Last week I was in the pond and did not have the nose plugs on - big mistake. For some reason freshwater does not have the same inclination to drain as salt water. The result for me was massive sinus pain and headache right in the region of the eyebrow.
As I understand it there are different ways bacteria get into the areas that normally get infected. The sinuses are hollow spaces in the bones of the skull. It is easy for water to get into those spaces and sit, which allows the bacteria to do its work. Not all water drains out when you are upright, primarily because of how the sinuses are positioned. For me, even some time after being in the ocean, I can experience a sudden release of water from the nose. This does not happen for me when in the pool or in freshwater - I don't know why.
The sinuses are air-filled bony cavities located in the face and skull adjacent to the nose. There are four pairs of sinuses. The right and left frontal sinuses are found in the forehead region, the maxillary sinuses are in the cheek area, the ethmoid sinuses are between the eyes, and the sphenoid sinuses lie deep in the center of the skull. The exact purpose of the sinuses is a matter of some discussion for the experts. The sinuses then can either be inflamed, irritated or infected.
At any rate - I think I got a rip roaring inflammation. I took some decongestants and bought a neti pot and this was very effective. I highly recommend the neti pot idea. The video gives a good commentary of history and view of the easy procedure, but I obtained mine from Shoppers Drug Mart and used boiled(and then cooled to lukewarm temperature)water.
A simple preventative measure is to throw on a $3.00 pair of noseclips. Especially for practices. I found a pair through the local grocery pharmacy section or the drug store.
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