As a common symptom of chronic sinusitis and sinus infections, sinus pressure manifests as a dull, throbbing pain felt in the forehead, cheekbones, and across the bridge of your nose. It can be especially debilitating if it’s compounded by nasal congestion, a dry cough and sore throat, and fatigue. Read on to find 6 easy-to-implement ways of achieving sinus pressure relief.

One: Humidify Your Environment For Better Breathing

When you have sinus pressure from an infection or inflammation, a dry air environment can make it worse as the air exacerbates how dry the nasal passages are, encouraging the body to create thicker mucus. The best way to combat this to get sinus pressure relief is to moisten the air. You can do this by:

  • Humidifying Machine: A humidifier releases water vapor/steam into the air, making it heavier and more wet. This prevents your nasal passages from becoming excessively dry, thins out mucus, and reduces inflammation, providing sinus pressure relief.
  • Steam Therapy: You can use the steam from a hot shower, a hot cup of tea, or steam from a hot bowl of water to moisten the air around you. Using a diffuser with a few drops of eucalyptus oil (a natural decongestant) can massively improve steam therapy for sinus pressure relief.

Two: Use Nasal Irrigation Options to Flush Out Mucus

You can use nasal irrigation or a sinus flush, to find sinus pressure relief by washing away debris, allergens, and excess mucus from your nasal passages with a sterile salt solution.

  • Homemade Nasal Sprays: To make your own sinus flush at home, you will need baking soda, distilled water, and iodine-free salt.
  • Neti Pots: This is a small, teapot-style device that is designed for pouring saline solutions through the nostrils to effectively flush them out. To safely use a neti pot, mix warm, sterile water with pure salt, and then tilt your head to one side, place the spout in the nostril on top, and let the solution drain through.

Three: Make Hydration Your Best Friend

If you aren’t taking in enough fluids, dehydration will worsen your sinus pressure. Apart from drinking water, consuming herbal teas, drinking bone broth (tons of minerals), and eating water-based fruits like watermelons and cucumbers can help.

Four: Prioritize Rest, Optimal Sleep, and Low-Impact Exercise

When your body is at rest, it produces more white blood cells which can help you recover from infection-based sinus pressure. To get restful sleep, prop your head up with pillows so that it is above your heart, as this prevents mucus buildup and allows more comfortable breathing. Add in low-impact physical activity like yoga or walking, as this can give sinus pressure relief by boosting blood circulation and temporarily relieving congestion.

Combine these techniques with deep breathing exercises and meditation, to help relieve sinus tension and pain.

Five: Use Warm Compresses For Immediate Relief

A warm compress can provide immediate sinus pressure relief, as it reduces swelling and opens up the nasal passages by promoting sinus drainage. Create a warm compress by dampening a washcloth with warm water, then lie down and lay it on top of your forehead, or across the bridge of your nose for 10-15 minutes. Repeat as needed.

Six: Make Use of Over-The-Counter Medication

If you’re finding the above methods inadequate for sinus pressure relief, add over-the-counter medications into your routine.

  • Antihistamines/decongestants can help reabsorb congestion if sinus pressure is caused by allergies.
  • OTC nasal sprays with fluticasone (Flonase) or terminological (Nasacort) can be used once a day to reduce inflammation.
  • Pain relievers like acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) can help reduce facial pain and headaches caused by pressure buildup in the sinus cavities.

It’s important to follow the instructions on the label and not exceed the recommended dosage when using these medications.

Sinus pressure relief is attainable with a combination of lifestyle changes and OTC medications; however, if symptoms persist for more than two weeks or worsen over time, it’s best to seek medical attention as antibiotics may be needed. Contact Floto Group’s Sinus and Allergy Center today to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward finding lasting sinus pressure relief.