Sore Throat And Sinus Pressure

What Causes Pressure In Your Sinuses

Sinus pressure is caused by the swelling and inflammation of the membranes inside your sinus passages. This irritation causes the membranes to produce more mucus to try to flush out whatever is causing the inflammation. The excess mucus then adds to the pressure inside the sinus cavities.

Some trigger of sinus pressure include:

• Allergies
• Infection caused by a virus such as the cold or flu
• Infection caused by bacteria
• Tumors

How To Tell The Difference And What To Do About It

It’s no fun coping with the stuffy, dripping head congestion of a winter bug. But how do you know if you’re fighting a common cold or a sinus infection? “The symptoms can overlap, and it can be hard to tell the difference,” says Dr. Ahmad Sedaghat, an otolaryngologist with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

What Symptoms Other Than Nasal Congestion Sore Throat And Cough Are Associated With The Common Cold

Other manifestations are as follows:

• Foul breath: Occurs as resident flora processes the products of the inflammatory process foul breath may also occurs with allergic rhinitis

• Hyposmia: Also termed anosmia, it is secondary to nasal inflammation

• Headache: Common with many types of URI

• Sinus symptoms: May include congestion or pressure and are common with viral URIs

• Fever: Usually slight or absent in adults, but temperatures can reach 102°F in infants and young children if present, fever typically lasts for only a few days influenza can cause fevers as high as 40°C

• Gastrointestinal symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may occur in persons with influenza, especially in children nausea and abdominal pain may be present in individuals with strep throat and various viral syndromes

• Severe myalgia: Typical of influenza infection, especially in the setting of sudden-onset sore throat, fever, chills, nonproductive cough, and headache

• Fatigue or malaise: Any type of URI can produce these symptoms extreme exhaustion is typical of influenza

References

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What Is Sinusitis And What Are Sinusitis Symptoms

When it comes to sore throats, it can sometimes be difficult to tell if the sore throat is due to a sinus infection or the common cold. Asinus infection is most frequently caused by bacteria settling in your blocked sinuses, resulting in inflammation and pain.

To deduce whether or not you have a sinus infection, look for the following sinusitis symptoms:

• Tenderness in the face, including ear, eye, and teeth pain
• Teeth pain
• Redness/swelling in the face and nasal passages
• Thick yellow or green mucus
• Headache
• Itchy ears and throat

Keep in mind that the symptoms of sinusitis can be very similar to cold symptoms. However, sinusitis typically lasts longer than your average cold. In addition, untreated sinusitis symptoms can lead to further complications, with more extreme cases leading to a decreased sense of smell or even loss of vision. Because of this, its important to look for the aforementioned signs of sinusitis and seek treatment if necessary.

How An Ent Treats A Sinus Infection

If you have a lingering sinus infection after antibiotics, an ENT doctor often elects to be more aggressive in treatment than a primary care physician. They may prescribe longer courses of antibiotics, stronger medications, or recommend a procedure to open the sinuses.

If you have persistent sinus problems, the sinuses must first be unblocked. Sometimes, thats done through a simple balloon sinuplasty and irrigation. Other times, unblocking the sinuses requires a more aggressive procedure like endoscopic sinus surgery. We opt for this procedure when the sinuses become so blocked, tissue and bone need to be removed to create a wider opening.

If youre dealing with a lingering sinus infection, dont let it progress to a more serious issue. Call your ENT so they can discover whats at the root of your problem and find a treatment to bring you relief.

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Cleaning Inside Your Nose

You can clean the inside of your nose using either a home-made salt water solution or a solution made with sachets of ingredients bought from a pharmacy.

To make the solution at home, mix a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda into a pint of boiled water that has been left to cool. To rinse your nose:

• wash and dry your hands
• stand over a sink, cup the palm of one hand and pour a small amount of the solution into it
• sniff the water into one nostril at a time

Repeat these steps until your nose feels more comfortable . You should make a fresh solution each day. Dont re-use a solution made the day before.

Special devices you can use instead of your hand are also available for pharmacies. If you choose to use one of these, make sure you follow the manufacturers instructions about using and cleaning it.

Struggling With Chronic Post

At the beginning of this article, we answered the question Does sinus infection cause sore throat with an affirmative yes, it can. But what if you didnt have a sinus infection in the first place?

