What Causes Sinus Symptoms
If you find yourself frequently dealing with sinus pain and sinus pressure, finding the cause is an important step toward finding sinus relief. Any time the tissue in your nose and sinuses gets swollen and inflamed, it can lead to sinus problems. Here are a few sinus problem causes to consider:
- Temperature changes
Why Is Sinus Pressure In The Ears So Painful
When experiencing pain and pressure in the ears caused by sinus congestion, there are many questions that may cross your mind. How do I make it go away? The cause of the pain in your ears is usually due to sinus pressure. This is because sinus congestion and stuffiness can affect the pressure in your ears. The pressure in your sinuses affects more than just your nose. It can also cause pain in your ears, dizziness, and the feeling that your ears feel stuffed up or clogged. The good news is, there are several remedies to bring you relief.
What Is The Fastest Way To Get Rid Of Sinusitis
When you have a sinus infection, you often have to go through your day in pain and in a fog. Sinusitis, or infection of the sinuses, is incredibly common, but many people suffer through it rather than get it treated. At Asthma Allergy Centre in Tigard, McMinnville, or Beaver, OR, we use a variety of sinus management treatments to reduce the inflammation and immune response that are likely behind your sinus problems. Check out on how to get rid of sinusitis.
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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:
While some over-the-counter treatments can help reduce symptoms, there are also many effective natural remedies.
How Can I Prevent Sinusitis
Some of the home remedies used to treat sinus infections symptoms may help prevent sinusitis. These include rinsing your nose out with salt water and using medications that your provider might suggest, such as allergy medications or steroid nasal sprays.
You should avoid things you are allergic to, like dust, pollen or smoke, and try to avoid sick people. Wash your hands to reduce your chance of getting a cold or flu.
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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:
- Don’t let friends or family smoke in your home.
- Look for “green” cleaning products in unscented varieties. They’re less likely to contain the harsh chemicals that can kick-start sinus pressure and pain.
What Are The Causes Of Sinus Pressure
Per webmd.com, there are a variety of causes for the occurrence of sinus pressure. Before we explain them, its important you know what exactly sinus pressure is. The feeling of pressure in the nasal passages is a result of inflammation, which usually happens as the nasal passages produce mucus to get rid of the causes of irritation, often an allergen.
Sinus pressure is often the result of an infection. Per webmd.com, the typical infections that cause sinus pressure are the common cold and the seasonal flu. A sinus infection can also occur as a seasonal allergic reaction. As your body works to collect and clear itself of the germs that comprise the infection, inflammation and mucus production occur and along with them plenty of discomfort.
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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.
Gargle Some Salt Water
Salt water is more than a throat cleanser. It can also help to get rid of the pressure in your ears. There are a few reasons for this.
The first is that the salt can help to cleanse the sinus infection that is causing the pressure. Remember that your ears, nose, and throat are all connected. As you gargle, you help to get the salt particles through the body to fight against any infection that is around. The salt has antibacterial, antivirus, and antiseptic qualities.
At the same time, gargling helps to open up the sinuses. You will find that the pressure has more space to maneuver, a little like when yawning and swallowing. You can gargle with anything to gain this benefit, but salt water offers many others.
Opt for warm salt water where possible. The warmth will help with the relaxation of the muscles. It is also much more appreciated by the back of your throat! When you are relaxed, your body will find it easier to repair damage and remove theinfection.
You do not need a lot of salt, and you do not want to swallow it. Just a teaspoon in a glass of warm water is enough. Take a mouthful and gargle as far back to your throat as possible. When you are done, spit it out in the sink. Repeat four more times at least or finish off the whole glass if you would like. It really will depend on the amount of time you have.
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What Gets Rid Of Sinus Pressure
Home Treatments
Sinus Relief The Natural Way
Sinus pressure and pain can be mild or quite severe. The cause of these symptoms is often a cold, allergies, or sinusitis . Regardless of what causes your symptoms, relief may be closer than you think.
In the following slides, learn how to treat sinus problems with natural remedies and home remedies. We provide a variety of strategies to combat nasal congestion, from neti pots and saline nasal sprays to hydration and avoiding irritants, starting with humidifying your air.
Breathe Moist Air
You may be wondering how to relieve sinus pressure. For sinus pressure relief that lasts for hours, try keeping a humidifier on in your bedroom or other rooms where you spend a lot of time. Dry air can irritate your sinuses, but keeping air moist can help reduce congestion. Inhaling steam two to four times a day may help, too. Sit in the bathroom with the door closed and the shower running. Make sure the water is hot.
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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.
Over The Counter Medications
For help alleviating sinus pressure and pain, try ibuprofen and a decongestant. Some medications include a combination of pain reliever and decongestant.
Mild antihistamines like Claritin and Allegra are helpful in moderation. Strong antihistamines like Benadryl are often way too drying. Be careful not to take antihistamines too often.
Even though you want your nose to stop running, too many antihistamines can make it more likely that youll get sinus infections in the future.
Drugs like Mucinex and Flonase can also be helpful in thinning the mucus in your nose and sinuses.
