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Sinus Infection Symptoms: Dizziness, Headaches, Fatigue, and More

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All your questions answered about the side effects of a sinus infection

When one experiences a severe sinus infection, the side effects and symptoms can be just as bothersome as the infection itself. These symptoms include but are not limited to: dizziness, fatigue, tooth pain, fever, pink eye, high blood pressure, and jaw pain. Though these symptoms may be just a normal side effect of your sinus infection, they may also be indicative of a deeper problem. As such, if you have any of the aforementioned symptoms, I would advise a precautionary visit to your doctor.

In this article, I will detail the various sinus infection side effects and the reason for their occurrence. If you have experienced a side effect I have not listed here, please let me know so I can add it to the list.
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Q. Can sinus infection cause sore throat?

Sinus Infection Symptoms: Sore Throat

Courtesy of MichaelNugent on FlickrWhile a sinus infection, being limited to the nasal passages, will not directly give you a sore throat, the mucus which drips down the back of your throat (called post nasal drip) as a result of the sinus infection may cause redness and irritation, just as the common cold might.

Those who constantly suffer from thick post nasal drip and bad breath due to sinusitis are said to be suffering from Ethmoid Sinusitis. It is so called because the blockage that forces mucus down your throat occurs between the ethmoid sinuses of your nose.

If the pain and redness in your throat becomes severe, you may also have tonsillitis. Since sinusitis causes bacteria-infested mucus to flow down the throat, the tonsils can often become infected as a result.

Q. Can sinus infection cause eye infection?

Sinus Infection Symptoms: Eye Infection

Photo courtesy of trmdttr on FlickrIn very rare cases, yes, a sinus infection can cause an eye infection. This type of infection is called an orbital infection.

Orbital infections occur when pressure is put on the optic nerve, causing temporary or permanent loss of vision and loss of movement of the eye. The eyelid may also become droopy and swollen. Fever and illness usually accompany an eye infection due to sinusitis.

Q. Will sinus infection cause dizziness?

Sinus Infection Symptoms: Dizziness

Courtesy of .jocelyn. on FlickrIf you are experiencing dizziness during a sinus infection, it is a sign that you have an ear infection. During a severe sinus infection, fluids may build up in the ear, putting pressure on the vestibular labyrinth, the part of the ear which regulates balance. Loss of balance will cause you to experience vertigo, dizziness, and nausea.

Since dizziness only occurs with extremely severe sinus infections, and is far from a normal side effect, a prompt visit to the doctor is recommended. He or she will provide antibiotics to eliminate the infection.

Q. Can sinus infection cause fever?

Sinus Infection Symptoms: Fever

Photo courtesy of Sugar Pond on FlickrYes, a low grade fever is quite common during a sinus infection, thought it may not be present in every case. I, for one, never get a fever when I come down with a sinus infection, no matter how strong.

The fever is caused by the body attempting to eliminate the bacteria that has built up in the sinuses.

There is no cause for alarm as long as the fever stays below 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C).

Q. Can sinus infection cause headaches?

Sinus Infection Symptoms: Headaches

By Paranasal_sinuses.svg: *Head_anatomy_anterior_lateral_views.svg: Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator derivative work: M•Komorniczak -talk- Illustration by : Michał Komorniczak This file has been released into the Creative Commons 3.0. Attribution-ShareAlike (CC BY-SA 3.0) If you use on your website or in your publication my images (either original or modified), you are obliged to give me details: Michał Komorniczak (Poland) or Michal Komorniczak (Poland). For more information, write to my e-mail address: m.komorniczak.pl@gmail.com (Paranasal_sinuses.svg) [CC-BY-2.5 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5)], via Wikimedia CommonsHeadaches, or more specifically face pain, is extremely common during a sinus infection, and is one of the factors that differentiates a sinus infection from the common cold. These headaches are caused by the pressure created by the accumulation of mucus in the sinus cavities of your face. The four sinus cavities are: the maxillary sinuses (blue), ethmoid sinuses (purple), frontal sinuses (green) and sphenoid sinuses (red).

Often, the pain will increase with sudden movements of the head. The pain is also amplified when you bend over. Pain-killers are usually helpful in reducing the pain, and antibiotics can help reduce inflammation and infection, subsequently decreasing the pressure put on your sinuses.

Q. Can sinus infection cause fatigue?

Sinus Infection Symptoms: Fatigue

Fatigue is a very common side effect of sinusitis, as the body is using all of its resources to fight the bacteria that has accumulated in the sinuses. Just as with influenza, the body requires rest to fight the infection. As such, it is normal to feel more tired than usual when your sinus infection is at its worst.

Q. Can a sinus infection cause high blood pressure?

Sinus Infection Symptoms: High Blood Pressure

Courtesy of comedy_nose on FlickrA sinus infection on its own will not cause your blood pressure to rise. What will cause an increase in blood pressure are the oral decongestants you take to liberate the nasal passages. Decongestants shrink blood vessels to keep the nasal passages open, making it difficult for the blood to flow. For those already prone to high blood pressure, decongestants can be dangerous and should not be taken without consulting a physician first.

A viable substitute to decongestants are antihistamines such as Benadryl and Claratin which have no effect on the heart. If you want to avoid medication completely, hot showers, breathing in steam, and nasal sprays are all excellent options. To see a thorough list of sinus infection remedies, visit the article: Effective Sinus Infection Remedies for the Sinusitis Sufferer

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