Olympic two-time women skeleton gold medalist Lizzy Yarnold | Wikimedia Commons
Olympic two-time women skeleton gold medalist Lizzy Yarnold | Wikimedia Commons
Lizzy Yarnold had struggled with sinus infections and inner ear issues in the past, but as the 2018 Winter Olympics skeleton competition got under way, she found herself not only battling the best in the world in PyeongChang, but also dealing with a sinus infection that nearly forced her from the competition.
During the start of the skeleton competition Yarnold was dealing breathing issues that were initially believed to have been caused by the climate, according to The Sun, which was colder than the British athlete was used to. According to the report, the athlete’s symptoms were ignited by a vestibular disorder that affected her inner ear. Dr. Brian Lee of the Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center noted that some patients can miss the symptoms.
“Most people never feel the pressure build up, they never feel the pressure release, they don't really think about their ears,” Lee said in a statement.
The symptoms persisted as the competition began, according to Yarnold’s Wikipedia page, and she was turning to home remedies as she found herself in third place and in danger of missing the podium for a medal. The page also noted she was having trouble talking or breathing, but while the remedies weren’t immediately effective, the British athlete persisted and got her symptoms under control and took home the gold.
The 2018 Winter Olympics marked Yarnold’s eighth year of competition, and she was able to nab her second gold medal in the skeleton competition, according to Wikipedia, following up her success during the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Most bacterial infections clear up within 10 days and are typically caused by a common cold, the Mayo Clinic noted on its website. You should see a sinus inflammation specialist when things do not clear up after that long, things get worse or you have a history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis and inflammation of sinus.
According to Scotland’s NHS inform, the issues are caused by a bacterial infection, but in some rare cases can also be driven by a viral infection. The website also noted that the infections are in most instances treated with home remedies and medication.
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