In a breath, British athlete Lizzy Yarnold could see her dreams of winning gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang slipping away as she fought an ear infection that nearly forced her from the competition.
As the Olympic Games were heating up, Yarnold was dealing breathing issues that were attributed to a colder climate than she was used to, according to The Sun, and her symptoms were instigated by a vestibular disorder that affected her inner ear.
For patients with sinus infections and inner ear issues, Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers notes that there are minimally invasive but very effective treatment options available today.
“A proper functioning eustachian tube can help prevent that buildup and allow things to drain properly,” he told Central Shenandoah News.
At the time, Yarnold had been competing professionally for eight years, according to Wikipedia. In the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, her goal was to repeat as the gold medalist in skeleton, after standing at the top of the podium during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
However, the sinus infection was seemingly getting the best of her as she fell to third place early in the competition, in danger of falling out of contention to earn a medal. Her condition worsened, and she had trouble breathing or speaking. Yarnold turned to home remedies for some relief, but those came up short. After she was able to control her symptoms, she won the second Olympic gold medal of her career.
Mayo Clinic noted that cases of acute sinusitis can result in the inflammation of the sinuses, which can affect drainage and result in mucus buildup. An acute sinus infection sparked by a cold should be under control within 10 days. However, if the symptoms persist, or if you have a family history of sinus headaches or chronic sinusitis, seek medical attention.
These issues are caused by a bacterial infection, but in some rare cases, they can be driven by a viral infection. Acute sinus infections are frequently treated with home remedies and medication.