If you use Afrin, make sure you stop after three days. Though it can seem like a miracle drug, using it more than three days in a row can lead to something called rebound congestion. In other words, when you stop using the Afrin after continuous use, your nose becomes more congested than it was in the first place!
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Saline Spray And Sinus Rinses
Using a saline solution, rinse your nose and sinuses with a neti pot or other irrigation system.
You can buy saline solution over the counter or make your own at home with distilled water and saline packets. Saline spray also comes in small bottles that you can spray directly into your nose.
Sinus rinses like these work by flushing mucus out of the nose and sinuses to keep things flowing freely.
Saline also has a natural decongesting effect, meaning it shrinks your swollen nasal tissues and makes it easier for you to breathe through your nose!
Sinus Headache Relief: 10 Simple Ways To Soothe Your Sinus Headache
Many of us suffer from sinus problems now and then. For some, sinusitis can be a common occurrence. Those who suffer from sinus issues will know how uncomfortable it can get, having to bear with symptoms such as sinus headache and blocked ears. In this article, we look at some causes and symptoms of sinus headache, and cover 10 home remedies that might provide sinus headache relief.
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Where Are Your Sinusesand What Is Sinus Pressure
When it comes to sinus pressure, it’s essentially swelling in your sinuses in response to three different scenarios: a pressure change between the air inside your sinuses and the air outside your sinuses , when irritants invade your sinuses , or when you have an anatomical issue .
Unfortunately, you can’t cater your sinus pain treatments to what’s causing itbut the good news is that most available remedies can work to reduce inflammation and swelling in your sinuses regardless of what’s causing it. Here’s a guide, according to doctors, on the best ways to treat sinus pain so you can start feeling better ASAP.
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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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Sinus Pressure Points On The Hands
The soft tissue between your thumb and index finger may serve as a pressure point for sinus relief. If you cant find the area by touching it, place your hand flat on a table and bring your index finger and thumb together. The point is beneath where the skin rises up highest.
To access the point, open your hand up and use the thumb and index finger of your opposite hand to squeeze the area for a few minutes
Your fingertips may also be able to act as pressure points for sinus relief. To activate any of these points, simply press and momentarily squeeze each the end of each finger.
There are also pressure points along your hands right next to your fingernails. These points are just beside the nail, in the corners where the base joins the skin.
The specific points are as follows:
- Outside corner of the thumbnail
- Outside corner of the index finger
- Outside corner of the middle finger
- Inside corner the ring finger
- Inside and outside corner of the pinky
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What Can I Do About Recurring Sinus Headaches
Many sinus headaches, especially those that recur, are actually migraines. But its smart to see your healthcare provider to figure out the cause of your headaches.
You may find that the best long-term solution is figuring out what triggers your migraine headaches so you can avoid them. Its helpful to keep a headache diary to track potential triggers. Triggers you can control include:
- Alcohol.
- Specific foods, such as chocolate, red wine or strong cheese.
- Lack of sleep.
Opt For Some Over The Counter Pain Remedies
While you are getting rid of the pressure, you may want to relieve the pain and discomfort you feel. Sometimes the only way to do that is through over the counter remedies. You do not need strong painkillers to help. Just some paracetamol or aspirin will do the trick.
If you have a medical condition or take medication that means taking aspirin is dangerous, opt for the paracetamol instead. You may also want to talk to your doctor to find out if there is anything else that you should avoid.
Treat the over the counter remedies as a last resort. Most of the six other remedies will help to get rid of the pressure and reasons for the pressure. The painkillers are more to treat the symptoms if you find nothing else works.
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Rare Cases Can Turn Serious
Antibiotics also can help ward off rare but potentially dangerous complications that arise when a sinus infection spreads to the eyes or brain, Dr. Sindwani says.
Complications around the eyes are the more common of the two. These complications can cause redness, swelling around the eyes and reduced vision, and even lead to blindness in a severe form known as cavernous sinus thrombosis. Serious cases are immediately treated with IV antibiotics. Patients are usually admitted to the hospital for a CT scan to see if fluid needs to be drained, Dr. Sindwani says.
Also in rare cases, sinus infections in the rear center of ones head can spread into the brain. This can lead to life-threatening conditions like meningitis or brain abscess, Dr. Sindwani says.
Before antibiotics, people would die from sinusitis, he says. But he emphasizes that such complications are unlikely. In most cases, the bacterial infection goes away, especially if you dont have underlying medical problems.
Its important to monitor your symptoms if you suspect a sinus infection. If the condition lingers or worsens, call your doctor.
Five Ways To Relieve Sinus Pressure At Home
Sinusitis affects 30 million people in the U.S. each year. Symptoms of sinusitis include nasal congestion, facial pressure, headaches, fatigue, sore throat and dry cough. In most cases, these symptoms are caused by a viral infection. Less than 2% of sinusitis cases are bacterial, meaning that the majority of people with sinusitis do not need an antibiotic.
However, there are other treatment options that have been proven to be effective. If youre experiencing sinusitis symptoms, here are a few things that can help.
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Here Are Some Of The Most Effective Natural Remedies For Sinus Pain And Pressure: