Sunday, April 14, 2024

How To Make My Sinus Headache Go Away

Sinus Infections And Other Health Effects

Sinus Pressure: The Fastest Way to Drain Your Sinuses

Aside from ear pain and dizziness, a sinus infection can also cause temporary hearing loss. Sinus-related hearing loss occurs when the infection spreads to the ears, specifically the middle ear. Hearing can become affected if inflammation puts pressure on the ear drum. This inflammation can cause discharge of fluid and the build-up of fluid in the eardrum, which leads to pain and temporary hearing loss.

When the fluid and pressure are relieved the hearing loss will reverse, and you can go back to hearing how you previously did, prior to the infection. If the fluid does not drain commonly seen in children the continuous pressure can cause the eardrum to burst, which contributes to permanent hearing loss.

Its important to prevent sinus infections as well as treating them right away, so that you dont encounter any complications.

Other health complications that can stem from a sinus infection are headaches and throat problems, such as coughing or a sore throat.

Related: Natural treatments to unclog ears

Home Remedies To Ease A Headache Or Migraine Attack

Many headache symptoms can be at least partially alleviated without medication. Here are some tips for homemade headache and migraine relief:

Apply an ice pack to your head and neck. Cold compresses on the head and neck are a common home remedy to ease the pain of a migraine attack. Some people also find it helpful for tension headaches. To avoid skin injury, wrap the ice or cold pack in a cloth and apply it for no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time.

Apply heat to the head, neck, or hands and feet. Applying heat may help relieve a tension headache or dull the pain of a migraine attack, according to the Mayo Clinic. Use a heating pad set on low, a hot-water bottle, a warm compress, or a hot towel. A hot bath or shower may also be helpful, or simply run warm water over your hands and feet.

Have a big glass of water.Dehydration can trigger a migraine attack or lead to a nonmigraine headache, says the National Headache Foundation. Replacing the liquids your body needs may help to relieve the pain.

Practice a relaxation technique. Meditate, breathe deeply, and try to visualize a peaceful image. “Various relaxation techniques can significantly help patients who suffer from ‘muscle contraction’ headaches,” says Rozental.

Give yourself a massage. Massage eases muscle tension, and sometimes helps to reduce headache pain, according to the Mayo Clinic. Gently massage your temples, scalp, neck, and shoulders with your fingertips, or gently stretch your neck.

How Are Sinus Headaches Prevented

If you have reoccurring sinus headaches as a symptom of sinusitis or seasonal allergies, you may need to consider prescription medication to manage the condition.

Lifestyle changes to reduce congestion, such as avoiding allergens and incorporating aerobic exercise into your routine, might decrease how many headaches you get.

In cases of chronic sinusitis, a nasal surgery such as a balloon sinuplasty might be the only way to stop getting more sinus headaches.

Read Also: What To Do If I Have A Sinus Infection

Try To Thin Congestion

Thinner mucus is less likely to get trapped in your sinuses, even if theyre inflamed from allergies or other irritation. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water, and use a humidifier in your home to keep the air moist.

Irrigate your sinuses with a sterile saline solution, or use a neti pot to cleanse inflamed sinuses and eliminate blockages and head pain. Breathing in steam or applying a warm, moist towel to your face may offer soothing relief. Plus, the heat can thin congestion and help mucus escape.

Eucalyptus Oil For Sinus Headache Treatment

my

The cineole component present in Eucalyptus oil holds anti-inflammatory properties which reduce the inflammation. Eucalyptus is also rich in decongestion properties which reduce the mucus production which reduces the congestion in the sinus cavities.

Process 1:

Process 2: With Carrier Oil

  • Dilute few drops of eucalyptus oil in 2 teaspoons of coconut oil or olive oil.
  • Rub the mixture gently on sinus regions which include areas around nose, forehead and cheeks to get relief from the sinus pressure and headache.

Tip: Take a clean handkerchief or cotton pad and pour few drops of eucalyptus oil on it. Smell the eucalyptus placing the handkerchief near the nose. You can smell it throughout the day whenever required.

Read Also: Sinus Pressure But Can Breathe Through Nose

What Is The Long

Sinus infections are primarily caused by allergies. The most common allergens are pollen, dust mites and pet dander. Those with repeated sinus infections may have chronic sinusitis, which means long-term solutions may be a better option.

