Sinus Allergies: How Do They Differ from Sinus Infections?
Every year about 37 million
Americans suffer from a sinus infection, but some of them don’t
know it. Sometimes when allergy season arrives, people begin to
have symptoms of sinus allergies when what they suffer from could
in fact be a sinus infection. Although similar in how they feel,
sinus allergies and sinus infections are quite different.
Firstly, people who are suffering from sinus allergies will sneeze
and have a runny nose when they are close to the source of their
allergy, like a cat or tree. If the person simply has a cold, symptoms
will decrease in about a week. But, if a person has a bacterial
infection and not sinus allergies, symptoms could last longer. If
a person has a sinus infection, the mucus hardens and becomes painful.
A good way to tell that your sinus allergies are something more
is if your sinus cavity is congested and you feel pressure around
your eyes, forehead and cheeks. If these symptoms last longer than
three months, the sinus infection has become chronic. A sinus infection
is commonly caused by a cold but people with sinus allergies can
also easily get a sinus infection. According to a survey supported
by Bayer Corporation, 39 percent of consumers said their sinus infections
began as sinus allergies.
These are a few ways to tell the difference between sinus allergies
and sinus infections:
Sinus Allergies:
Sneezing
Stuffy or runny nose
Itchy watery eyes
Burning around the eyes and nose
Sinus Infection Symptoms:
Fever
Pressure along the upper teeth
Pressure along the upper cheeks, bridge of
the nose, eyes and forehead
Thick yellow, green or grayish mucous
Symptoms last up to 14 days
If you suspect you’re suffering from
a sinus infection and not sinus allergies, consult your doctor.
