North Richmond Today

• Sinus infections and other illnesses are more common during the winter months.
• Thirty-one million Americans suffer from sinus infections each year. 
• Using an air humidifier and frequently washing your hands can reduce your chances of getting a sinus infection.

Millions of Americans suffer from sinus infections every year, experiencing symptoms such as congestion, a headache, pressure in the ears and sinuses, or a cough, according to Insider.

Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers explained how a sinus headache feels and why patients might not be able to tell the difference between that and a migraine, which is why it's important to see an ENT specialist to identify the cause of a recurring headache so it can be treated appropriately. 

"A sinus headache is where you have pain in the distribution of your sinuses. You can get infections or obstruction of those sinuses, and they can cause pain," Ditto told North Richmond Today. "If that sinus lining causes the opening to obstruct and then it can't drain, that pressure then causes sinus pain. That's infectious and inflammatory partly from sinus pain. Sinus pain can also occur because of a migraine. You can have unilateral facial pain due to (another type) of headache. And so the challenge is to differentiate between what's a headache, like facial pain or a migraine, and what's a sinus pain, and sometimes the two overlap."

Sinus infections, common colds and the flu are more common during winter months, according to Heritage First ENT. One reason is because the air is typically drier during this time of year, which can dry out the mucus linings in the nose, causing an increased risk of infection and congestion. Warm air from electric heaters and fireplaces can also be irritating to the nasal passages. Cold and flu viruses can lead to sinus infections by causing inflammation.

According to Alabama ENT, several simple steps can reduce the odds of developing sinus problems during the winter. Using an air humidifier or breathing in steam from a hot shower can help keep your nasal passages open and prevent congestion.

Washing your hands frequently, especially before eating or touching your face, can help prevent the spread of germs that might cause a cold, flu or other sickness. Using decongestants or nasal sprays can be effective, but they should not be used too frequently because overuse could lead to swelling.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinus infections, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.