Maryland State Wire

As cold and flu season approaches, sinus experts are reminding people to be aware of acute sinusitis.

According to Mayo Clinic, acute sinusitis is usually brought on by the common cold and causes a patient's sinuses to become inflamed and swollen. The inflammation disrupts drainage and leads to mucus buildup. Patients experiencing acute sinusitis suffer from difficulty breathing through the nose, feelings of swelling around the eyes and face, facial pain and headaches.

Other symptoms of acute sinusitis include ear pressure, altered sense of smell, cough, bad breath, fatigue, fever and even tooth pain.

"Your teeth hurt because the floor of the sinus, the maxillary sinus, is the roof of the mouth," Dr. Jamie Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Maryland State Wire. "They share the same anatomy, and they share same nervous intervention. That's why facial pain is always considered a sinus pathology and a very common complaint and symptom. Folks who have a sinus pathology, it's very much of a quality-of-life detriment for folks who suffer from those issues."

The symptoms of acute sinusitis are uncomfortable, but they are temporary. Most cases are resolved within seven to ten days, unless a bacterial infection develops. Sinusitis that lasts more than 12 weeks would be considered chronic sinusitis.

Potential patients of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers are invited to take a sinus quiz to determine if they are suffering from chronic sinusitis.