What Are Some Options For Sinus Headache Treatment
You can try some at-home lifestyle remedies, including drinking more fluids, using a humidifier or vaporizer to moisten the air, and using a saltwater nasal spray. You may also want to try applying a warm, wet towel to your face to help provide some relief.
In addition, the following are some common types of sinus headache treatment:
- Antihistamines These can help if your sinus headaches are caused by allergies, since they reduce or block histamines and help reduce inflammation and swelling. They are available over-the-counter and also by prescription and come in tablet or nasal spray form.
- These oral or nasal medications can help reduce the amount of swelling and mucus in your nasal passages. They shouldnt be used in the long-term, however.
- Nasal steroid sprays These are available by prescription or over the counter and can help reduce pain and congestion.
- Antibiotics These can be used if your doctor thinks your sinusitis is caused by a bacterial infection. Most infections, however, are viral, and if this is the case, antibiotics wont help.
- Pain medication Medications such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, or naproxen sodium can be used.
If medications dont improve your symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery depending on the exact cause of your sinusitis and sinus headaches. The goal of surgery is to correct the underlying issue to provide long-term relief.
Surgical options can include the following:
What Is Sinus Pressure And Pain
Our sinus cavity is the hollow space behind our eyes and nose. It helps us by assisting in airflow and allowing us to breathe easier. Problems start to occur when our sinus cavity openings become swollen. When the swelling occurs it can lead to stuffiness, congestion, and the disruption of airflow. Swelling also causes bacteria to become trapped and this leads to pain and infection.
Several factors can cause nasal passage irritation and bring on sinus pressure symptoms:
- Environmental irritants â Airborne pollutants such as those that cause allergies can trigger mucus build-up and sinus pressure.
- A sinus infection â Sinusitis, more commonly known as a sinus infection, could be a cause of your sinus pressure and pain. If you think you may have a sinus infection, talk to your doctor for a diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
- The common cold â Not every cold is the same but sometimes symptoms include mucus build-up, which can mean sinus pressure and pain.
There are different types of sinuses, each of which can cause different sinus pain symptoms:
- Frontal – Frontal sinuses cause forehead pain and headaches
- Ethmoid – Ethmoid sinuses cause pain between the eyes and across the nose.
- Maxillary – Maxillary sinuses cause pain in the cheeks, upper jaw or teeth.
- Sphenoid – Sphenoid sinuses cause pain behind the eyes, on the top of the scalp, or along the back of the head.
Check If You Have Sinusitis
Sinusitis is common after a cold or flu.
Symptoms of sinusitis include:
- pain, swelling and tenderness around your cheeks, eyes or forehead
- a blocked nose
- a reduced sense of smell
- green or yellow mucus from your nose
- a sinus headache
- toothache
- bad breath
Signs of sinusitis in young children may also include irritability, difficulty feeding, and breathing through their mouth.
The sinuses are small, empty spaces behind your cheekbones and forehead that connect to the inside of the nose.
Sinusitis causes the lining of the sinuses to swell up.
This stops mucus draining into your nose and throat properly, making you feel blocked up.
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How Do I Get Rid Of A Sinus Headache
To get rid of a sinus headache, you have to treat the underlying cause. But you can take steps to ease sinus pressure and pain at home:
- Apply a warm compress to painful areas of the face.
- Use a decongestant to reduce sinus swelling and allow mucus to drain.
- Try a saline nasal spray or drops to thin mucus.
- Use a vaporizer or inhale steam from a pan of boiled water. Warm, moist air may help relieve sinus congestion.
Sinus infection
Viruses, bacteria and sometimes fungi cause sinus infections. Viral infections often go away on their own. But if your infection is bacterial or fungal, you need antibiotics or antifungal medications. Your healthcare provider may also recommend other medications to ease discomfort, such as:
- Antihistamines to prevent allergy symptoms.
- Pain relievers to ease headache pain.
- Steroids to reduce inflammation.
Migraines with sinus symptoms
Sinus headaches that are actually migraines need a different type of treatment. The first step is to relieve your pain. You should know that frequently using over-the-counter medications when you have a headache can cause even more headaches .
Your provider may recommend prescription medication for migraine pain. You may also need a preventive medication that helps you have fewer migraine attacks.
Best Medicines For Sinus Pressure 2020
If you are experiencing increased sinus pressure, it is possible that youre feeling significant pain around different areas of your face: this is most likely caused by an accumulation of mucus, which results in a congested sinus. Not only is it painful, but it also makes it difficult for you to go about your daily routine.
Fortunately, there isnt a need for us to simply soldier through the discomfort because of the sheer number of different treatments available for sinus pressure. However, it is not uncommon for people to accidentally delay relief as a cause of purchasing the wrong products when in the drugstore.
