As rainfall increases and the weather gets colder, the incidence of several respiratory infections and different types of influenza will be on the rise. Naturally, increased respiratory tract infections are associated with cold temperature and low humidity.
According to the National Health Service, England, a common type of respiratory infection is sinusitis, which is very common during the cold weather. It comes with a headache. Sinusitis is a common condition in which the lining of the sinuses becomes inflamed. It’s usually caused by a viral infection and often improves within two or three weeks.
The sinuses are small, air-filled cavities behind your cheekbones and forehead. The mucus produced by your sinuses usually drains into your nose through small channels. In sinusitis, these channels become blocked because the sinus linings are inflamed (swollen).
An ENT specialist at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile Ife, Dr. Adekunle Adeyemo, says sinus headaches cause a dull, deep, throbbing pain in the front of your head and face.
“Bending down or leaning over usually makes the pain worse, as does cold and damp weather. Sinus headaches often begin first thing in the morning, and may be better by afternoon,“ he says.
Adeyemo says someone experiencing sinus headache finds it difficult to touch his face as the pain is worse with sudden movement of the head and bending forward, especially in the morning because mucus collects and drains through the night.
What can worsen the pain is sudden temperature changes, like going out into the cold from a warm room and the headache often starts when you have a bad cold or just after a congested or runny nose.
Other symptoms that may be related to sinus inflammation (sinusitis) are yellow or green discharge from your nose, red and swollen nasal passages (nasal congestion), mild-to-moderate fever that is always accompanied by fatigue and a sense of not generally feeling well.
He adds that the people who have a high risk of having sinus infection are people with history of allergies, especially hay fever, or asthma, nasal polyps or swellings in the nasal passage, nasal bone spurs, nasal or facial tumor, deviated septum, or cleft palate. Also climbing or flying to high altitudes, and frequent swimming or diving can make you susceptible to it
In the case of chronic sinusitis, it is usually detected through imaging tests, including an x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or through an allergy test by an ENT specialist, who may perform a nasal endoscopy, using a fiber optic scope to look at your sinuses.
“While some chronic sinusitis respond to medication, some do not. So, your doctor may recommend endoscopic sinus surgery, which may be done to remove polyps or bone spurs. Some doctors also recommend enlarging the sinus opening. A newer procedure called balloon rhinoplasty involves inserting a balloon inside the sinus cavity and then inflating it. It is done by an ENT specialist,” Adeyemo says.
He notes that several supplements may help to prevent or treat sinus headaches, either by reducing sinus inflammation, or by helping to ward off colds. Such supplements are bromelain, quercetin and probiotics. But because supplements may have side effects, or interact with medications, you should take them only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care specialist.
“It is very important to note that sinus congestion often acts up during pregnancy. There are many medications that pregnant and breastfeeding women should not use. Check with your doctor before using any supplements if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.” he says.
