Sometimes, when you struggle with sinusitis, you can start to get dizzy and you're not exactly sure why.
There is a connection and sinusitis dizziness is sometimes a thing to watch out for.
However, with our facts on this possibly debilitating symptom, you should be more prepared and better equipped to handle it should the situation arise.
Sinusitis Sinusitis is the inflammation or infection of the sinuses.
These sinuses are actually air filled pockets in your skull.
They are lined with epithelial tissues that serve many functions including humidifying and filtering out unwanted materials in the air.
When the lining becomes irritated, it can start to swell.
The passages that the body uses to drain the mucus from the sinuses can become clogged due to the swelling.
If the mucus is not drained properly, it becomes stagnant and starts to become a favorable medium for bacterial growth.
Dizziness Dizziness is a state of imbalance that can become debilitating if it is severe enough.
It can be caused by problems with the messages the ear and the eyes and skin are sending to the brain.
One of the major organs we use to detect balance is the ear.
In it are fluid filled organs that the brain uses like a gimbal, telling it which way is up, down, left, or right.
When the signal from the ear does not correspond to the signal from the eyes or body, your brain starts to get confused and you get the feeling of dizziness.
The Connection Sinusitis is almost always harmless.
Most cases will self limit and go away without medical intervention.
However, there are times when the infections or bacterial growth can spread to other nearby organs.
The ears are one of the closer neighbors of the sinuses.
If the inner ear gets infected or inflamed, the balance sensing organs can be affected.
This can lead to miscommunications between the eyes, body, and ears, sending you into a dizzying condition.
Labyrinthitis is one condition that can be related to upper respiratory tract infections like sinusitis.
This inner ear problem can lead to vertigo and other disorienting symptoms.
Treatment Ask your doctor about your symptoms.
You can get a prescription for the vertigo to help you deal with those symptoms.
However, the best solution to this problem is to get to the sinus problem quickly.
Don't give them a chance to spread to other organs.
The Mayo Clinic suggests that there are four objectives in treating repeated bouts of sinus problems: to minimize the inflammation, help the body drain the stagnant mucus, find the cause of the problem, and minimize the number of flare ups.
Finding the cause of the problem may be one of the most important yet often overlooked aspects of treatment in these cases.
It may come as a shock to some, but according to the Mayo Clinic, bacteria may not be the usual suspect in these cases.
Antibiotics, the drugs used for bacterial infections, may not be required in both the acute or chronic cases, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Talk to your doctor about this and try to discuss possible ways to get to the cause of your problem.
Other common causes include allergies, viral infections, fungal infections, and nasal abnormalities.
If your doctor determines that you still need antibiotics, remember to take the full course! Often, once people start to feel better, they stop taking the prescribed meds.
If the bacterial growth causing your problem is not completely treated, it can come back more resistant to the medications, making treatment more difficult.
Allergies and fungal infections can be treated with other procedures.
For allergies, immunotherapy may be an option.
This procedure looks to make your body less sensitive to the allergens or materials that cause the reaction.
However, one of the best ways to keep this condition at bay is to make some healthier life choices.
Drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and regular exercise are all great at keeping you safe.
More on Sinusitis Dizziness If you need more info on this condition, try using the U.
S.
National Library of Medicine's MedlinePlus website.