Prevent the expensive episode of trial and error and make sure to buy the best medicine for sinus pressure that works by checking out this buying guide.
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Use Pillows To Encourage The Drainage From The Ears
Sometimes there will be some blockage in the ears. You can get the fluid that builds up, due to it having nowhere to go or a previous infection. You will want to get it out of the ears as soon as possible.
Rather than using a saline cleanser , you will want to encourage the draining of the liquid as soon as possible. The best way to do that is by focusing on the way you sleep and sit throughout the day.
Arrange the pillows in your bed to help prop your body slightly. This will help to keep your head up and avoid the pressure going further into your ears and head theres nothing worse than trying to sleep when dealing with pressure around your sinuses! The pillows will also help to encourage the right positioning for the draining of the fluid. Keep your blocked ear closest to the bed for the best results.
Even if the fluid does not drain out, sleeping like this will help you get a good nights sleep. This will encourage your immune system to work better, so you get rid of the sinus issues and pressure quicker.
You may also find that the pressure is due to thetrapped fluid within your ear canal . Tilt your head to one side and jump up and down. Gravity can help to dislodge the water. You will feel it trickle out of your ear!
When Should I See An Ent For Sinus Pain And Pressure
A good rule of thumb is to talk to your doctor if sinus pain and pressure is affecting your daily life. Other things to look out for include:
- It makes it difficult to sleep
- Youve had a stuffy or runny nose for over a week
- Your sinus headaches more frequently
- Over-the-counter treatments dont work
- You injured your nose
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How Is A Sinus Infection Treated
First, you will need to find out what’s causing your sinus infection. Is it bacterial or viral? If it’s viral, it will not likely last more than a couple of weeks. To obtain relief from symptoms of a sinus infection, you can use:
-
Topical and oral antihistamines
-
Nasal saline washes
-
Nasal steroids
Antibiotics are often prescribed for bacterial infection. But, you don’t want to jump too quickly to antibiotics because being overprescribed antibiotics can lead to you developing antibiotic resistance. Usually, allergists suggest you only take antibiotics if your symptoms have lasted over seven to 10 days. If medications don’t work for you, your doctor might recommend surgery to correct defects in the bone that separates your nasal passages, open closed passages or remove nasal polyps.
Proven Techniques To Relieve Sinus Pressure In The Ear
Sinus infections or clogged sinuses can affect the ears. You can sometimes feel a mild pain in the ear canal, or you may just feel like your ears are constantly blocked. The sound may be muffled, and it can feel a little disruptive. It is all to do with the pressure within your sinuses and the way you ear, nose, and throat are all connected.
It is time to take some steps to relieve the pressure. The good news is you do not necessarily need medication. Unless this is a symptom of another medical issue, you can avoid pharmaceutical drugs often. There are plenty of proven, herbal and natural remedies available.
Heres a look at seven that you will want to try right away to get rid of your sinus pressure within the ear.
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First Line Of Defense Against Sinusitis: Nasal Irrigation
One of the simplest, cheapest, and most effective ways to prevent and treat sinus problems is nasal irrigation. Using a homemade solution, you can often relieve sinusitis symptoms, reduce reliance on nasal sprays and antibiotics, and improve your quality of life. At least once a day, follow these steps:
What Causes Sinus Pressure And Headaches
Bacteria or viral infectionSinus pressure and headaches are often caused by inflammation from a bacterial or viral infection. The lining of your sinuses begin to swell, which traps mucus and pus in your sinus cavities causing pressure in the face, over the cheeks or forehead, or between or behind the eyes.
Weather change
For people with sinus problems or allergies, a shift in weatherespecially from summer to fallcan cause sinus headaches. Sinus pressure from weather is more prevalent in Houston and other coastal cities where high pressure and low pressure systems meet.
Stress
Stress-induced sinus pressure can also occur because stress weakens your bodys immune system, making you more vulnerable to the effects of allergens, as well as germs, bacteria, viruses, infections.
Injury or genetics
A deviated septum or narrow sinuses dont cause sinus pressure but can make it easier to get congested and more likely to have chronic sinus infections.
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How You Can Reduce Sinus Pressure During Airline Flights
There are a number of things you can do to relieve the pressure you experience during an airline flight. While these tips may not be 100% effective, in most cases they will at least reduce the level of pressure you feel, and they will make the ascents and descents of the airplane more tolerable.
One of the best things you can do to alleviate changing air pressure as you fly is to take an allergy medicine before traveling. You may already have a prescription for an allergy medication from your doctor, or you may need to simply purchase one over-the-counter, but in any case, these can effectively reduce any pressure sensations you feel during the flight.
