What Does Sinus Pressure Mean

Pain Or Pressure In Your Sinuses

Facial pain is a common symptom of sinusitis. You have several different sinuses above and below your eyes, as well as behind your nose. Any of these air-filled cavities can hurt when you have a sinus infection.

Inflammation and swelling can cause your sinuses to ache with dull pressure. This is because inflammation may alter the typical path of mucus from the nose to the back of the throat.

You may feel pain in:

• on either side of your nose
• in your upper jaws and teeth
• between your eyes

This may lead to a headache. Headaches caused by sinus infections can occur where the sinuses are or in other places.

Key Differentiators Between Migraines And Sinus Headaches

So, how can you tell whats causing your headache? If youre struggling to identify whether your headache is a migraine or is caused by sinus pressure, the best thing you can do is to seek medical counsel.

However, the two clearest differences are the location of the headache and whether or not youre congested. If you experience the headache pain primarily on one side of your head, you may be more likely to have a migraine.

If youre not congested and have an extremely painful headache, you likely have a migraine. If you are congested and have an extremely painful headache, you may have either a migraine OR a sinus headache.

Another potential indicator is the color of your mucus. Is it clear? If so, you most likely have a migraine. Is it yellowish? If so, your headache is likely caused by sinus pressure.

To learn more about the differences between sinus headaches and migraines, check out our article: How Do I Know if I Have a Sinus Headache?

Alternate Hot And Cold Compresses

“Reclining with a hot washcloth over your eyes and nose can help warm the nasal passages and loosen secretions,” says Das. You can also alternate warm and cold compresses to relieve sinus pain and sinus pressure. Heres how to do it: Start by placing a hot towel or washcloth across your sinuses for about three minutes. Then place a cold compress across your sinuses for 30 seconds. Alternate two more times, and repeat the treatment about four times a day.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of A Sinus Cold

Causes Of Sinus Congestion

• Viral Sinus Infection. Part of the common cold. A cold infects the lining of the nose. It also involves the lining of all the sinuses.
• Bacterial Sinus Infection. A problem when the sinus becomes infected with bacteria. . It starts as a viral sinus infection. Main symptoms are increased sinus pain or return of fever. The skin around the eyelids or cheeks may become red or swollen. Thick nasal secretions that last over 14 days may point to a sinus infection. This can occur in younger children.
• Allergic Sinus Reaction. Sinus congestion often occurs with nasal allergies . Sneezing, itchy nose and clear nasal discharge point to this cause.

Can Teeth Problems Cause Sinus Infection

Sometimes, a tooth infection can lead to a sinus infection, called odontogenic sinusitis. Odontogenic sinusitis can be caused by trauma, infection, decay, or abscess in the maxillary teeth, with infection spreading from the teeth to the maxillary sinuses. This can happen when the roots of the teeth are very close to, or even protruding into the maxillary sinus. This proximity would generally not be an issue unless the tooth becomes infected.

Sometimes recurring sinus infections can even be a sign of tooth decay. When tooth decay causes a sinus infection, its called Maxillary Sinusitis of Endodontic Origin . In some cases of MSEO, the patient may not feel sensitivity or discomfort in the teeth, so it can be difficult to diagnose.

If problems of the teeth are causing sinus infection, simply treating the symptoms of sinus infection wont resolve the issue. If the source of the infection is with the tooth, you will have to have a dentist or endodontist provide treatment. If the sinus infections persist after managing dental issues, its a good idea to consult an ENT.

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Neti Pot Or Saline Spray

As the studies suggest, you dont have to use a neti pot to ease sinus congestion. But if you are curious about how to use this Aladdins-lamp-shaped implement, you can read more about it here. This ancient Ayurvedic practice appeals to many people and is not difficult to master.

Some folks prefer a more modern system of nasal irrigation, such as one made by NeilMed. Another reader found that using plain saline nasal spray twice a day was helpful in preventing sinus problems.

Bonnie compared using a neti pot and sinus irrigator:

I have used both. Both offer great relief from the congestion and runny nose of allergies and colds. The preservative-free nasal sprays such as Simply Saline are convenient and a lot less messy than the neti pot. I stress preservative-free. Its also buffered and makes it comfortable as well as effective. If youre using a netti pot, make sure you use sea salt, kosher salt or pickling salt. They have no preservatives or iodine. And use a pinch of baking soda to buffer your solution.

