What To Do For Sinus Pain In Face

Five Ways To Relieve Sinus Pressure

The pain, facial pressure and congestion of sinus infections affect more than 26.9 million Americans roughly 11 percent of adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Most sinus infections, also called sinusitis, do not need to be treated with antibiotics, and will usually go away within 7-10 days.

One of the most annoying symptoms is the sinus pressure around the eyes, head and cheeks. Fortunately, there are several home remedies and medications that can help provide relief.

When To See A Doctor For A Sinus Infection

Viral sinus infections can go away on their own with time. Symptoms can be managed by following doctors guidelines for at-home treatment, such as with saline nasal sprays, neti pots, and humidifiers.

If your sinus infection persists or symptoms get worse, you are recommended to see a doctor. Certain progressive symptoms may cause concern, such as blood in the mucus. While blood is always troubling, it is not uncommon with bad sinus infections. Blood vessels in the nasal passages can be disturbed by frequent nose blowing, which many may do when congested. Contact SmartDocMD to find out the best way to remedy this issue.

How Do You Relieve Sinus Pain In The Face

Management and Treatment

You May Like: Whats In Advil Cold And Sinus

Use Decongestants But Only Temporarily

You can definitely pop some Sudafed tablets or even spritz some Afrin into your nose, but beware: you cant do this forever.

In an acute infection, a decongestant can be useful, but Afrin can become addicting if used for more than a few days and oral decongestants used regularly can have cardiovascular effects, says Dr. Thompson. These are targeted for short-term use.

Also, FYI, patients with high blood pressure shouldnt use these OTC products, and people who are sensitive to stimulants, like caffeine, might have trouble sleeping when using them, per Dr. Takashima.

Dont Miss: Can Nasal Spray Cure A Sinus Infection

Remedies And Treatments For Sinus Infection Pain

There are several effective home remedies and treatments for sinus infection pain. Many remedies are available over the counter at a low cost.

Common sinus infection treatments include:

Allergy Medicines

Many cases of sinusitis are linked to uncontrolled allergies. If you have allergies, taking medications like antihistamines and avoiding allergens can help treat your sinusitis symptoms.

Steam Inhalation

If your sinuses are blocked, it can help to moisten your sinus cavities by inhaling steam. Doing so loosens the blocked mucus and allows it to drain. Try draping a towel over your head as you breathe in the vapor from a bowl of hot water. Alternatively, you can take a hot shower or bath, breathing in the warm, moist air.

Nasal Irrigation

This home remedy, called nasal lavage, can help clear your sinuses. Nasal irrigation can clear sinus drainage from the nose to make it easier to breathe. It also thins the mucus in your nose, reduces inflammation, and washes away irritants in the nasal passages.

Saline rinses require sterile water, which can be either boiled or purchased. To avoid introducing additional bacteria to the nasal passages, keep your Neti Pot clean between uses.

Nasal Corticosteroid Sprays

Nasal corticosteroid sprays help prevent and treat inflammation and excess mucus in the nasal passages. They also treat polyps .

Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

Rest

You May Like: Can Migraines Cause Sinus Pain

Painkillers For Frequent Tension Headaches

For people with frequent or recurring tension headaches, doctors sometimes recommend prescription doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen or naproxen.

Indocin is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, widely used to treat arthritis, but it is also very helpful in treating headaches, said the doctor. Rosenthal. The disadvantage of indomethacin is that it is one of the most likely drugs. It causes gastric irritation as side effects, including gastric ulcers and bleeding. High doses or long-term use may also affect kidney function.

Dont Miss: Best Sore Throat And Sinus Medicine

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.

Don’t Miss: Best Herbs For Sinus Congestion

Tips To Relieve Your Sinus Pain

Are you among the 37 million Americans who have sinus problems each year? If so, theres a lot you can do around the house to create a sinus-friendly environment.

Here are some tips to help you prevent sinus infections and avoid the complications associated with it.

If you develop a sinus infection, begin treatment right away to reduce complications. Contact us today!

Consult Advanced ENT and Allergy if symptoms persist for more than ten days, if you have a fever more than 100.5, or if you have multiple sinus infections a year because all of these are signs of respiratory or sinus heath issues.