Immunotherapy can help. These allergy shots enable your body to decrease sensitivity to common allergens. The Raleigh sinus doctors at Raleigh Medical Group specialize in helping patients with chronic allergy and sinus problems. While immunotherapy is effective, the treatment can take as long as one year to achieve noticeable results and maintenance treatment will likely be needed.

To find out if youre a candidate for immunotherapy, schedule an appointment with one of our internal medicine doctors. We welcome the opportunity to serve you.

Seeds And Nuts Provide Magnesium And Fiber

Magnesium deficiency is one of the most common nutritional causes of persistent or cluster headaches, says Sarah Thomsen Ferreira, RD, MPH, a registered dietitian with Cleveland Clinics Center for Functional Medicine in Ohio.

Prioritizing ample amounts of magnesium-rich foods daily is one of the best ways to keep these headaches at bay, Ferreira says.

Flaxseeds, sprouted pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds are all good , says Ferreira. Pumpkin seeds are also high in fiber, preventing the constipation that sometimes comes with migraine. Cashews are high in magnesium, too, she says.

Read Also: Medicine To Take For Sinus Headache

Know The Limits Of Natural Sinus Pain Relief

You should not try to self-treat your sinus pain if you have symptoms such as as yellow or green mucus discharge persistent fever or stiff neck pain for more than 24 hours confusion, weakness, numbness, or tingling and persistent nausea or vomiting. These symptoms could be a sign of a significant infection in your sinuses that might need antibiotics. “Using natural sinus pain relief is fine if you have mild chronic pain or a headache related to a common cold or an allergy, but if you have severe pain that is not responding to these techniques, you need to see your doctor,” advises Das.

How Long Does A Sinus Headache Last And Do Sinus Headaches Go Away On Their Own

Sinus Headache & Facial Pressure with Head & Neck Surgeon Dr. CT Nguyen

Sinus headaches caused by sinus infections can last up to two weeks or more, depending on the severity of your sinus infection. Although some sinus infections go away on their own, leaving a sinus infection untreated comes with potential complications, including the spread of the infection, loss of smell, and in extreme cases, meningitis and brain abscess.

Also Check: Sinus Infection How To Treat At Home

Home Remedies For Clogged Ears Due To Sinus Infections

Here are some additional home remedies that can help alleviate ear problems associated with sinus infections and even wax build-up.

  • Yawning helps redistribute the fluid in your ear.
  • Take a hot, steamy shower.
  • Make a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and warm water and pour it into the ear.
  • Chew gum as it can help move wax out of the ear.
  • Combine rubbing alcohol and vinegar and use the mixture as ear drops.
  • Pinch your nose and blow to pop your ears.
  • Drop warm olive oil into your ear once again this breaks up wax.
  • Combine rubbing alcohol and apple cider vinegar as ear drops to help treat infection.
  • Apply warm compresses to the ears.
  • Gargle with warm water and salt.

Should You Visit A Specialist

If your sinus infection just wont go away or keeps coming back, it may be time to see an ear, nose, and throat specialist. An ENT treats conditions of the ear, nose, throat, head, face, and neck. It may be time to see an ENT if:

  • Youve completed several courses of antibiotics without success
  • Your doctor suspects nasal polyps or another blockage of the nasal cavity
  • You have chronic sinusitis that lasts longer than 12 weeks

Living with a sinus infection is miserable and living with a sinus infection for weeks on end is worse. Contact your doctor or an ENT to get the treatment you need.

Don’t Miss: Can Sinus Infection Cause Permanent Hearing Loss

What Is Chronic Sinus Infection

Chronic sinusitis is a long-standing inflammation of your sinuses that lasts for 12 weeks or longer at a time. Sinusitis is also known as rhinosinusitis . So, we use the two terms interchangeably. When inflamed, nasal passages and sinuses become swollen and blocked. Chronic sinusitis interferes with the normal drainage of the mucus. Too much mucus builds up in your nose and sinuses, making them stuffy.

Your Sinusitis Wont Go Away Heres What You Need To Know

Headaches

Sinusitis also known as a sinus infection is, for the most part, a bacterial infection caused by inflammation of the sinuses. Chronic and recurring long-lasting sinusitis can render you incapacitated and quickly eat up your sick days.

But when your sinusitis wont go away, what options do you have? This guide walks you through how to identify a sinus infection, what happens if you ignore it, how to treat your chronic sinusitis, and more.

