What do I have?

I'm a regular runner and work out alot. About a month ago my nose got clogged. I noticed my-self having trouble sleeping alot. My endurance for running wasn't near what it used to be. Now, I have shortness of breath, and I feel tired alot; also, when I finish running my ears feel clogged. I went to the doctor and he told me it's probably a sinus infection. I am eager to start running again, is there anything that will take my shortness of breath and the other symptoms I described away?

[National Jewish]

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the mucous membranes that line the sinus cavities.  Symptoms can include a headache or pressure in the area of the sinuses, a clogged nose and ears, postnasal drip, cough, sore throat, thick nasal drainage, and feeling tired.  The best way to identify a sinus infection is with a sinus CT scan, although sinus x-rays are a decent alternative.  A sinus CT scan will also identify if any of the openings that drain your sinuses are blocked.  If your symptoms are due to a sinus infection, they will last as long as the inflammation continues.  It is also possible for the infection to inflame the airways of your lungs and this could be the cause of your shortness of breath.

Infections like sinusitis can cause inflammation of the airways of the lungs.  This inflammation can cause shortness of breath.  After the infection is gone, it is possible for the inflammation to linger.  This inflammation can last for several weeks.  Sometimes this inflammation may linger for 3 to 6 months.  Eventually the inflammation will go away, and then the shortness of breath will stop.  This is called reactive airways disease (RAD) and behaves a lot like asthma.  This inflammation often clears more quickly when it is treated with an inhaled steroid medicine that is used to treat asthma.  Your doctor is the best judge of this.

The most common cause of sinusitis is an infection, especially when the mucus is green.  Sinus infections can be difficult to treat since they respond slowly.  When any of the openings that drain your sinuses are blocked it will take longer to clear a sinus infection.  If a viral infection is the cause it