Ways To Get Rid Of A Sinus Headache

What To Do When Home Remedies Aren’t Working

When you have a sinus headache, trying some treatments at home should be your first step. However, if you’ve tried a few things and nothing is helping, seeing a doctor can help you to get the right treatment and perhaps identify an underlying cause. You should also see a doctor if you have a fever, if there is pain or swelling of your face or eyes, redness around your eyes, cheeks, a severe headache, stiff neck or confusion.

After other treatments have been exhausted and your sinus problems are recurring, surgery might be suggested as an option for sinus headaches and blocked sinuses. This is something that you might discuss with your ENT to determine whether it’s the right choice for you and how it can help, as well as some of the risks that surgery can have. Before discussing surgery, it’s important to try other remedies to find out if any of them work.

If sinus headaches are a regular problem for you, Mountain Ear, Nose & Throat Associates can help. Contact us today at Sylva 828-586-7474, Franklin 828-524-5599, Murphy 828-835-1014 or New Asheville 828-458-8100 to schedule an appointment or learn more.

What Can An Ent Do To Reduce Or Prevent Sinus Pain

There are multiple ways to relieve sinus pain including, pain-free balloon sinuplasty. Balloon sinuplasty is an endoscopic nasal surgery that uses small balloon catheters to drain the large nasal sinuses. This is an almost immediate way to relieve pressure and can dramatically improve the quality of life for those with a deviated septum.

Request an appointment to see if balloon sinuplasty is the right treatment option for you.

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Differentiate Between Sinus Headache And Migraine Headache

Many people who assume they are having sinus pain due to sinus pressure are actually having a migraine headache. Migraine pain can involve the same nerves as the sinus cavities and is frequently accompanied by nasal congestion, nausea, and aggravation by bright light. “If sinus pain is caused by a migraine, the best natural treatment is lying down in a dark, quiet room,” advises Das.

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Types Of Sinus Infections: Chronic Vs Acute

There are four types of sinus infections. These classifications depend on the length and frequency of the infection:

• Acute sinusitis.This type of sinus infection lasts only for a short time, defined by the American Academy of Otolaryngology as less than 4 weeks. This short-term infection is usually part of a cold or other respiratory illness. It may also be caused by a bacterial infection .
• Subacute sinusitis. A subacute sinus infection lasts between 4 and 12 weeks .
• Recurrent acute sinusitis. An acute sinus infection is considered recurrent if the infection returns four or more times within a year, with each infection lasting 7 days or more.
• Chronic sinusitis.Chronic sinus infections last for more than 12 weeks or continue to recur.

Many sinus infection symptoms are common in both acute and chronic forms. Seeing a doctor is the best way to learn if you have an infection, find the cause, and get treatment.

• nasal congestion

For cases of acute bacterial sinus infections, these symptoms last at least 10 days without improving, or they worsen within 10 days after seeming to improve. In this case, its important to talk with a doctor, such as a general practitioner or an ear, nose, and throat doctor , to get a diagnosis and treatment plan.

Learn more about the symptoms of a sinus infection below.

Avoid Smoke And Noxious Fumes

The air you breathe could be making your sinuses ache, depending on what that air is carrying. Avoid cigarette smoke and fumes from

• harsh cleaning products,
• hair spray, and
• perfumes.

With a world full of industrial chemicals and people who smoke, how can you keep your sinus problems at bay? Here are a couple of tips:

• Dont let friends or family smoke in your home.
• Look for green cleaning products in unscented varieties. Theyre less likely to contain the harsh chemicals that can kick-start sinus pressure and pain.

Read Also: Best Over The Counter Allergy Medicine For Sinus Pressure

Also Check: When To Treat A Sinus Infection With Antibiotics

When Should I Seek Medical A Care For A Sinus Headache

• Sinus headaches and infections may sometimes be successfully treated at home .
• However, you should seek medical care if you are not sure what is causing your symptoms or if you have signs of a severe infection including high fever, symptoms that do not resolve with time, or if over-the-counter pain relievers are not effective in controlling the pain.
• You should also seek care if you notice swelling in the face that accompanies the pain, swelling around your eye or changes in vision, since this could be a sign of an abscess.