At Kaplan Sinus Relief, we help Houstonians find relief from acute and chronic sinusitis. In fact, our Dr. Kaplan is a leader in spreading the balloon sinuplasty procedure across the nation he has taught doctors across the country how to successfully perform balloon sinuplasty, helping to bring sinus relief to thousands of Americans.

If you are struggling with acute or chronic sinus infections and their attending symptoms of post-nasal drip and sore throat, Kaplan Sinus Relief can help.

For more information, check out our balloon sinuplasty review as well as our testimonials. To request an appointment, call us at 713-766-1818 or contact us online today.

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What To Do For Sinus Pressure And Pain At Home

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

When To Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have:

• Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
• Symptoms that get worse after initially improving.
• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without improvement.
• Fever longer than 3-4 days.

You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.

This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.

Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:

• Seasonal allergies
• Colds

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Lozenges Or Cough Drops

Suck on lozenges or cough drops to keep the throat moist. Some brands have topical anesthetics, which will ease throat pain at least temporarily and last longer than sprays.

• Lozenges with menthol also can feel refreshing and ease sore throat symptoms.
• Young children and toddlers should not be given lozenges as they can be a choking hazard.

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The Best Medicine For Stuffy Nose And Sinus Pain:

shrink swollen blood vessels and tissues in your nose, making breathing easier. One type, pseudoephedrine , is sold without a prescription but only from behind the pharmacy counter and in limited quantities because it can be used to make the illegal drug methamphetamine .

Nasal decongestant sprays containing the active ingredient oxymetazoline do a good job of reducing stuffiness after just one dose, shows research in the December 1, 2019, issue of the journal Rhinology. However, you shouldnât use these sprays for more than three days in a row or your stuffy nose could get worse, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. Preservative-free saline nasal sprays , which contain a small amount of salt diluted in sterilized water to help moisturize inflamed nasal passages, tend to be safe for daily use in people of all ages.

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The Best Medicine For Fever Sore Throat And/or Aches And Pains:

Acetaminophen, best known by the brand name Tylenol, is primarily used as a fever reducer, although research in the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews suggests it may also relieve cold-related aches and pains. Acetaminophen is safe for most people if taken as directed. It is found in many combination remedies, such as Tylenol Cold + Flu Severe Caplets and Vicks Dayquil Cold & Flu Relief Liquicaps.

Because overdoing acetaminophen can cause serious harm to the liver, avoid using more than one product that contains it at a time to avoid exceeding the FDA-suggested daily dose of 3,000 milligrams for adults per 24-hour period.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , which include aspirin, ibuprofen , and naproxen , reduce fever as well as inflammation throughout the body. Other research in the Cochrane Database of Systemic Reviews found that NSAIDs can greatly lessen discomfort due to headache, ear pain, muscle pain, joint pain, and sneezing.

Note: Some cold and flu remedies such as Excedrin contain both acetaminophen and an NSAID.

Numbing throat sprays and lozenges made with benzocaine , dyclonine , or phenol work like local anesthetics to provide temporary pain relief caused by a sore throat.

If youre still having a hard time navigating the cold medication aisle, talk to the pharmacist. With a little customized guidance about ingredients, you may be able to enjoy better symptom relief.

Additional reporting by Nuna Alberts.

How A Sinus Infection Happens

Colds can progress to become sinus infections, but not all sinus infections are viral. Bacteria and even allergies also can cause sinus infections.

A sinus infection occurs when the sinus lining becomes inflamed, preventing the sinuses from draining, he says. The trapped mucous becomes a breeding ground for bacteria, which can lead to a sinus infection.

Conditions that may make you more likely to get a sinus infection include:

• Allergies.
• Nasal polyps .
• Immunodeficiencies .

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Cdc Awards $1588 Million To Wayne State University To Study Viral Infection Surveillanceyour Browser Indicates If Youve Visited This Link

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded $15.88 million to the Wayne State University School of Medicineâs Department of Emergency Medicine to be the epicenter of a national study on viral infections that present in emergency departments across the county.

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A Note On Antihistamines

While antihistamines like chlorpheniramine and diphenhydramine can treat sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes, theyre intended to treat those symptoms when theyre caused by allergies. If you have a cold or a sinus infection, antihistamines may make it more difficult to treat, says Dr. Tweel. I havent found them to be significant in my practice. Plus, theres a teaching you shouldnt use antihistamines for a cold.