Lucy found she had a chronic sinus infection:

I had chronic nasal congestion and discovered a long-term sinus infection, thanks to a CT scan at the time of a TIA. After the antibiotic treatment my EMT MD told me to use a full bottle of saline every am and again in the pm. I mix up my own and just use tap water because the risk of parasitic infection is minimal in city water. That clears out the congestion nicely and I almost never need a chemical decongestant.

Causes Of Chronic Sinusitis

As you’ve just learned, chronic sinusitis can cause both sinus pressure and sinus pain. Generally, sinusitis is frequently caused by a bacterial infection. However, sometimes, viruses and molds can cause it. If you have a weak immune system, you have a greater risk of developing a fungal or bacterial sinus infection.

Some individuals can also suffer from “allergic fungal sinus infection”, which afflicts those with allergies. A sinus cavity infection that’s near your brain can become fatal if you don’t receive treatment. It can spread to your brain, although this is rare.

Sinusitis might be due to a viral infection and can lead to nose inflammation. This inflammation, along with the reduced ability of your sinuses to drain, could also be caused by hay fever, or another allergic reaction. The inflammation leads to the:

• Increased fluid production and swelling

• The sinuses can’t drain effectively

• The reduced drainage causes sinus headache pain

Some specific and common causes and reasons for chronic sinusitis are:

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Who Does It Affect

Sinus bradycardia tends to happen in adults, especially those over age 65, as your heartbeat tends to naturally slow down as you age. Sinus bradycardia is less likely to occur in children unless it happens because of a condition that a child has when theyre born .

Sinus bradycardia also happens normally to people who exercise regularly and are in very good physical condition. Regular exercise and training have a positive effect on your vagus nerve. This nerve, which has a direct connection to your brain, is part of your autonomic nervous system. The better your vagus nerve works, the lower your resting heart rate.

How Do I Take Care Of Myself

If your healthcare provider diagnoses you with sinus bradycardia and you have symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider as recommended and take medications as prescribed. If you have a pacemaker implanted, you should also see your healthcare provider as recommended so they can make sure your pacemaker is working correctly .

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When To See A Doctor

For sinus pressure, you should schedule an appointment with a doctor when symptoms, especially a fever, persist for more than a few days. Tripment Health can help you schedule an in-person or telehealth appointment with a primary care provider near you. If you are experiencing sinus pressure without congestion or similar symptoms, a healthcare provider can help you develop a targeted treatment plan.

If your sinus pressure symptoms are severe and persist over a long period of time, your provider may order diagnostic imaging to determine if the cause could be due to a more serious abnormality within the brain or surrounding tissue.

If you suffer from severe symptoms of migraines, you should discuss treatment options with your doctor. Severe symptoms include:

• Loss of balance, numbness or tingling, inability to move parts of your body
• Double or blurry vision

Sinus Headache Vs Migraine

According to the American Migraine Foundation, 50 percent of migraine misdiagnoses start with a person thinking they have sinus headache. Up to 90 percent of people who go to the doctor for sinus headache find out they have migraine instead.

People with migraine may develop symptoms similar to sinusitis, like a runny nose or congestion. Migraine headaches also cause pain along the trigeminal nerve, which interacts with the sinus passages. People experiencing migraine may think this pain is related to the sinuses.

If you dont have any of the symptoms that come specifically with a sinus headache, you may be experiencing a migraine. Migraine is treated differently from sinus headache. Symptoms specific to migraine include:

• sensitivity to light and sound

If youre experiencing symptoms specific to migraine, youre likely experiencing a migraine attack and not a sinus headache.

Sinusitis directly causes sinus headaches, so they share the same causes and triggers. These include:

• Viral infection. This is the most common cause of sinusitis and sinus headache. About

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Ingredients In Sinuvil Sinus Formula

Sinuvil Sinus Formula contains natural ingredients from plants, trees or herbs.Sinuvils gentle herbal formula helps stimulate the immune system and activate natural killer cells enabling the bodys own defense mechanism.*

Is It A Sinus Infection Or Cold

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a sinus infection and a cold as the symptoms can be very similar. Sinus infections often develop after a cold.