Sinus Headaches Migraines And Tension Headaches: How To Tell Them Apart

The simplest way to tell a sinus headache, a migraine attack and a tension headache apart is to identify the most independent differences between the symptoms of all three.

This table will help you pick the differences out with ease, as only unique symptoms have been highlighted. Unique symptoms are symptoms that are specific to one of the three conditions and arent shared as common symptoms.

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Keep Your Body Hydrated

Staying hydrated is beneficial for your general health and helps to flush out toxins from your body.

Drinking plenty of fluids also helps to thin nasal secretions, hence making your sinus passages less congested. When you are dehydrated, your sinus passages tend to dry out, leading to increased pressure, discomfort and pain.

If you feel bloated from drinking lots of water, or dont enjoy drinking water in general, there are other types of fluids you can take to help you stay hydrated.

Drinking more soup during meal times, having tea or sucking on ice cubes can also help you stay hydrated. Additionally, increasing your intake on water-based vegetables and fruits will help to increase fluid intake in your diet.

Just as there are things that help hydrate, there are also some that do the opposite. For example, caffeine and alcohol dehydrate your body and should be avoided.

Fried and oily foods are also not the best options if you have sinus, and you should stay away from unhealthy food in general as they could worsen your condition.

Its important to be mindful of what you eat and drink to speed up your recovery from sinus. Healthy lifestyle habits like drinking more water and eating healthy, even while youre well, will also go a long way towards benefiting your overall health.

Experiencing Regular Sinus Headaches Contact National Headache Institute Today

The occasional sinus headache happens to everyone, but if you are having sinus pressure headaches regularly, its best to see a headache specialist, like those at National Headache Institute. Get in touch with us today to schedule a consultation in office or via telemedicine with one of our expert physicians. We have several locations to serve you and a variety of treatment options available all of which have the power to stop your sinus pressure headaches indefinitely.

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What Causes A Sinus Infection

A sinus infection can be caused by several different things including:

Seasonal allergies A deviated septum: The septum is the part of the nose that divides it into right and left nostrils. Some people have crooked or deviated septums, which makes them more susceptible to sinus infections. Nasal polyps Respiratory tract infections

Sinus infections may be acute or chronic .

Increase Your Fluid Intake

When suffering from a sinus headache, be sure to drink plenty of fluids. This can help thin the mucus in your sinuses, making it easier to drain. Once the body gets rid of the mucus, your headache will vanish away quickly.

Drinking enough fluid will also help with overall hydration. Check the color of your urine to determine if you are properly hydrated. Colorless urine is an indication of good hydration.

Along with water, drinking warm fluids will also help. Drinking warm fluids increases the nasal mucus velocity partially or completely with nasal inhalation of water vapor. Warm chicken soup has been known to increase the nasal mucus velocity. Also, warm liquid is better than cold liquid in managing upper respiratory tract infections.

Enjoy a hot cup of herbal tea or drink broth to help thin the mucus accumulation in the nasal passages. Additionally, warm soups and lemonades can help clear up the mucus.

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Essential Oils For Sinus Headache

You might be familiar with the phrase that here is an essential oil for everything. In which case, it will not come as a surprise the several essential oils are very effective in treating sinus headaches. Some of the most effective essential oils include peppermint, eucalyptus and tea tree oil.

Peppermint oil is high in menthol and has antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties perfectly suited to relieve sinus congestion as well as headaches. It also has a wonderful cooling effect and works as a natural pain killer.

Eucalyptus oil contains a high concentration of cineole which helps relieve inflammation and free the sinuses of congestion.

Tea tree oil is one of the most versatile of all the essential oils. It has powerful antibacterial and anti-fungal properties that can cure the headache itself and treat any underlying infections.

Thyme, clove and cinnamon essential oils are other excellent choices.

How to use essential oil to treat sinus headaches

One very effective method is to add a few drops of your chosen oil to your steam inhalation as described above. If you are on the go and don have the time to prepare a seam inhalation, you can simply inhale a few drops of your oil from a handkerchief whenever you feel the need. Another method is to dilute your essential oil in a good quality base oil like coconut or olive oil and then simply massage it into your affected regions like the cheeks, forehead and sides of the nose.

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.

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Home Remedies For Sinus Headache Relief

Remedies like bathing in steam and using a humidifier can help reduce congestion of your nasal passages and promote drainage by relieving pressure.