You May Like: Best Way To Cure Sinus Pressure

Diy Decongestant For Sinus Headache

The properties of different ingredients used in this process provide relief from the inflammation, pain, congestion, infection and pressure in sinus cavities.

  • In a saucepan, add 1/4 cup each of lemon juice and apple cider vinegar.
  • Simmer this mixture on heat.
  • Add 3 tablespoons of honey, 1/2 teaspoon each of cayenne pepper, ginger powder and cinnamon powder.
  • Remove from the flame, let it cool down and store in an airtight container in cool dark place.
  • Consume 1 â 2 tablespoons of this mixture daily. For kids, use a very less amount of this mixture.

Note: Shake the bottle well before consuming as some ingredients may have settle down to the bottom. A gentle shake will incorporate them again. For more effective results, you can warm up the mixture before consuming.

Use Meds In Moderation

Pharmacy shelves are stocked with pain relievers for all kinds of headaches. To get the most benefit with the least risk, follow the directions on the label and these guidelines:

  • Choose liquid over pills. Your body absorbs it faster.
  • Avoid ibuprofen and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if you have heart failure or kidney failure.
  • Do not give aspirin to a child under age 18.
  • Take painkillers as soon as you start to hurt. Youâll probably beat it with a smaller dose than if you wait.
  • If you get sick to your stomach when you get a headache, ask your doctor what might help.
  • Ask your doctor what to take to avoid a rebound headache, which is pain that sets in after a few days of pain relievers.

And be sure to talk to your doctor about what headache symptoms you should not treat at home.

Recommended Reading: Sinus Pain Behind Eye Treatment

Should You Have Sinus Surgery

Chronic sinus problems can be linked to problems with your nasal passages, such as nasal polyps or a deviated septum. If there is a specific structural issue that is causing your chronic sinusitis or sinus headaches then an ENT specialist may be able to correct it surgically. In order to find out if sinus surgery is a good idea, youll need to be assessed by an ENT specialist. The doctor will check that surgery is possible and then discuss the risks and benefits with you in detail. Having the procedure could permanently improve your breathing and prevent sinus problems.

Treatment For Sinus Infection

Sinus Drainage & Headache Relief Exercises | Sinusitis & Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Help | #1

Whether you have an acute sinus infection or a chronic infection, a number of treatment options can relieve your discomfort. If youre in the early stage of an acute sinus infection, it may be appropriate to start at-home treatments while you monitor your symptoms. If your sinusitis worsens, youll need to call your doctor for medication and further care. Even if youre receiving treatment from your doctor, at-home care can help ease your symptoms.

Recommended Reading: Sinus Pressure And Congestion Medicine

Where Are The Sinuses Located

The sinuses are named according to their location in the skull bones:

  • The frontal sinuses are located over the forehead, above the eyes on both sides.
  • The maxillary sinuses are located over the cheek area, in the bone known as the maxilla, located under the eyes on both sides of the face.
  • The ethmoid sinuses are located in the bone that divides the eyes and nose.
  • The sphenoid sinuses are located in the sphenoid bone at the center of the skull, behind the eyes.

The sinuses are lined by mucous membranes that secrete fluid and are connected to the nasal cavity by small channels or ducts. The sinuses are sometimes collectively referred to as the paranasal sinuses because of their proximity to the nose.

Inflammation due to any cause can cause a buildup of fluid and increased sinus pressure, causing the typical symptoms of a sinus headache.

Important Tips And Different Ways To Get Relief From Sinus Headache

Other than remedies using ingredients, here are some of the things you can incorporate in daily life to get relief from sinus headache.

  • Good Massage: Applying gentle pressure on the sinus regions (forehead, bridge of the nose and cheek bones with index and middle fingers helps get relief from the sinus headache. Use any essential oil while massaging for extra relief. You can also ask a friend for a gentle massage while you are sit back and relax.
  • Fluid Intake: When the nasal passages get congested, the tissues of the passage get inflamed and cannot drain out the mucus. Drinking plenty of fluids will decongest the nasal passages by thinning out the mucus and reduce the inflammation. Water, hot teas, soups, lemonade are the best in clearing up the mucus. You can opt for fruit juices as well but as they contain fructose, you will increase the calories unnecessarily.
  • Stretch Up: Exercising increases the heart rate just enough to break sweat which helps to clear the nasal passages. Aerobics, running or cycling for 15 minutes or even moderate exercise like brisk walk can help.
  • Breathing Exercise: Deep breathing exercises help in draining out the mucus and ease the sinus headache. All you have to do is to inhale slowly through nose and exhale slowly through mouth. Doing this for few minutes relaxes the tense muscles contributing to headache.
  • Pop couple of mentholated drops to get relief from the congestion. Though this doesnât provide results, it can provide some relief.
  • Also Check: Pineapple Juice For Sinus Infection

