Olympic two-time women's skeleton gold medalist Lizzy Yarnold | Facebook/Lizzy Yarnold
Olympic two-time women's skeleton gold medalist Lizzy Yarnold | Facebook/Lizzy Yarnold
Sinus and ear infections can affect the performance of even the most talented athletes when they're in the most important of competitions.
British Olympic skeleton racer Lizzy Yarnold has struggled with sinus infections and inner ear problems in the past, a struggle that almost kept her from winning gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics. Competing professionally since 2010, she previously won gold in the Winter Olympics 2014 and again in 2018, according to Wikipedia. She is the most successful British Winter Olympian and the most successful Olympic skeleton athlete of all time from any country.
Shortly after arriving at the 2018 Olympics in PyeongChang, she developed a chest infection, which intensified to the point that she was having trouble speaking and breathing. The Sun reported that Yarnold's issues were caused by a vestibular disorder affecting the inner ear. She also revealed having trouble breathing in a new, much colder climate than she was used to and experiencing vertigo and sinus headaches without congestion.
Yarnold tried many home remedies for sinus headaches in an attempt to dull the symptoms of her condition. After falling to third place, she was somehow able to overcome her symptoms and take home the winning gold medal in skeleton in 2018.
Vestibular disorders affecting the inner ear are sometimes referred to as "labrynthitis." According to NHS (National Health Service) Inform, labrynthitis is caused by inflammation of part of the inner ear known as the labyrinth. The inflammation comes from an infection, which is usually bacterial, or in some cases, viral.
"The whole areas of respiratory tract -- so the nose, the ears -- it's all one respiratory tract going down into the lungs," Dr. Daniel Mongiardo of Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep & Sinus told Bluegrass Times.
According to Mayo Clinic, most bacterial infections clear up within 10 days and are typically caused by the common cold. You should see a doctor when things do not clear up after that several weeks, symptoms get worse or you have a history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis and sinus headache.
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