Sinusitis tends to last longer than a cold. Cold symptoms tend to get steadily worse, peaking at 3â5 days, then gradually get better. Sinus infections may last 10 days or more.

Some symptoms are more likely to be caused by sinusitis than a cold, including:

• swelling of the tissue in the nose
• green discharge from the nose
• a swollen or tender face

Unlike a cold, sinusitis can become chronic, which means it lasts longer than eight weeks. Chronic sinusitis causes swelling and irritation in the sinuses and usually develops after a person has had acute sinusitis. Sometimes the symptoms go away and then come back again.

Ongoing sinus symptoms â even if they get better and then come back â may indicate chronic sinusitis.

Sinus infections often go away on their own without medical treatment. There are, however, some things a person can do at home to relieve the bothersome symptoms.

To treat sinusitis symptoms with home remedies , try:

Avoid using decongestants on a long-term basis without talking to a doctor first because they can make congestion worse if used for too long.

• symptoms last longer than 10 days with no improvement
• fever lasts longer than 3-4 days
• the pain is very intense
• a person with a suspected sinus infection has a drugs that suppress the immune system, or organ failure

Also Check: How To Tell You Have Sinus Infection

How You Can Treat Sinusitis Yourself

You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by:

• getting plenty of rest
• taking painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
• avoiding allergic triggers and not smoking
• cleaning your nose with a salt water solution to ease congestion

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

You do not need to use all of the solution, but make a fresh solution each time you clean your nose.

What Is A Sinus Infection

A sinus infection, medically known as sinusitis or rhinosinusitis, occurs when your nasal cavities become infected, swollen, and inflamed. Fluid buildup in the sinuses can cause germs to grow, leading to a sinus infection.

Sinusitis is usually caused by a virus and often lasts even after other upper respiratory symptoms are gone. In some cases, bacteria or, rarely, fungus may cause a sinus infection.

Other conditions such as allergies, nasal polyps, and tooth infections can also contribute to sinus pain and symptoms.

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Is Spray Foam Insulation The Best

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How Is A Sinus Headache Diagnosed

Most sinus headaches are caused by allergens, environmental irritant, or infections, especially viral infections, like the common cold. In order to determine the cause of your sinus headache, your healthcare provider may conduct a few tests.

The first thing your healthcare provider will do is examine your sinuses. Your practitioner may use her finger to tap on your sinuses to determine if they are tender. She might also use a small light to look inside your sinuses through your nose for swelling and drainage.

If your doctor suspects a sinus infection, she may take a sample of your mucus in order to test it for bacteria or rarely, a fungus. A sinus infection that is caused by a bacteria will typically be treated with antibiotics, while an infection caused by a virus does not require antibiotics. If you suffer from chronic sinus headaches, your healthcare provider may also send you for a CT or MRI of the sinuses.

If a sinus infection is ruled out, your practitioner may wish to examine you for other symptoms. Sometimes its discovered that a tension headache is the likely culprit, especially if a person also has a feeling of tightness around their head. A migraine can also cause sinus-type symptoms, but tends to be more intense and occur with other symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound.

Finally, other mimickers of sinus headache are:

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What Is Barometric Pressure

Barometric Pressure is, in short, how the weight of the atmosphere is measured. This can be lower or higher depending on the air’s density and moisture content, temperature, altitude, and more. One of the more obvious environmental signs of barometric pressure is rain. This occurs when the atmospheric pressure decreases, causing air to rise and condensation to occur – which falls back to earth as rain.

What Causes Sinus Pressure

Experiencing consistent sinus pressure can be frustrating, leaving you to wonder, what causes sinus pressure and how can I get rid of it?

Sinus pressure or pain is a result of inflamed sinuses or an increase in fluid and mucus secretion caused by factors such as sinusitis, environmental irritants, or the common cold. You could experience sinus pain or sinus pressure in your forehead, between your eyes, in your upper cheeks, or behind your eyes.

Kaplan Sinus Relief is a full-service Houston sinus center that helps patients achieve lasting sinus relief. We are here to assure you that there are ways to ease the discomfort you feel in your sinuses. Here is everything you need to know about what causes sinus pressure and how to treat it.

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