When you have sinus pressure, it can feel like a persistent, aching tightness around your face. This discomfort occurs when the membranes lining your nasal passages become swollen or irritated, often due to colds, allergies, environmental pollutants, mucus buildup or sinus infections.
While sinus pressure typically centers around the eyes, nose, forehead and cheekbones, it can radiate to other areas like your scalp, upper-back teeth and jaw, significantly impacting your quality of life. Fortunately, there are several strategies you can use to alleviate sinus pressure and minimize its effects. Let’s explore some effective ways to find relief.
Treating the Underlying Cause
One of the best ways to minimize sinus pressure reoccurrence is to manage the underlying cause. For example, if pollen allergies are causing frequent sinus pressure, try saving your Decatur County Park picnics for low-pollen days. If frequent or long-lasting sinus infections are causing your symptoms, a Balloon Sinuplasty or nasal endoscopy might be your next step. Whatever the cause, our ENT experts are here to help you find the right treatment.
Home Remedies
Home remedies can alleviate sinus pressure while you treat the underlying cause. A few remedies to consider include:
- Hydration. Drink plenty of water, herbal tea and fruit juice to ease congestion.
- Steam inhalation. Steam inhalation can loosen mucus and allow easier breathing through the sinuses. Try taking a hot shower, running a humidifier or sitting over a bowl of hot water with a towel draped over your head.
- Facial massage. Massaging the pressure points around your face helps ease pressure buildup. Move your fingers in a circular motion around your upper eyebrows, temples, forehead, either side of the nose bridge, in front of both ears and between your cheekbones and jaw.
- Elevate your head. Sleep with your head propped up on a few pillows to allow mucus drainage. If pressure is severe, avoid lying down during the daytime.
- Saline flush. A nasal saline flush can help clear mucus buildup and minimize pressure. Use a nasal rinse container or neti pot to pour a warm saline solution through one nostril and then the other, taking extra care not to swallow any mixture that drips into the throat.
By seeking treatment help from an ENT expert and employing a few of these home remedies, you can enjoy lasting relief from sinus pressure. Contact Ear, Nose & Throat Associates today to schedule an appointment with one of our trusted experts.