss of smell
- headaches
- a cough and congestion
- fever (mild or severe)
- bad breath
- fatigue
- dental pain
Chronic sinusitis extends behind and around the eyes, and down towards the throat. The severity of it can vary from acute sinusitis, which lasts 2-4 weeks to chronic sinusitis, which can last more than 12 weeks. People who have this sinus infection may not associate it with a chronic disease called fibromyalgia, but we’re here to tell there’s a connection between the two conditions. In fact, sinusitis may hint at the possibility of fibromyalgia being present.
Link Between Sinusitis and Fibromyalgia
Sinusitis and fibromyalgia are closely linked together because sinusitis is a yeast infection and fibromyalgia causes a dysfunction in the nervous system and immune system that can lead to chronic yeast infection. Essentially, fibromyalgia is a disease where balancing the yeast in the body is essential for relieving its symptoms. (2)
To properly treat sinusitis, fibromyalgia has to be ruled out. (3) To do so, you need to be examined by your general practitioner by performing a physical examination such as pressing your sinuses for tenderness and tapping your teeth to see if you have an inflamed paranasal sinus.
Approximately 10 million people in the US and about 3-6% of the world population are affected by fibromyalgia. (4) It’s a chronic disorder that causes widespread pain in the muscles and bones, areas of tenderness, and fatigue. Other symptoms include:
- trouble sleeping or sleeping for long periods of time without feeling rested
- headaches
- depression
- anxiety
- difficulty paying attention
- pain in the lower abdomen
Because the symptoms of this disease are often subjective and are common in other mild illnesses, it’s often misdiagnosed as another disease. In fact, some doctors don’t consider it as a real condition. They worry that people use this undetectable pain as an excuse to seek out prescription pain medication. (5)
But these days the stigma is disappearing as more doctors recognize this disease and are exploring effective ways to treat it. Currently, there’s no known cure for fibromyalgia.
How to Relieve Sinusitis Pain: The Conventional and Natural Treatments for Sinusitis
To treat sinusitis whether it’s connected to fibromyalgia or not, your doctor may recommend using a decongestant or saline nasal washes. Warm, moist air using a vaporizer or an inhale steam may also help clear your nasal passages. Lastly, you can put a warm compress to ease the pain in the nose and sinuses.
You can also include natural remedies to help with your recovery. Drinking at least 8 ounces of water every 2 hours will help flush out the virus from your system. Additionally, chicken broth with vegetables is the traditional remedy to sooth the nasal cavities and respiratory system. Finally, consuming foods high in vitamin C can boost the immune system and expedite recovery.(6)
If you notice that your sinusitis isn’t getting better after 10 to 14 days, talk to your doctor about your concerns. There are other conditions associated with sinus infection such as bronchitis and other complications that may need further examination, so note the symptoms that you’re experiencing and make a solid plan for how to relieve sinusitis pain.
Conclusion
Sinusitis’ prevalence can lead to different kinds of diagnoses. It could be a temporary sinus infection or a symptom of a chronic disease like fibromyalgia and other conditions. With this knowledge, it’s important to pay attention to your body when you have a sinus infection. If you notice that it’s not going away or other irregular symptoms accompany it, visit your doctor. Otherwise, rest well and take care of your body until it has fully recovered.