Know The Limits Of Natural Sinus Pain Relief

You should not try to self-treat your sinus pain if you have symptoms such as as yellow or green mucus discharge persistent fever or stiff neck pain for more than 24 hours confusion, weakness, numbness, or tingling and persistent nausea or vomiting. These symptoms could be a sign of a significant infection in your sinuses that might need antibiotics. Using natural sinus pain relief is fine if you have mild chronic pain or a headache related to a common cold or an allergy, but if you have severe pain that is not responding to these techniques, you need to see your doctor, advises Das.

Read Also: How To Get Rid Of Chronic Sinus Infection Naturally

What To Do About Sinusitis

If you’ve ever had a cold that just wouldn’t go away, it may have been sinusitis an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, the cavities within the bones that surround the nose. The sinuses are lined with a thin membrane that produces mucus, which is normally swept along by hair cells and drains through small openings into the nasal cavity. Sinusitis starts when this drainage system becomes blocked, usually from swelling due to inflammation caused by infection or allergy. Soon, your head hurts, you feel facial pressure or pain, and thick mucus clogs your nose. The symptoms may clear on their own, but often they persist or repeatedly return.

Sinus Trouble: Consider The Causes

Not only can seasonal allergies or chronic allergies impact the sinuses, but humid air can cause a clogged or stuffy feeling in the nose. An infectioneither brief or long-lastingcan also take hold.

Sinusitis ailments are not only a burden for allergy sufferers, they can be a challenge for doctors, too, especially as patients and doctors alike are on high alert for warning signs of a possible COVID-19 infection. Three of the most common causes of sinus symptoms are allergies, viral infections and bacterial infections. But these can be tough to tell apart because of overlapping symptoms.

Donât Miss: Whatâs The Difference In Sinus And Allergies

Recommended Reading: What’s The Best Over The Counter Sinus Medication

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.

Keep The Sinuses Moist

Keeping the sinuses moist reduces pain and pressure to allow you to get rid of the infection quickly. In the following ways, you can do that-

• You can inhale steam to keep them hydrated. You can also take a hot water shower. It also lets you breathe in the steam.
• Use a humidifier in your room before sleeping. Nasal blockage can stop you from getting a sound sleep, which is important at this time. The humidifier will help you by keeping your nose breathable.
• If the hydration doesnt work, you can use a nasal decongestant. You can use it when necessary. But avoid using these frequently.

Also Check: How To Eliminate A Sinus Infection

How Are Sinus Headaches Diagnosed

Most of the time when people diagnose themselves with a sinus headache, its really a migraine. So, its important to see your healthcare provider to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. If your symptoms are severe or ongoing, you may also need imaging tests. A magnetic resonance imaging test can rule out serious brain conditions. Multiple imaging tests can reveal sinus blockages and include:

• Computed tomography scan.
• Nasal endoscopy .

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.

You May Like: How To Tell You Have Sinus Infection

Sinusitis And Sinus Pain Relief With Balloon Sinuplasty

Severe chronic sinus pain sufferers will endure recurrent pain several times throughout the year. Chronic sinus sufferers become fed up and frustrated by the cycle of feeling sick, calling into work, missing school, or leisure time with family and friends.

Each patient may have a unique set of symptoms depending on their specific situation and other medical conditions such as allergies, cold/flu, or other infections. Sinusitis is a serious medical condition that can interrupt your life and negatively impact your overall health. Severe sinus infection complications are possible. Therefore, it is important to see a qualified medical professional in order to determine the exact cause and the best treatment for your specific symptoms.

At Cumberland Valley ENT we can help you take back the life you deserve by helping you to get rid of your persistent sinus issues. Consult one of our skilled ENT professionals to learn more about our sinus treatment options. One of our options is a convenient, in-office procedure called balloon sinuplasty.

Sinus Headache Or Migraine

About 80% of âsinus headachesâ are actually migraines with nasal symptoms. If you get frequent headaches, consult your healthcare provider or a headache specialist, since there are medications and prevention strategies specifically for migraines.

If you have intense sinus pain and pressure that gets worse when you are diving, flying in an airplane, driving up a steep mountain, or participating in other activities that involve steep altitude changes, it could be a condition called sinus barotrauma.