If you dont suffer from allergies and youve never used allergy medications, an oral decongestant can be just as effective in many cases, and this is something you should also do before the flight. As youre waiting in the airline terminal, prior to the time your plane begins boarding, just pop in an oral decongestant with a glass of water, and you just might get through the whole flight without any discomfort.
If your flight is a long one, you may need to supplement the original ingestion of either allergy medication or oral decongestant by taking a second capsule with a beverage at some point before the descent begins.
A little social discomfort might be far more preferable to the physical discomfort you would feel if you dont do anything at all.
How Do You Treat Sinus Pain
You can treat sinus pain using at-home treatment methods and over-the-counter medication. If you are only experiencing mild pain and discomfort, the best medicine for sinus pressure includes pain relievers and decongestants.
Some helpful at-home sinus pain treatment methods include:
- Using a humidifier or vaporizer
- Taking long, warm showers and/or breathing in steam from a pot of warm water
- Drinking lots of fluid to thin the mucus, promoting drainage
- Using a nasal saline spray to keep your nasal passages from drying out
- Using a Neti pot, nasal irrigator, or bulb syringe
- Placing a warm, wet towel on your face to open your nasal passages
- Rearranging your pillows to keep your head slightly elevated
- Avoiding chlorinated pools, as they can irritate your nasal passages
- Use menthol lozenges or menthol rubs to ease discomfort
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What Are The Causes And Triggers Of Sinus Headaches
Sinus headaches are most often a symptom of sinusitis, in which the sinus becomes inflamed from allergies or other triggers like an infection. Sinus headaches may also result from seasonal allergies that last an extended period of time. This is called rhinitis, or hay fever. Sinus infections and sinus blockages can also trigger sinus headaches.
Relieving Sinus Pressure: Simple Strategies To Feel Better
When the sinus pressure is building, do you feel desperate for a treatment or solution to relieve the pain and pressure? Outside, everything looks normal. But inside, it feels like your head is going to explode.
Sinus pressure is commonly associated with people who have the common cold or seasonal allergies. When the nasal passages are running, the congestion can build up and cause inflammation. Usually, the original cause of upper respiratory symptoms is viral or allergies. But a secondary bacterial infection can develop because of the conditions that are created in the sinuses. When sinuses are unable to drain, it results in pain and discomfort throughout the sinus areas: near the nose, forehead, and face.
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How Do I Relieve Sinus Pressure
The best way to relieve sinus pressure is to open up the sinuses so they can drain. This process usually involves a treatment plan to eliminate the infection or the underlying cause of congestion. As long as the nasal passages and sinuses stay congested, you will continue feeling pain and pressure.
For acute sinus conditions, such as a sinus infection that happens after a head cold, your doctor might recommend an antibiotic to clear up the infection. When the sinus pressure is constant and recurring for more than 12 weeks, then other treatments might be considered. For example, a balloon sinuplasty or other surgical treatments can offer a way to open the sinuses for drainage.
If a surgical method is used to open the sinuses, its important to implement a treatment plan to address the underlying issues. For example, if allergies cause chronic congestion and a runny nose, then you need to be proactive in treating the allergies which will help to reduce congestion and sinus pain in the future.
Avoid Triggers That Can Cause Sinus Pressure
Most of the time, it is ignored but there are some particles that can trigger sinus infections. This can aggravate the sinus pressure and make the nasal congestion worse.
Fortunately, there are some natural ways that can prevent these triggers and thereby, get relief from sinus pressure.
-Avoid alcohol-Clean the humidifier regularly to avoid fungal allergies-Wash the bedding in hot water to wash out any allergy exposure-Dont swim, dive or fly when you have sinusitis
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What Is The Best Pain Relief For Sinusitis
Sinusitis is the medical term for inflamed nasal passages and is treated differently based on the frequency and severity of swelling.
Acute viral sinusitis occurs occasionally and generally clears itself within a week. During this time, you can manage symptoms with pain relievers.
Chronic sinusitis occurs more frequently and lasts longer. While symptoms can be managed with OTC medication or antibiotics for bacterial infections. Chronic sinusitis may require intervention from an ENT.
Irrigate To Relieve Sinus Pressure
“Salt water irrigation is the best way to cleanse the nose and sinuses this can help prevent or relieve sinus pain. You can use an over-the-counter saline nasal spray, but I recommend using a sinus rinse bottle, neti pot, or bulb syringe irrigation kit that you can get at the drugstore,” advises Das.
Try this commonly-used, easy-to-make nasal irrigation solution with your own sinus irrigation kit: Fill a clean 8-ounce glass with distilled or sterilized lukewarm water. Do not use tap water unless it has been boiled for at least 1 minute . Add 1/2 teaspoon of non-iodized salt and a pinch of baking soda. And be sure to clean all equipment and make a fresh batch of solution each time you use your kit.
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