Sinusitis affects about 37 million people in the U.S. alone. Also known as rhinosinusitis, sinus infection results when a bacterial infection develops within the sinuses.

If you suffer from sinusitis, one of the causes and symptom may be nasal congestion. This condition blocks your sinuses from the ventilation they need, and can also affect your vision. Sinusitis can make your eyes red and puffy, and you may develop a sensitivity to light. If your immune system is generally healthy, it's most likely that a mild case of sinusitis can be cured easily. But when nasal congestion continues unabated for any length of time, a bacterial infection can develop and what was just a mild infection can easily turn into more serious sinusitis. People who have nasal congestion also experience other problems, such as general discomfort and poor quality sleep. This can lead to fatigue, which can become so overwhelming it becomes difficult to perform at peak efficiency on the job.

Another problem that can emerge is Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Put more simply, this means you have a blockage in your ears. Many people experience this same feeling during plane travel, or when your ears are waterlogged after swimming. Sinusitis can be a primary source of ETD. The Eustachian tubes open up into the nasopharynx. When you develop a sinus infection, these openings can be blocked by mucus, which in turn clogs the ears. Your sinuses also can spread bacterial infections to the Eustachian tubes. And when these tubes become inflamed, the mucus that is produced is thicker, which causes clogging in the tubes that much faster.

Another symptom of sinusitis is the sinus headache, which results from the pressure that accumulates in the sinus cavities. A sinus infection can easily inflame the membrane-like tissues in the sinuses. When this happens, mucus forms that is especially thick and sticky. It is difficult to get this mucus to drain, because the opening in the sinuses that lets mucus drain out, the ostium, is relatively small. This backup of blocked mucus can lead to increased sinus pressure and pain. Many people experience sinus pain in the area of the head just above the eyebrows. If your cheeks are tender, you may have maxillary sinusitis. And sinus pain that is centered right between the eyes is coming from the ethmoid sinuses.

In order to properly treat your sinus infection, it is best to discuss with your health care provider to get an accurate diagnosis before seeking the proper course of sinus infection treatment until you are free from the pain and symptoms of sinusitis.