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Home Remedies What is a sinus infection?

What is a Sinus Infection and How to Deal with It?

It is one of the most common conditions that afflict people throughout their lives. It will be useful to understand the sinuses before trying to learn about what is a sinus infection?

There are four major pairs of hollow air-filled-cavities called paranasal sinuses (sinuses) in the human skull.  These are connected to the space between the nostrils and the nasal passage. They are Frontal sinuses in the forehead, Maxillary sinuses behind the cheek bones, Ethmoid sinuses between the eyes and Sphenoid sinuses (behind the eyes).

The air gets into the sinuses through small openings in the bones that connect the nasal passageways. If any of these openings get blocked, air can't properly pass into the sinuses. At the same time the mucous produced by the cells lining of the sinuses can't drain out.

Now Let Us Understand What is a Sinus Infection?

The sinuses defend against foreign viruses and bacteria. If the normal defenses are disrupted, bacteria which are normally present in the nasal passages can enter sinuses. Our body’s natural defense mechanism in the nose fights the invasion by forming extra mucus. If this extra mucus can’t be drained off effectively then it will block the natural ventilation though sinuses.  Inside the sinuses the bacteria and virus build up and may stick to the lining cells and cause an infection. That is why it called sinus infection.

It commonly occurs when environmental pollens irritate the nasal passages. It can also result from chemicals and other irritants. Interestingly use and/or abuse of over-the-counter nasal sprays can also result in sinus infection.

So, it is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. It can cause headaches or pressure in the eyes, nose, and cheeks or on one side of the head. You can also have cough, fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick secretions.

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