My wife has been having headaches, sinus issues, and swollen glands. this morning, she had such a bad cough that she passed out. what should i do?

URI: This is an upper respiratory infection, usually viral. However, she should discuss her symptoms in more detail, with chronological sequence, and remedies tried so far with a local doctor or through a telemedicine service to see if she needs some type of medication, even if not an antibiotic. The best treatment, however, is a sinus rinse (eg neti-pot) or steam (pot of boiling water or hot shower).

She needs treatment: Seemingly her symptoms are quite severe and should be evaluated and treated as soon as possible. Coughing to the point of passing out is serious. It is sunday and so doc's office may not be open but should call to get some medical advice/treatment as her doc knows her medical history. Some otc cold meds and cough suppressant such as delsym (dextromethorphan) may help in the meantime. Consult doc. Good luck.

Sinus congestion: A severe cough can have people pass out. Her cough may be related to post nasal drip. She needs to use a decongestant, a saline nasal spray and some Mucinex (guaifenesin) to alleviate her symptoms. She needs to call her doctor to see if she needs an antibiotic to treat a sinus infection. If her symptoms are chronic, she needs to see an allergist eventually to control them.