Bowling Green Today

While Lizzy Yarnold had struggled with sinus infections and inner ear issues in the past, issues that flared up during the start of the 2018 Winter Olympics skeleton competition came at the worst possible time, as she was preparing to face the best in the world in PyeongChang.

Symptoms persisted, and Yarnold found herself with a sinus infection, battling breathing issues that were initially believed to have been caused by the climate, a report by The Sun said. The South Korean weather was colder than she was used to, and she developed a chest infection after arriving in the country. She also reported having trouble speaking and breathing, along with vertigo and headaches without congestion. Ultimately, the issues were attributed to a vestibular disorder affecting the inner ear. 

The one tract going into the lungs can prove to be an issue, Dr. Daniel Mongiardo of the Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep & Sinus Center said.

"The whole areas of respiratory tract—so the nose, the ears—it's all one respiratory tract going down into the lungs," he said.

As the skeleton competition began, Yarnold was turning to home remedies in a last-ditch effort to beat the sinus infection, but she fell to third place and was in danger of failing to earn a medal, her Wikipedia page said. Though the remedies weren't immediately effective, the British athlete persisted nonetheless. She got her symptoms under control and took home the gold.

Participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics marked Yarnold's eighth year of competition, her Wikipedia page said. The 2018 first-place finish was her second skeleton gold medal, following up her success at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.

Sinus infection issues can often be traced to a bacterial infection, Scottish website NHSinform.scot said in a report. In rare instances, they can also be traced to a viral infection. The report noted that the infections can often be treated with home remedies and medication.

Most bacterial infections are caused by a common cold and typically clear up within 10 days, a report from the Mayo Clinic said. But if the condition continues longer, things get worse, or you have a history of recurrent or chronic sinusitis or sinus headache, you should see a sinus inflammation specialist.