Effective Home Remedies For Sinus Congestion
Sinus congestion is extremely annoying and aggravating, especially if its chronic. Some people are just born with narrower sinus pathways and doomed to barely breathing for a couple of weeks every time seasons change. This condition also seems to run in families.
If you suffer from it, the home remedies for sinus congestion in this article, which include nasal infusions with salt water and treatment with sea cucumbers, are going to help you as long as you can get past that eeewwww moment.
Easy Treatments For Sinus Headaches
As the weather changes, our sinuses can get irritated and inflamed, leading to painful sinus headaches. While a cure for sinus headaches might not ever be a reality, there are some simple measures you can take and popular treatments for sinus headaches that actually help.
If sinus headaches are dampening your day and keeping you up at night, try these sinus headache prevention and treatment tips:
1. Stay hydrated. The sinuses are spaces located above, below and between your eyes. When youre dehydrated, they can dry up and prevent drainage, which leads to a sinus inflammation and a headache. Drinking plenty of fluids throughout the day can prevent and treat sinus headaches, so keep that water bottle filled up!
2. Eat spicy foods. Ever notice that your nose will start to run when you eat spicy foods? That might be embarrassing if youre dining out, but its great for relieving your sinuses.
3. Enjoy a hot bowl of soup. When soup is steaming hot, it can loosen up your blocked sinuses and bring you some relief. Extra sinus relief points if the soup is spicy, too!
4. Use a hot/cold compress. Alternate pressing a hot and cold towel on your lower forehead and cheekbones. The contrasting temperatures can help move mucus through your sinuses.
5. Drink ginger tea. Ginger tea helps you hydrate and steam out the sinuses, but it also contains anti-inflammatory gingerol, which reduces inflammation in your mucus membranes.
Sinusitis Can Last A While
Doctors call sinusitis when a cold lasts more than 10 to 14 days. Itâs called sinusitis when a person has symptoms for more than 3 months.
In either case, a kid might have:
- a lasting runny nose with discharge thatâs yellow or green
- puffy eyes, especially in the morning
Less often, a kid could have headache or pain behind the eyes, forehead, and cheeks.
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How To Do A Sinus Flush
The first step is to create a saline solution. Typically, this is done by mixing warm, sterile water with pure salt, known as sodium chloride, to create an isotonic solution.
While you can create your own saline solution at home, its recommended that you purchase over-the-counter premixed saline packets.
Its crucial to use sterile water for this step. This is due to the risk of a serious infection with a parasitic amoeba called Naegleria fowleri. Once this amoeba enters the sinuses, it makes its way to the brain and causes a fatal infection.
You can sterilize your water by boiling it for a minute and then allowing it to cool.
To clear your sinuses, follow these steps:
If youve recently had sinus surgery, resist the urge to blow your nose for four to seven days following the procedure.
- severe headache
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About Ear Nose And Throat
Ear, Nose, and Throat Services at UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside ranks among the best nationally on U.S. News & World Reports listings. Our team includes board-certified physicians and highly skilled speech-language pathologists and audiologists. We treat a variety of ear, nose, and throat conditions in both children and adults and provide both surgical and non-surgical options. Our doctors also take part in research and clinical trials. We have locations throughout western Pennsylvania for patient convenience.
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What Are The Complications Of Sinus Headache
In rare cases, complications around the eye area can happen, resulting in the area being swollen and inflamed. This may even affect your vision.
If you have a high fever that persists, discolored nasal discharge, rattling in your chest, or difficulty breathing, see your doctor about these symptoms. While a sinus headache might seem like a harmless health condition, its important to determine its cause.
Ways To Relieve Sinus Headache Pain And Pressure
When you have a sinus headache, all you want is relief…fast!
As the makers of BC® Sinus Pain & Congestion , were going to tell you to take our powder formula for fast relief. It can help you quickly relieve the sinus headache, congestion and pressure that can come with allergies, a cold, sinus infection or the flu.
But we also want to give you other optionssimple things you can do at home to help relieve sinus congestion and pain.
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Home Remedies For Unblocking Your Sinus
Home remedies are excellent options for unblocking sinus if the mentioned technique doesnt instantly work for you. They spare your bloodstream from antihistamine and antibiotics often prescribed by the doctor.
Here are four equally effective home remedies with recipes to relief sinus pain pan.
Turmeric is simply a wonder herb that has a lot of health benefits including treating nasal congestion. How does it work? Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties. Sprinkle some on your meals so as to help ease nasal inflammation which is the major cause of blocked sinuses.
You can clear your sinus in a day or two with apple cider vinegar. Take a tablespoon of honey and two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and mix well with eight ounces of water. You can also take a tablespoon of the organic apple cider continuously for three days.
Although nasal saline rinse is not the most comfortable remedy, it is still one of the popular means of clearing sinuses.
Mix one cup of clean warm water and a quarter teaspoon of pickling or sea salt. Pour the mixture through one nostril and let it flow through the other. It is advisable to seek assistance on how to perform nasal rinse if you are attempting for the first time.
