Respiratory infections like the common cold often start with nasal congestion, and this mild relief is sometimes accompanied by pain and tenderness around the cheeks, eyes, and forehead—a tell-tale sign of sinus congestion.
But what does sinus congestion actually look like?
To paint this mucus-filled picture, let’s first discuss what sinuses are and how they function in the body.
“It’s easiest to think of the nasal passages as the main highway and the sinuses as the rest stops,” Dr. John Fornardellian otolaryngologist and clinical associate professor of surgery at Pennsylvania State University, told LiveScience via email.
related: Why can’t we breathe evenly through both nostrils?
The sinuses are four pairs of small air-filled cavities lined with a layer of mucus. Two pairs of sinuses are located within the facial bones, one pair is located in the cheekbones or “maxillary bones” and the other pair is located in the frontal bones above the eyes.Two additional pairs of sinuses are located in the skull behind the nose, according to medical sources Statistical Pearls. All of the sinus cavities are connected to the main nasal passages through a network of narrow tunnels, and they are also connected to each other, Fornardelli said.
This unique structure helps the sinuses perform many important functions in the body. For example, according to StatPearls, the hollow cavity can reduce the weight of the head and help cushion the brain from potential damage that may result from facial trauma. They also vibrate when we speak, which adds a resonant, or deep, quality to our voices; this is why people with clogged sinuses may speak with a flat, nasal voice.
Of course, one of the most important functions of the sinuses is related to breathing. When you breathe in air through your nose or mouth, the air passes through your sinuses and begins to warm to body temperature. StatPearls states that the sinus tissues have an adequate blood supply that helps heat the air, and these tissues also produce mucus that helps moisten the air and remove contaminants such as dust particles and bacteria. This prevents cold, dry air from damaging the lungs and also helps oxygen move from the lungs into the bloodstream.
The sinuses drain excess mucus through channels that connect to the nasal cavity. When these cavities do not drain properly, symptoms of sinus obstruction can occur. Nasal congestion causes the tissues inside the nose to swell and causes mucus to build up quickly, which is one of the main reasons why these openings are blocked and mucus is prevented from draining properly from the sinus cavities.
“A blocked nose can cause sinus congestion, much like a clogged drain can cause a bathtub to drain slowly,” Fornardelli says. So when your sinuses feel clogged, you can imagine mucus gathering around these openings and draining out very slowly.
According to the agency, when mucus becomes trapped in the sinuses, it often leads to sinusitis, a condition in which the lining of the sinuses becomes swollen and inflamed. American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. Sinusitis can cause pain and tenderness around the cheeks, eyes, and forehead, as well as other symptoms such as jaw pain, fever, cough, and fatigue.
Sinusitis caused by respiratory viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, but some symptoms can be controlled with decongestants. The drug works by reducing swelling of blood vessels and tissue in the nose, helping to reopen sinus passages, according to the agency. cleveland clinic. (Be careful, though, as some popular decongestants have Recently found that it cannot be used.)
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide medical advice.