Sinusitis, an Early Warning of Fibromyalgia?
Sinusitis, also known as sinus infection, and fibromyalgia are much more closely related than you think. A 2003 study published in the Archives on Internal Medicine found that people who suffer from unexplained fatigue is ten times more likely to have sinus symptoms. This study drew a link between sinus problems and unexplained fatigue and suggest that treating sinusitis can relieve chronic fatigue and improve quality of life in patients suffering from both.
What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is a chronic yeast infection of the sinus cavity that covers around and behind your eyes, nose and then down towards your throat. When you suffer from sinusitis, you complain of headaches, runny nose, fatigue, body aches and stuffy head etc. The specific cause of the yeast infection might vary from one patient to the other. It may be due to the nasal cavity deformities or nasal cavity blockage. In fact, the infection is also often related to allergies to food likewise in fibromyalgia.
Often when you suffer from sinus infection, you tend to think lightly of your symptoms such as stuffy head, runny nose and fatigue because there is a lack of awareness of the severity of sinusitis and the connection between sinusitis and fibromyalgia. Getting rid of sinusitis is very important as the chronic yeast infection can be an early warning of the pain disorder.
The relationship between sinusitis and fibromyalgia
Sinus infection is a symptom of both sinusitis and fibromyalgia, hence, it is not uncommon for people to confuse one condition for the other. Furthermore, both fibromyalgia and sinusitis share many other similar symptoms such as headaches, stuffy head, poor sleep, bodyaches and fatigue. In fact, some experts believe that sinusitis is an early sign of fibromyalgia and eliminating sinusitis could be key to the successful treatment of fibromyalgia. This theory is backed by a 2008 study published in the The American Journal of Rhinology where researchers found that sinus sugery had helped improve quality of life in fibromyalgia patients who are also suffering from sinusitis.
Though the reason behind the close connection between sinusitis and fibromyalgia remains unclear, it could very simply be due to the fact that sinusitis is caused by yeast infection, which is a also a condition associated to fibromyalgia. Treating yeast infection, hence treating sinusitis, can provide relief from pain and fatigue in fibromyalgia.
How to identify whether it is sinusitis or fibromyalgia?
Only a medical testing can detect whether it is sinusitis or fibromyalgia. The doctor can identify whether you have a yeast infection with the deformities and blockages in the nasal cavity. In order to detect fibromyalgia, there are advanced brain scans and blood tests available these days, but the disease might not get detected if the disorder is in its developing stage. When chronic sinus infection has been diagnosed in your test, there is every possibility that you could have fibromyalgia as well. In fact, fibromyalgia may also be the reason behind your sinus infection.
An individual with any kind of immune system disorder like diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis can suffer from both fibromyalgia and sinusitis. In fact, it has also been found that people who are obese or overweight might also be prone to any of the two diseases. Instead of self medication, it is recommended that you consult a doctor for appropriate prescriptions. The doctor may also suggest that you make certain changes to your daily diet.
Sources:
Chester AC. Symptoms of rhinosinusitis in patients with unexplained chronic fatigue or bodily pain. Archives of Internal Medicine, Aug. 11, 2003: Volume. 163, Number 15, pp.1832-1836.
Soler Z M, Mace J, Smith T L. Fibromyalgia and chronic rhinosinusitis: outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery. Am J Rhinol. 2008 Jul-Aug;22(4):427-3