    Sinusitis Wont Go Away Consider Balloon Sinuplasty

    Whether this is your first bout with sinusitis that wont go away or you experience sinus infections on a regular basis, you should know that getting rid of sinusitis is well within reach.

    At Sinus Solutions of South Florida, Dr. Napoleon G. Bequer has provided hundreds of patients with relief from chronic sinusitis using the balloon sinuplasty procedure. So if you have sinusitis that wont go away, contact us online, call us at 561-790-7744, or take our sinus quiz today to see if youre a viable candidate for balloon sinuplasty.

    Related Resources:

    What To Do For Sinus Pressure And Pain At Home

    14 kinds of headaches and how to treat them

    Here are the top 10 at-hometreatments to help ease your sinus pain and inflammation to get rid of your sinus infection faster.

  • Flush. Use a Neti pot, a therapy that uses a salt and water solution, to flush your nasal passages. Nasal irrigation using the Neti pot has been a tried-and-true sinus treatment method for centuries. I have patients who swear by Neti pots and use them daily or weekly to keep their sinuses flowing well. Remember to use distilled water only.
  • Spray. Use an over-the-counter nasal decongestant spray that contains salt water to help keep your nasal passages moist, unblock congestion and treat inflammation. Some sprays, like Afrin®, can only be used for a maximum of three days. If you exceed three days, you will get “rebound” or worse nasal congestion. Other nasal sprays, like fluticasone, are more effective the longer you use them.
  • Hydrate. Drink a lot of fluidswater and/or juiceto help thin your mucus. Avoid caffeinated or alcoholic beverages, which can cause dehydration.
  • Rest. Get plenty of rest to help your body fight infection and speed up recovery. While you sleep, prop yourself up with a couple of pillows. Staying elevated can help you breathe more comfortably.
  • Steam. Breathe in steam from a pot or bowl of warm water or take a hot shower. You also can place a warm, wet towel on your face, followed by a cool towel. to help ease sinus pain and open your nasal passages.
  • Don’t Miss: Advil Cold And Sinus Relief

    What Are The Complications Of Sinus Headaches

    In rare cases, complications around the eye area can happen, resulting in the area being swollen and inflamed. This may even affect your vision.

    If you have a high fever that persists, discolored nasal discharge, rattling in your chest, or difficulty breathing, see your doctor about these symptoms. While a sinus headache might seem like a harmless health condition, its important to determine its cause.

    Tips To Help You Get Relief From Your Head Cold

    Oh, your aching head! If youâre suffering from unbearable nasal congestion and headache, you probably have a head cold. The reason youâre so stuffed up? When you have a head cold, the membranes lining your nasal passages become swollen and produce excess mucus to flush out whatever is causing the irritation, whether itâs a virus or an allergen. You might experience pain in your forehead, under your eyes or in your upper teeth.

    The key to getting rid of a head cold is to reduce sinus swelling and help mucus drain from your sinuses. Although it might seem counterintuitive, keeping your nasal passages moist is the best way to clear out congestionâdry sinuses will only result in further irritation.

    Try these simple tips to clear up a head cold and help relieve headache and sinus pressure.

  • Use a humidifier.
  • Since breathing in dry air will dry out your sinuses, itâs best to add moisture back into your environment by using a cool-mist humidifier or steam vaporizer. You can also try breathing in steam from a hot shower. Doing so can help soothe the irritated membranes lining your nasal passages.

  • Reach for a warm compress.
  • A great way to ease a headache and sinus pressure is to place a warm compress on your forehead and nose. If you donât have a compress, try moistening a washcloth with warm water and applying it to your face several times a day. This will help relieve nasal congestion and relieve your head cold symptoms.

  • Irrigate your sinuses.
  • Try a nasal spray.
  • Don’t Miss: What Medicine For Sinus Congestion

    Popular Articles
    Related news