2 0
S P I R I T O F W O M E N S P R I N G 2 016 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m
H E A L T H Y B O D Y
Y
ou have a stuffy nose and a headache,
especially around your eyes. Your ears feel
clogged, and your throat is a little sore. Is it
just a cold—or a sinus infection?
If you've ever had cold-like symptoms
that loitered a little too long, you've probably asked
yourself that question. Each year, nearly 30 million adults
in the United States get a definitive answer: They're
diagnosed with sinusitis or inflammation of the sinuses, the
membranes that line the nasal passages.
Sinusitis typically is a bacterial infection that often
starts with a cold, which is caused by a virus. What's the
connection? "Bacteria linger in our nose all the time. It's
Making sense of
sinus infections
Clear
AIR A
the
By Sandra
Gordon
For a local specialist in ear, nose and throat medicine,
look for your nearest Spirit of Women affiliated
hospital on pages 12-13.