Has your cold turned into a sinus infection? Let's find out for sure.

Do you also have a stuffy nose, a cough, and perhaps a sore throat? It feels like a common cold. But don't these symptoms seem to subside after a few days? A question that many people have is, "Can a cold cause sinus problems?" There is actually a big connection between the two. Let's talk about this simply today.

First, let's see, what is the common cold?

Simply put, the common cold is an infection caused by a virus. It mainly affects your nose, throat, sinuses, and airways. Symptoms usually last between 7 and 10 days . However, if you are a smoker, this period may be a little longer.

There are more than 200 types of viruses that can cause the common cold. The most common type is the rhinovirus. This virus spreads easily through the air or through close contact with someone who is sick. For example, when someone with a cold coughs or sneezes, small droplets containing the virus are released into the environment. If you breathe in that air, the virus can enter your nose.

Also, if you touch a surface that has the virus on it and then touch your nose or mouth, you are more likely to get the disease. This spreads easily in crowded places like schools and offices.

Main symptoms of a common cold:

• Nasal congestion or runny nose
• Cough
• Postnasal drip
• Headache
• Body pain
• Fatigue
• Hoarseness of voice
• Fever (this is most common in young children)

These symptoms start at the beginning, gradually increase, reach a peak, and then gradually decrease again. Some medications can help control these symptoms. For example, decongestants can reduce mucus and open up the nasal passages. Painkillers can help control fever and headaches.

So what is a sinus infection?

A sinus infection, or medically known as sinusitis, is an inflammation of the lining of the sinus cavities inside your skull. These sinuses are hollow air sacs connected to the nose. On average, a person has eight sinus cavities, four on each side of the head.

There are several reasons why these sinus cavities can become swollen.

When the tissues in the sinus cavities become inflamed, the mucus that builds up inside can't drain out. Viruses or bacteria start to grow inside the trapped mucus. That's when a sinus infection occurs.

How does a cold turn into a sinus infection?

In fact, rather than saying that a respiratory infection like a cold or influenza (flu) "turns into a sinus infection," it is more accurate to say that those conditions create the environment for a sinus infection to develop .

It's like this:

1. When you get a cold, the virus causes the delicate tissues inside your sinus cavities to swell.

2. This swelling blocks the pathways through which mucus flows out.

3. Then the mucus gets stuck inside. Sometimes, more mucus is produced than normal.

4. This trapped, nutrient-rich mucus is the perfect place for bacteria and viruses to grow.

5. This growth of bacteria causes a bacterial sinus infection.

How do you know if your cold has turned into a sinus infection?

Sometimes the symptoms of the two are so similar that it can be difficult to tell them apart. However, there are two main ways you can get an idea of ​​this.

Pay special attention to these features:

Some symptoms indicate a higher risk of a sinus infection:

• Facial pain: Feeling tightness or pain around your eyes, forehead, and cheek areas.
• Thick mucus: Discharge of thick mucus that is off-white, yellow, or green.
• Pain when bending forward: If the pain in your face increases when you lower your head or bend forward, that is also a major symptom.

How are sinus infections treated?

Most sinus infections (especially those caused by viruses) will clear up on their own over time, but you can try these things to help relieve your symptoms.

Things you can do at home:

• Drink plenty of water. Drinking plenty of fluids helps thin mucus and make it easier to cough up.
• Medications such as painkillers, antihistamines, or nasal sprays can be used as directed by a doctor.
• You can clean your nose by rinsing it with saline water or using a saline spray.
• Steaming or taking a hot bath can loosen mucus and make breathing easier.

If these things don't help, your doctor may prescribe a different nasal spray or decongestant. Only if your doctor is sure that your infection is caused by bacteria will he prescribe antibiotics.

When should I see a doctor?

Be sure to see a doctor in these cases:

• If your symptoms have not improved after 10 days .
• If you have pain in the face or around the eyes, along with thick yellow/green mucus .
• If you have a high fever .
• If you have severe symptoms that cannot be controlled with regular medications.
• If your sinus infection lasts longer than 12 weeks (chronic sinusitis) or occurs frequently, your doctor should look for an underlying cause. This could be an allergy or another problem, such as a polyp in the nose.

Cold, sinus, sinusitis, nasal congestion, headache, phlegm, respiratory infections