Plagued by Winter Congestion? 3 Signs It’s More Than a Cold

We’re unfortunately right in the thick of peak season for illness. We’re in the middle of flu season, and cases of the common cold tend to tick up during this time of year, too. That doesn’t mean you should dismiss symptoms, though. 

Take congestion as an example. You might assume you’ve just caught a winter cold and it will pass. Actually, though, that persistent congestion could be an indicator that you have sinusitis. 

The trouble is that many of the signs of sinusitis match the symptoms of a cold. In addition to congestion, both conditions often come with headaches and nasal drainage that’s white, green, or yellow, for example. 

Here at our New York City office in Union Square, Matthew W. Shawl, MD, can help you figure out what’s behind the winter congestion that’s been plaguing you. Some signs it’s not just a cold, and instead worth a trip to our office, include:

#1: Sensitivity around your eyes and nose

Sinusitis causes inflammation (swelling) in your nasal cavity. That contributes to that sensation of persistent congestion, but it has other impacts, too. 

Specifically, you might notice that you feel tenderness or even pain around your sinus cavity. You might feel tender around your eyes. It could hurt if something even brushes your nose. 

Because colds can also cause headaches, it’s important to spend a little time thinking about where you feel that head pain. If it’s localized to the front upper part of your face, it definitely could be sinusitis. 

#2: Changes in your taste or smell

You might assume the cold winter air could be behind a diminished sense of smell, which then impacts your taste. If that symptom comes with congestion, though, a health condition could be to blame. 

The loss of your sense of smell and taste might sound like something caused by COVID. They’re also a hallmark symptom of sinusitis. 

#3: Longer-term impacts

The common cold usually runs its course in 7–10 days. Sinusitis, on the other hand, lingers longer than that. Acute sinusitis can last for up to four weeks. If you’re still experiencing symptoms after 12 weeks, medical experts diagnose you with chronic sinusitis. 

If it’s been a couple of weeks and you’re still symptomatic, consider scheduling an appointment. 

What to do if you think you have sinusitis

If all of these symptoms sound familiar, come see Dr. Shawl. At our office, he works with you to find out if you have swelling in your sinus cavity. If so, he then tries to figure out what’s causing it. Common sources of sinusitis include bacterial infections, viruses, allergies, and nasal polyps. 

Dr. Shawl then tailors treatment to soothe the inflammation in your sinus cavity, easing your symptoms. That could mean taking an antibiotic if you have an infection, using a nasal spray, or something else. Dr. Shawl helps you find the right treatment to bring you relief. 

If you think you have more than a cold, call us or book your visit online today.