Sinus infection (a.k.a sinusitis) is a condition in which sinuses, air-filled cavities in the skull, get inflamed (typically due to virus or bacterial infection). Fortunately it is usually mild, not serious. Even in many cases, it improves on its own within a few days or weeks. However it also can be very bothersome. For example, you may find it more difficult to fall asleep. And the bad news, it tends to get worse at night – why? There are several reasons to blame.
How do you get sinus infection?
The sinuses are located behind your forehead, cheeks, nasal bones, and even eyes. Normally, the air and mucus are able to flow and drain out into the nose through these air-filled cavities.
*Image credit to ADAM
In sinusitis, the sinuses are inflamed and the mucus doesn’t drain out as well as usual, causing some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Nasal symptoms, particularly such as a blocked or a runny nose.
- Loss of smell, which may also be followed with bad breath.
- Cough that usually flares up and worsens at night.
- Pressure-like pain over the affected sinus.
- Other symptoms may include sore throat, headache, and fever (a general feeling of poor health).
There are a number of ways of how you can get sinusitis. For examples:
- Colds are often to blame, especially true if you have allergies. It’s common to have sinusitis after a cold event.
- If you have particular medical conditions that cause cilia (small hairs) of sinuses fail to properly drain out the mucus.
- Some medical conditions such as nasal polyps, deviated nasal septum, or nasal bone spur can also be potential to cause blocked sinus’s opening.
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It can affect anyone. But some people are at higher risk than others to develop this infection. In general, your risk is higher if you have some of the following risk factors:
- If you have any condition that interfere with the function of cilia. If your cilia don’t work properly, the mucus will not drain into the nose as well as usual.
- Allergies, such as hay fever or allergic rhinitis.
- Cystic fibrosis, an inherited-genetic disorder that can affect cells that produce mucus.
- Poor function of the body immune system. If your immune system is weak, you’re vulnerable to develop infection such as sinus infection.
- In some people, smoking may also increase the risk of sinusitis.
Why is sinus infection worse at night?
Getting adequate rest is important to cope with any health condition (because your sleep can help a lot to boost your recovery). But unfortunately, it’s not always easy if you have sinusitis.
Even the symptoms can flare up more at night. Many people with sinusitis find that getting enough sleep at night can be the hardest thing to do!
There are several reasons of why the problem tends to get worse at night. The main ones are outlined below.
Gravity
If you have sinus infection, gravity can be one of the most challenging things at night.
The mucus produced by sinuses drain out into the nose, particularly true when you’re sitting or standing upright during the day. It will clear up through your airways when you swallow or blow your nose, and you can breathe easily.
But at night, when you lie down for sleep, you can have more gravitational pull. And the mucus flow doesn’t clear in the same way. The gravity can make it lodge in the airways and collect at the back of the throat.
Therefore, it’s recommended to sleep with the head elevated. For example, sleeping with a pillow /bolster propping your head up a little may help.
Allergies
As mentioned before, some people with allergies are relatively more vulnerable to have sinus infection. And if they do develop sinusitis, it can be more challenging.
Sinusitis with allergies is more difficult to cope than if you don’t have allergies. For example with nasal allergies – symptoms such as mucus formation, cough, nasal congestion, or runny nose can be much worse at night.
If your allergy does bother you a lot, ask your doctor whether particular medicine is required. Some people find that taking antihistamine before bed is helpful to ease their runny nose.
The more active of immune system
The body immune system plays a key role to help fight the infection. People with a weak immune system are more vulnerable to have sinus infection.
But while we should respect to the immune system function for doing its job, it also could be a bit frustrating when it is more active at night (making the inflammatory response increases). As a result, this may contribute to worsen the sinusitis symptoms such as headache and congested nose.
A dry, bad indoor air
If you sleep with dry air, this can be another reason to blame. For example, many people with sinusitis find that the symptoms get worse with extreme humidity. Why dry air is bad for sinusitis?
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Dry air can worsen an irritated /inflamed nose. It is also bad for your throat, making your cough (the common symptom of sinus infection) get worse.
If necessary, use a humidifier in your bedroom! This unit can help put the moisture back into the air, allowing you to breathe more easily.
But remember, it’s also important to make sure that your humidifier works properly. For instance, do the maintenance regularly – particularly for the air filter of the unit.
Put also sterile water into the unit! This is important to make sure that you don’t run the risk of cycling germs /bad things into the air. Follow all the directions and instructions of how to operate the unit properly!
Dreaded darkness
During the day you have more daytime distraction, so you tend to ignore the symptoms.
But at night, you will have dreaded darkness. You have more time to notice the symptoms and how unwell you are. As a result, there will be more miserable you feel at night.
What else you need to know?
- Go to sleep hydrated by drinking enough water throughout the day. Keeping hydrated can help ease your cough and reduce thick mucus in your throat. On the other hand, dehydration will make some of your sinus infection symptoms worse.
- Go to bed without caffeine and alcohol! Caffeine is a strong stimulant that will keep you alert and awake. And for alcohol, this can worsen your congested nose. Furthermore, both alcohol and caffeine can leave you feeling dehydrated.
- Make sure that your bedroom is pet-free zone, particularly true if you have allergy to pets or dust mites!
If your sinusitis does bother your sleep a lot, see a doctor for more advice – especially true if the problem doesn’t improve with lifestyle measures!