If you have a sinus infection, you may wonder whether exercise will help you feel better or make your symptoms worse.
The answer depends on how severe your symptoms are, whether you have a fever or significant fatigue, and how your body responds to activity.
Mild activity may be reasonable for some people with minor nasal congestion or other symptoms above the neck, but rest is usually more appropriate when symptoms are more severe.
Light exercise may be acceptable for some people who have mild symptoms such as nasal congestion, a runny nose, sneezing, or a minor sore throat and who do not have a fever.
If you decide to exercise, reduce the intensity and duration of your normal workout and pay attention to how you feel.
You should generally avoid exercise if you have symptoms such as:
If your body is telling you to rest, taking time off from exercise is unlikely to hurt your fitness and may make recovery more comfortable.
Sinusitis can cause inflammation, congestion, facial pressure, and headaches. These symptoms may become more noticeable when you bend over, move your head quickly, or perform strenuous activity.
If exercise increases facial pressure, headache, dizziness, or congestion, stop and allow your body to recover.
Not every headache during exercise is a sinus headache.
Exercise itself can trigger a type of headache known as an exertion or exercise headache. These headaches occur during or after physical activity and may be related to changes in blood flow and pressure during exertion.
Sinus infections can also cause facial pain or headache, particularly around the forehead, cheeks, eyes, or bridge of the nose.
Because several types of headache can occur during exercise, recurring or severe exercise related headaches should not automatically be assumed to come from the sinuses.
A true sinus related headache usually occurs along with other symptoms of sinusitis.
These may include:
Many headaches that people call sinus headaches are actually caused by other headache disorders, so persistent or recurring headaches may need further evaluation.
If your symptoms are mild and you feel well enough to be active, keep the workout easier than usual.
Walking, gentle cycling, stretching, or another low intensity activity may be more comfortable than a strenuous workout.
A gradual warm up can help your body adjust to activity and may reduce the likelihood of an exercise related headache.
Drink enough fluids throughout the day, particularly if congestion, fever, or illness has reduced your normal fluid intake.
Stop exercising if you develop worsening facial pressure, significant headache, dizziness, shortness of breath, chest symptoms, or unusual fatigue.
Rest instead of exercising if you have a fever, significant fatigue, body aches, chest congestion, or symptoms that make normal daily activity difficult.
You should also avoid exercising around other people when you may have a contagious respiratory illness.
If congestion or sinus pressure is making exercise uncomfortable, simple measures may help while your symptoms improve.
Depending on the cause, options may include:
Many acute sinus symptoms improve on their own, but an ENT evaluation may be appropriate when symptoms persist, repeatedly return, or become more severe.
Consider seeing an ENT if you experience:
Seek prompt medical attention for a sudden severe headache, a first severe exercise headache, vision changes, confusion, neck stiffness, or other concerning neurological symptoms.
If sinus pressure, congestion, or recurring infections are interfering with exercise or daily life, Glatz Group can help determine what may be causing your symptoms.
Glatz Group provides sinus care in McAllen for patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley.
"*" indicates required fields
