NE Valley Times

Bubba Watson almost missed the 2016 Masters Tournament completely by not being well enough to play.

Before The Masters that year, Watson had some trials and tribulations to overcome that tested his endurance, a report by the Golf Channel said. An injury to his back and a sinus infection with sinus headache both nearly kept him from competing in the prestigious golf tournament. He was quoted as saying the course energized him.

"Sinusitis can impact the quality of life in many ways," Diana Ruiloba, physician assistant at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Center, said. "It can impact lives from a sleep standpoint. If you are not breathing well, you are not sleeping well; if you are not sleeping well, you are not able to perform daily tasks to your best potential."

What Watson experienced was acute rhinosinusitis. A report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) said this ailment is marked by the sudden onset of symptoms including sinus headache and nasal inflammation lasting less than four weeks, with a full recovery afterward. In a 12-month period, sinusitis and its symptoms have caused an estimated 73 million days of lost or restricted activity.

Watson said he felt 80% healthy after bed rest and a visit from a sinus inflammation specialist.

There are four classifications for sinusitis, the NCBI report said. Recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, which is defined as four or more episodes of acute rhinosinusitis each lasting at least seven days, is a separate classification of its own and should be treated accordingly.

Sinus infections can put a great deal of pressure on the body's immune system, a report from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology said. If you have more than three episodes of bacterial sinusitis in a 12-month period or develop chronic sinusitis, it could be a signal that your immune system is under stress.

When dealing with sinus problems, early intervention and treatment are key, a report from the Cleveland Clinic said. Sinus inflammation can cause long-term damage such as nasal polyps; which can lead to headaches, loss of smell or taste, a constant stuffy or runny nose, nosebleeds, pain or pressure felt in the face or top teeth, postnasal drip and snoring.

If you are suffering from a sinus infection or other sinus issues, please take this online symptom self-assessment quiz to determine how bad your symptoms are and how much they are affecting your quality of life.