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When To See A Doctor For Sinus Pain

If your sinus symptoms are not getting better with at-home treatments, and if your sinus symptoms last longer than seven to 10 days, you should see a doctor for treatment. Allina Health has many convenient care options for care, from online visits to walk-in care, to help you get better fast.

If you have frequent or reoccurring sinus infections, you may want to see an ear, nose and throat for your treatment options.

Sinus Infection Vs Covid

Some sinus infection and COVID-19 symptoms may overlap. Both illnesses can cause a fever, headaches, nasal congestion, fatigue or a sore throat. Symptoms unique to COVID-19 include body aches, nausea, shortness of breath and vomiting. Learn the difference between the cold, flu and COVID-19 based on your symptoms.

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Its Best To Choose Cold And Flu Medication By Symptom

The key to picking the right product or products to help you feel better faster is to zero in on your symptoms. Also important: Whenever possible, stick to single-ingredient remedies to reduce the risk of side effects, says Nate Favini, MD, an internist and medical director of the nationwide healthcare system Forward.

Choose a medication thats going to directly address the symptom or symptoms that are bothering you rather than a cocktail that may include things you dont need, he says. For example, if the label of a cold or flu medication says that it treats fevers, coughs, and runny noses but you have only a cough, choose a simple cough suppressant instead.

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Home Remedies For Sinus Pressure With Hot And Cold Compress

For this situation, the hot and cold compress is mentioned as the best solution. When you use this remedy, it can help to relieve the pressure as well as get the air and mucus moving easily. Here is the detailed instruction, which you can follow in order to get rid of sinus pressure:

• Firstly, put a hot or warm towel across your sinus area on your face in 3 minutes
• Next take the hot towel out
• Then put on a cold towel for 30 seconds
• After that, return to hot towel
• Do this procedure for 3 cycles
• Repeat this procedure 4 times per day
• Keep doing until your condition is improved

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Get The Relief You Need

Enduring the symptoms of sinusitis and a scratchy throat can be miserable, but more often than not, the discomfort goes away within a week. If you find your symptoms lasting longer, its important you visit our office. We can make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment to get you back on your feet.

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Treating Your Sinus Infection

If you think you have a sinus infection, you may need to see your doctor.

âMostly, these acute infections go away on their own or after a simple course of antibiotics,â says ear, nose, and throat specialist Greg Davis, who practices at the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle.

Davis recommends sinus irrigation for sinus infections. It can help ease your symptoms while you wait for the antibiotics to do their job. Steroids, , and over-the-counter mucus thinners can also ease your discomfort, he says.

See an ear, nose, and throat specialist if your sinus infection doesnât go away after one or two courses of antibiotics, Davis says.

Some people have sinus infections over and over. The only known risk factors, Davis says, are allergies and smoking In rare cases, an acute infection can become chronic if itâs not treated successfully.

If you have chronic infections, and antibiotics and other treatments donât help, you may need sinus surgery, Davis says.

Your doctor will enlarge the small or inflamed and swollen openings of your sinuses, allowing them to drain, and letting you breathe more easily.

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Sinus And Throat Pressure

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Untreated Sinus Infection Risks

Sinus infections often start to improve on their own after about 10 days. If your symptoms last longer without improving or if they worsen, a doctor may need to treat the underlying cause of the infection.

If a sinus infection affects a sinus cavity close to the brain, it can spread to the brain if left untreated. Though rare, an infection can also pass into the eye socket and cause vision changes or blindness. These types of infections are more common in kids.

While uncommon, a serious fungal sinus infection left untreated may pass into the bones.

Make an appointment with a doctor if you have severe symptoms, or if the following symptoms last longer than 10 days or keep coming back:

• fever
• congestion
• facial pain

Because the cause of your sinus infection can affect your treatment options, its important to see a doctor for a diagnosis. The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if youre looking for a doctor.

If you believe you have chronic or recurring sinusitis, consider asking for a referral to an otolaryngologist, also known as an ear, nose, and throat specialist. You may need imaging and other tests to determine the cause of your symptoms.

An ENT specialist can take a culture of nose drainage to better understand the cause of an infection. The ENT specialist can also examine the sinuses more closely and look for any problem in the structure of the nasal passages that could lead to chronic sinus problems.

• earaches

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