You can also do other things to promote drainage from your nose such as pressing gently on your sinus pressure points and blowing your nose by tipping your head forward. Pushing the area underneath your eyes above your cheekbones in and up may also offer some much-needed relief.

There are plenty of low-effort things that you can do for sinus headache relief. Find a sinus headache remedy that suits you by reading more from this list.

How To Relieve Sinus Pressure

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Sinus pressure

Many people experience sinus pressure from seasonal allergies or the common cold. Sinus pressure results from blocked nasal passages. When your sinuses cannot drain, you may experience inflammation and pain in your head, nose, and face.

Your sinuses are paired in two, and are found in four main areas of the face:

• frontal, in your forehead
• ethmoid, between your eyes and across your nose
• maxillary, in your cheeks

While some over-the-counter treatments can help reduce symptoms, there are also many effective natural remedies.

Read Also: Natural Ways To Help With Sinus Infection

What Causes Sinus Headache And Pain

Sinus headaches can be extremely uncomfortable, and you may feel pressure around your eyes, cheeks and forehead. Sometimes, you might even feel your head throbbing. Other common symptoms include stuffy nose, fatigue and an achy feeling in your upper teeth.

So what causes sinus headaches?

Sinus headaches are a result of sinusitis, when your sinus passages become inflamed from allergies or infection. Those who suffer sinus headaches due to exposure to allergens are actually experiencing hay fever.

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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What Are Tension Headaches

Tension headaches are also sometimes commonly mistaken for sinus headaches.

Tension headaches are the most commonly experienced type of headache. As the stresses of life and habitually-caused strain to your body pile up, tension headaches may make episodic appearances, occurring once to twice a month on average.

They can also be chronic, with some people having episodes that last for over 15 days a month for at least 3 months. Women are twice as likely as men to have tension headaches.

Unlike migraines, tension headaches are rarely severe and are not throbbing. They are not made worse by routine physical activity and not associated with light and sound sensitivity and nausea and vomiting. Some patients have complained of tension headaches feeling like a tight band wrapped around their forehead.

In general, tension headaches are triggered by stressors, activities and foods. Food factors such as alcohol and caffeine consumption, and skipping meals can all cause tension headaches.

Tension headaches can also be triggered by factors from work and life such as poor posture, decreased water intake and staring at a computer screen for a long time. Its safe to say that a lot of things trigger tension headaches, but mostly, they have the resounding causes of unhealthy habits, stressors and external conditions.

Common symptoms of a tension headache include

Massage The Sinus Region

Relieving head pressure can be easy with massage. Massage can stimulate the mobilization of mucus. Pressing on the right spots can also instantly get rid of sinus pressure in your face.

Start by massaging your eyebrows. Press on the inner side of the eyebrows. Slowly drag your fingers along your eyebrows. Finish by massaging the temples. Repeat this until you experience some relief.

You can also try massaging the roof of your mouth with your tongue. Apply pressure here for about 20 seconds. Then, immediately press between your eyebrows with your fingers for 10 seconds. Repeat this process until you feel like your sinuses are draining.

Tapping or pushing on specific sinus pressure points can help reduce the pain of sinus headaches. To activate these points:

• Press the spot between your eyes above the bridge of the nose
• Squeeze inward on the spots on either side of the nostrils
• Squeezing the bridge of the nose
• Push in and up on the cheeks
• Push in and up on the groove above the center of the top lip
• Press up and out along your eyebrows

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Acupressure And Acupuncture For Sinuses

Acupuncture is used to treat chronic sinus pressure and other symptoms.

Research from 2006 found that about 99 percent of acupuncturists in the United States treat sinus problems. Similarly, the Cleveland Clinic recommends using acupressure to relieve sinus pressure due to allergies.

While more research is needed on using acupressure to treat sinus symptoms, this practice may help improve blood flow, relax muscles, and help mucus drain from the sinuses.

You can do acupressure for sinus symptoms on yourself. It only takes a few minutes.

You can press on the acupressure points or gently rub or rotate your fingers in a circular motion over the area.

You can also get professional acupressure treatment from a certified acupuncturist. Some massage therapists may also use acupressure points.

Here are the main acupressure points for sinus relief and how to find them: