Overview
The sinuses are small to fairly large air pockets located behind certain parts of the face and head, namely: forehead (frontal), cheekbones (maxillary), nose (sphenoidal), and between the eyes (ethmoidal). They contain a thin, flowing film of mucus each. The mucus serves as a protective fluid for trapping germs and debris formed along their path and carrying them away for disposal. When you catch a cold or perhaps have allergies, there’s a high chance of increased mucus in the sinuses. This might make the fluid thicken and block the passages for fluid, so bacteria and other pathogens begin to build up there. On several occasions, this marks the onset of a sinus infection. This infection causes the sinuses and nasal passages to get inflamed (a condition known as sinusitis). According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, about 31 million people in the U.S are affected by a sinus infection yearly. [1]
Most cases of sinus infections are viral and last for a week or two before they go away. However, some cases are bacterial and take much longer to go away. If you have what you suppose to be a nose blockage that doesn’t seem to improve with time, try and see a physician as it could be a sinus infection. [2]
