Decatur Times

Over the past several years, British athlete Lizzy Yarnold has struggled with sinus infections and inner ear problems, battles that nearly kept her from winning gold in the 2018 Olympics.

Yarnold admitted to fighting a sinus infection as she competed in the skeleton competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea, according to The Sun. The news outlet noted that her problems, including vertigo and sinus headaches, were sparked by a vestibular disorder that was playing havoc with her inner ear. She also was dealing with breathing issues attributed to the cold climate. Her issues show how a sinus infection can sideline anyone, even an Olympic athlete. 

“The studies show that it certainly contributes to a loss of vitality, productivity and quality of life,” said Dr. Jamie Oberman with the Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers in Frederick, Md.

According to her Wikipedia page, Yarnold started competing in skeleton professionally in 2010 and had won gold in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Returning to compete in the 2018 Olympics, she battled a chest infection that led to issues with speaking and breathing, according to Wikipedia.

According to NHS Inform, vestibular disorders like the issue that affected Yarnold are often known as labyrinthitis, which can be attributed to inflammation of the labyrinth in the inner ear. Typically, these issues are caused by a bacterial infection, through in rare instances it can be driven by a viral infection.

Home remedies that Yarnold attempted didn’t thwart the sinus infection or any of its symptoms, according to the Wikipedia page, and she was in danger of failing to repeat as the gold medal winner. However, she was able to control the issues and capture gold.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a bacterial sinus infection can usually be controlled within 10 days, and a cold often sparks the issue. However, if symptoms persist or if you have a history of sinusitis or sinus allergies, you should see a sinus specialist.