5. A Sinus Cleaning Device :
How Do You Clear Sinus Congestion
When it comes to over-the-counter treatments, medicines that contain paracetamol, to relieve fever and pain, and phenylephrine, an effective decongestant to help you breathe. Theraflu® Nighttime Multi-Symptom Severe Cold Hot Liquid Powder can help you get back to your best self, fast. Sometimes antibiotics may be prescribed by your doctor to help treat bacterial cases of sinus infection.5
However, for those experiencing more subtle symptoms of sinus congestion, there are self-help steps you can take to relieve symptoms. For example, you can moisturize your sinuses by taking a hot shower and breathing in the warm, moist air to help mucus drain and relieve pain.5 You can also rinse out your nasal passages by using a specially designed squeeze bottle or neti pot.5 One of the most important tips to remember to help with any congestion, or just when youre feeling sick, is to rest. With enough rest, you can help your body fight off inflammation and recover more quickly.5
You should contact a doctor if you notice that sinus congestion includes any discharge that is green, yellow or consistently bloody.3 Furthermore, if you experience a fever with sinus congestion, you may have a type of infection that requires immediate care from your doctor.
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How Can You Tell If You Have An Acute Sinus Infection
Its tempting to label every nasal issue as a sinus infection, but thats not always the case. Common symptoms of acute sinusitis include:
- Headaches and sometimes, toothaches
Many people believe that green snot means you have a bacterial sinus infection, curable only with antibiotics. Not true. Sage-colored mucus is common with viral infections and allergies and can happen when snot sits in your face for a while before being expelled.
A trip to your doctor may be necessary if you have a bacterial infection, but it can often be difficult to distinguish between that and a viral infection. If your symptoms last longer than 10 days or improve before worsening again, call your HCP.
If you suddenly experience any of these symptoms, its a sign to seek medical attention immediately, even if theyve been present for fewer than seven days:
- Abrupt vision changes
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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.
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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:
What Causes Your Sinuses To Block
Blocked sinuses are symptoms of an underlying minor health problem. Such health problems may include common cold or sinus infection. It can also be triggered by allergies, hay fever, chemical exposure, and nasal polyps.
But what causes the sinus to block? Well, when viruses, irritants, or bacteria enter your nasal passage it causes inflammation of the sinus lining. The inflamed sinus causes the nasal passage to swell as well as block. As a result, you will find it hard to breathe. Sinus infection is usually accompanied by annoying headaches.
There are many types of headaches, which differ in terms of cause and severity of pain such as migraines, headaches caused by thirst and dryness of the body and also headaches caused by the sinuses.
What Causes Sinus Headaches? First sinusitis is the result of an inflammation of the mucous membranes. The symptoms of this inflammation is the appearance of headaches in the front of the head or other parts of the face.
The hard truth is that it may take up to a week for nasal congestion to clear up, but with this easy and fast remedy, you could be in your way to breathing well again and pain-free from headache caused by sinus.
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How To Differentiate Between A Sinus Headache And A Migraine
Sinus headaches are accompanied by fever and thick, discolored nasal discharge. If your head or other parts of your face hurt but you dont have fever or congestion, and your nasal discharge is clear, its probably a migraine headache. Migraines are often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to sound and light.
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What Is The Best Price For A Cold Or Hot Compress For Sinus Headache
A cold or hot compress for sinus headache is supposed to be a lifelong companion. You will enjoy faster opening times, better quality, and a better view by paying more for your product. It would cost between $$$ and $$$ for a new cold or hot compress for sinus headache. The only downside is that you wouldnt have some luxury features.
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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.
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.
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.
Sphenoid And Ethmoid Sinus Massage
Your sphenoid sinuses are located behind your nose and right between your eyes, while the ethmoid sinuses are in the bone that divides your nasal cavity from your brain, so these two are quite close together. Heres how to properly massage both your sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses to open up your sinuses, breathe better, and reduce sinus headaches in a pinch:
- Take your index fingers and place them on the sides of your nose bridge.
- Feel around for the area right between the corners of your eyes and your nasal bone.
- Put slightly firm pressure on that spot with your index fingers for around 15 seconds.
- Next, make a slow downward stroke down the side of your nose bridge.
- Repeat steps three and four once or twice.
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How Long Do Sinus Headaches Last
Viruses cause most sinus infections. A viral sinus infection typically resolves on its own. Similar to how the common cold clears up by itself, your sinus headache should feel better within about a week. If it doesnt go away, see your healthcare provider. You may have a bacterial or fungal sinus infection that requires medication.
Should You Use A Hot Or Cold Compress For Headache Find Here
A headache can be irritating and downright painful. It is important to understand that most headaches are associated with some condition. In other words, a headache is a symptom, and not the cause or disease. Should you use a hot or cold compress for headache? Again, that depends. Some people respond better to cold compress while suffering from a headache, while others with problems such as sinusitis may prefer a warm compress.
Dealing with headaches
Once in a while, you may have a headache for no apparent or serious reason, and it is completely okay. However, if you are getting frequentheadaches, or start seeing a pattern, you should consider writing down things in a journal. This journal and details will come in handy when you see a doctor, or just to know what you did at a particular time to deal with the headache
When to use cold compress
If you are someone who has migraine, you may consider cold compress to be an apt solution. Keep in mind that this wouldnt entirely prevent an episode, but you can get considerable relief. Also, for migraine, you will need aheadache medication anyway. Cold compress can be also used by patients who suffer from headaches related to arthritis, as cold helps to bring down the inflammation.
When to use hot compress
These are not permanent solutions
Final word
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