Recurring sinus infection with no sign(us) of end in sight?
Sinus infections are not pleasant, ranging from mildly uncomfortable to miserable enough to disrupt everyday life. Not everyone will contract a sinus infection, or sinusitis, in their lifetime. Others, unfortunately, contend with recurring sinus infections every year, and can spot the signs as soon as one starts. Runny nose, nasal congestion, loss of smell and headaches are all classic symptoms.
"Chronic sinus infections affect one in eight adults in the US."1 If you fall into this category, then you may be at your wits end regarding how to prevent yet another one from occurring.
Can't find the reason they keep coming back?
When you see the doctor about sinusitis, they will prescribe treatment based on the root cause of the infection. Some sinus infections are caused by bacteria, and are differentiated by the fact that they include extreme facial pain, pus-like discharge from the nose, and symptoms that persist for more than a week and do not respond to over-the-counter nasal medications. "Bacterial sinusitis is usually treated with antibiotics."2
If you've had a sinus infection for longer than four weeks and you're not responding to any medications, Candida could be the cause. Candida is a species of fungus or yeast that is present naturally on the skin, in the mouth, and digestive tract of all human beings.
It's perfectly harmless when its numbers are kept in check by other bacteria that also inhabit the same spaces. On occasion, however, Candida can begin to overgrow and cause health problems, including fungal sinus infections.
Candida? What's that?
The effects of too much yeast in the body, called Candidiasis, may also result in vaginal yeast infections, oral thrush, fatigue, digestive issues, joint pain, skin and nail fungal infections and, rarely, urinary tract infections. Sinus infections that become chronic and long lasting may well be caused by an overgrowth of yeast in the body. So what do you do if you suspect Candida is causing sinus infections?
A new study reported in Livescience.com found that the root of the problem might be due to a decrease of "good" bacteria and the presence of "bad" bacteria in the nasal cavity. "People with chronic sinus problems had fewer types of bacteria in their sinuses compared with healthy people, and a significant reduction in bacteria that produce lactic acid."3
Therefore, one way to get rid of chronic sinus infections is to restore a healthy balance of the microflora in your body by taking a probiotic. Good quality probiotics, such as ThreeLac or FiveLac from GHT, introduce a large amount of beneficial bacteria back into your body, which, in turn, helps control the fungal overgrowth. Whether or not you currently have a sinus infection, you can be proactive by maintaining a healthy balance of the microflora in your body today.
References
1 7 Symptoms of Candida Overgrowth (Plus How to Get Rid of It), Healthline Media a Red Ventures Company.
2 Sinus Infection (Sinusitis), Medicinenet.com Inc.
3 A Dose of 'Good' Bacteria Could Help Your Sinus Problems, Live Science is part of Future US Inc.
NOTE: Healthline.com, Medicinenet.com, and Livescience.com have not reviewed or approved the above article.