by Sherry Asbury

Created on: March 22, 2007   Last Updated: April 18, 2007

It's late at night and your are fast asleep when a cough erupts from your throat, bringing you awake. Although you really have no symptoms of a cold, this cough worsens and may become a hacking that continues until you blow your nose or sip water. A cough such as this usually means your sinuses are dripping into the back of your throat.

Do you have a cold? In many cases what you may actually have is sinusitis. Sinuses are spread throughout the human face. There are bladder-like sinuses over the eyes called the frontal sinuses. These pockets, when inflamed, can cause headache, tiredness and fever. Mucous that is trapped in the sinuses can grow bacteria and cause infection.

The sphenoid sinuses are in the temple area. Drainage from them can block the ears and cause great pain. Between the nose and the eye are the ethnoid sinuses. The sinuses under the eyes are called the maxillary sinuses. Therefore several areas are vulnerable to various kinds of symptoms.

Though sinusitis can occur spontaneously, the infection is usually the result of having had a cold. Warm, moist areas breed bacteria well. People who suffer from a compromised immune system are prone to the malady, as well as people with allergies and asthma.

People often mistake their symptoms for a cold and just wait for it to go away. You may have a runny nose, weepy eyes and find it difficult to bend over without feeling dizzy or lightheaded. It may be "just your sinuses", but it is a painful and debilitating condition that can affect your life and daily routines.

If you have these symptoms: runny nose, fever, headache, chills, tiredness, you may want to see your doctor. While there is no cure for the common cold, there is treatment for sinusitis that can ease your suffering. Products such as Beconase and benedryl are often prescribed. Without treatment sinusitis can drag on for weeks; sub-sinusitis, the more serious form, can last for months, or even become chronic.

You will most likely suffer a tired, worn-out feeling. The body is so busy trying to manufacture antibodies to destroy the bacteria that it has little resources left for making you feel chipper and bright. The fevers usually occur sporadically. You may find they come and go more than one time in a single day. Your doctor may suggest an over-the-counter analgesic for this and headache pain.

As with any malady, get plenty of rest. Don't push yourself beyond your limits, which can cause a setback. Drink fluids beyond your normal eight glasses of water a day. Green tea is especially soothing, as well as mint. The more you drink, the more fluid resources your body has for flushing allergens and bacteria out of your sinuses.

Pay attention to your body. It knows when it doesn't feel right. Take care of yourself and if you feel sinusitis has held on longer than it should, consult your doctor. Otherwise months could drag by with you feeling only half as good as you usually feel.

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