Although the pain will usually subside when these activities are discontinued, sinus barotrauma is a sign of an underlying sinus problem that needs to be evaluated by an otolaryngologist, a healthcare provider that specializes in conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.

Sinus barotrauma can also be accompanied by ear barotrauma, which can cause a ruptured eardrum.

Read Also: Is There A Test For Sinus Infection

Sinus Pain Home Remedies

There are a variety of home remedies that can help with the congestion to relieve sinus pain and pressure. Home remedies that you can try include:

• Drinking water: Staying hydrated can help to thin nasal secretions. Drinking plenty of fluids is also important in your recovery from viral illnesses.
• Neti pot: A neti pot is used to irrigate the nasal passageways and can help to control congestion and nasal secretions.
• Saline nasal sprays:Saline nasal sprays are sold over-the-counter at most drug stores. They are used to loosen nasal secretions and thereby decrease congestion by allowing it to drain. They can be used many times per day.
• Cool mist humidifier: The humidity loosens nasal secretions and the cold air can help to decrease inflammation. If you do not have access to a cool-mist humidifier, several hot, steamy showers per day can also help to loosen nasal secretions.
• Warm compress: Use a warm rag or heating pad over your sinuses to ease the pain. Do this several times per day.

General Sinus Face Massage

To start, place your four fingers on each of your temples and gently massage in a circular motion. If you feel a tense spot, hold and breathe for several seconds. You can continue along parts of your forehead and hairline.

Next, take your thumb and index finger and place them on your eyebrow closest to your nose while gently pinching down. Hold this position for several seconds. Slowly work your way across the eyebrow toward your ear.

Then take four fingers and place them on the inside of your cheekbone near the bottom of your nose. Gently press and drag your fingers outward. Repeat several times.

As you finish toward the outside of your ear, gently massage the temporomandibular joint , which connects the lower jaw to the skull. If you cant find it, open your mouth and you should be able to feel it protrude out.

Finally, make a V with your fingers by separating your middle and index fingers from your ring and pinky fingers. Bring your fingers to your ear and slowly massage this area in an upward and downward motion.

Also Check: How Long To Recover From Sinus Infection

How To Do A Nasal Rinse

Nasal saline rinses are a good way to treat discomfort and congestion. They can help flush out mucus, debris, and irritants, and soothe nasal passages.

A neti pot can be used to do this. You fill a pot with a saline rinse that you can buy.

• Place the spout of the pot against one nostril.
• Tilt your head to the side.
• The saline will pour out of the lower nostrilthanks to gravity.
• Repeat steps with the other nostril.

Sinus Infection And Facial Pain

So, is your facial pressure or facial pain due to a sinus infection? Pain is a common sinusitis symptom. You have a few different sinuses below and above your eyes and behind your nose. When you have a sinus infection, these can hurt.

Swelling and inflammation make your sinuses ache with dull pressure. You might feel pain:

• On either side of your nose

• In your forehead

• Between your eyes

• In your teeth and upper jaw

The relentless sinus infection and facial pressure and sinus swelling can cause headache symptoms. Sinus pain can also give you:

• Pain in your cheeks and jaws

Sinusitis headaches are frequently worse in the morning since fluids have been gathering all night long.

Don’t Miss: Best Antibiotic For Bacterial Sinus Infection

What Are The Sinuses And What Do They Look Like

Sinuses of the face are cavities or spaces within the bones that help humidify the air and secrete mucus to help with air filtration. Additionally, they contribute to the strength of the skull and its ability to resist trauma. The sinus cavities also allow more resonance to be added to the voice.

The sinuses are often referred to as the paranasal sinuses because of their location and connection to the back of the nose. The sinuses develop as air sacs within the bones of the skull, which are named by their location.

• Frontal sinus: located above the eyes within the frontal bone of the skull
• Maxillary sinus: located beneath the eyes under the cheekbones within the maxilla bone of the face
• Ethmoid sinus: located in the ethmoid bone separating the eyes from the nose
• Sphenoid sinus: located in the sphenoid bone at the base of the skull

While infants do have sinuses, they are very poorly developed. The maxillary sinuses cannot be seen on an X-ray until 1 to 2 years of age and the frontal sinuses are not seen until age 5 or 6.