The Most Common Causes of Sinus Infections
Sinus infections can be annoying, stubborn, and downright painful. They often mimic symptoms of the common cold or flu virus. Although contagious colds and flu can often bring about an infection, sinusitis in itself isn’t transmissible from person to person. But if it didn’t come from someone else, where did this painful condition come from? Let’s look at some of the most common causes of sinus infections; when you know the cause, you can more easily brainstorm a solution.
Dry Air
When there isn’t enough humidity in the air, especially as we approach winter, your sinus membranes can dry out and crack. Germs settle easily into those cracks and can cause nasty infections. If dryness in the air is causing you discomfort, get a humidifier and run it several times a day, including when you sleep.
Seasonal or Year-Round Allergies
Allergens in the air can cause inflammation in your nasal passages—and when those passages are swollen and inflamed, mucus can’t drain out of them as easily. People who struggle with allergies, whether seasonal or year-round, are more likely to suffer from chronic sinus infections. Ask your doctor what you can do about chronic sinusitis that results from allergies.
Nasal Polyps
Nasal polyps are excess tissue growths that make their home in your nasal passages. As with any other blockage, polyps can prevent mucus from draining out your sinuses, causing infections. Polyps don’t go away without surgical intervention, but after your surgeon removes them, you’ll breathe more freely all year long.
Poor Sleep Quality
Proper sleep habits keep your immune system alert and fully functional. When you don’t sleep enough, or if you toss and turn, your body becomes more vulnerable to all kinds of illnesses and infections. Do what you can to ensure a regular night’s sleep, whether that means taking melatonin or practicing meditation.
Facial Trauma
We’ve learned now that sinus infections crop up commonly in folks with narrow nasal passages, whether from polyps or allergies. A deviated septum is another common cause of sinus infections, as it restricts airflow to those sinuses. Any trauma to your face that affects the nose can also affect its ability to circulate air and drain mucus.
This cold and flu season, mitigate the spread of germs by practicing good hygiene. If you end up with a sinus infection anyway, it could have come from one of these most common causes of sinus infections! Be proactive about your health to keep yourself breathing freely.
Authored by Inspire Your Journey
