Sinus pressure can be uncomfortable, if not downright painful. Moreover, it can lead to pressure and pain in areas beyond the sinus, such as the head, teeth, and jaws. There are things you can do at home to help relieve sinus pressure, and if it’s persistent, your doctor or ENT can offer other solutions.
How to Relieve Sinus Pressure at Home
There are a few home remedies you can try to relieve sinus pressure.
Steam: Steam therapy is often underrated, yet it is a highly effective way to relieve sinus pressure and pain. There are several ways to take advantage of steam therapy, such as taking a hot shower, inhaling steam from a bowl of boiling water, or using a humidifier or vaporizer. Regardless of the method you choose, steam therapy offers a simple, safe, and effective way to relieve sinus pain by loosening secretions and providing pain relief.
Saline: Saline irrigations are easy to do and can provide relief from allergies and sinus pain. The saline irrigations open up the nose and relieve congestion and sinus pain by helping clean out some of the mucus that’s accumulated in your sinus passages. It’s a simple and effective way to reduce the symptoms of allergies and sinus pain.
Warm compress: A warm compress is another easy way to relieve sinus pressure at home. Put a cloth under hot water (as warm/hot as your skin can handle). Place this over your sinuses and any surrounding areas experiencing sinus pressure.
Read more: Sinus Surgery: What You Need to Know
Medication Options
When you need stronger relief or at-home remedies are not quite cutting it, there are some medication options you can try to ease the discomfort. Decongestants, nasal corticosteroid sprays, and expectorants (which break down mucus) are all over-the-counter options you can try to help relieve sinus pressure. Painkillers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) can also help minimize pain associated with sinus pressure.
Procedures That Can Help
For many, the cycle of using these home remedies and medications seems to go on and on. These people may suffer from chronic sinusitis or other issues. In that case, a visit to an ENT can help with obtaining a diagnosis and finding out what treatment option(s) may be best. Here are some of the options available:
Balloon sinuplasty: This is a minimally invasive office procedure performed under local anesthesia to physically open up the sinus cavity and clean out the infection. A small balloon is inserted into the nose and inflated, gently opening the blockage. The sinus is then cleaned to flush out the infection.
Sinus surgery: More involved cases of chronic sinusitis may require sinus surgery. During this procedure, a doctor removes any blockages (sometimes bone and tissue) in order to open up the sinuses. This is done under general or local anesthesia depending on the case and type of sinus surgery.
If home remedies aren’t cutting it, consider some professional help. Don’t suffer from sinus pressure or pain anymore; call our office today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Edmund Fisher in Facebyfisher to learn which treatment would be best for you.
