Sinus Pain Relief! 5 Ways to Ease the Pain

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8/2/22 in Blog Posts

Your head is throbbing, and you feel pressure around your eyes, cheeks and forehead— sinus pain is setting in. Many people deal with sinus pain due to illnesses like the common cold or sinusitis, but how do they find relief? Below, we’ve assembled a few of our top sinus pain relief tips to help you find sinus pain relief at home. Read on for 5 ways to ease the pain! 

How to Relieve Sinus Pain at Home 

1. Use a Warm or Cold Compress 

When you begin to feel sinus pain, apply a warm compress over your eyes and nose. Doing this helps warm the nasal passages, which in turn helps to loosen mucus. You can also place a cold compress on your forehead or eyes to help reduce sinus pressure. Alternating between warm and cold (three minutes warm, 30 seconds cold) may also prove helpful for sinus pain relief. Also, steaming with inhalation Vicks VapoRub in hot water breathing and slowly through the nose and out through the mouth can help clear significant sinus pressure symptoms. 

2. Flush Infection Out with a Neti Pot 

This method must only be used with distilled water, as it includes flushing your sinus passages with a water and salt solution. Using non-distilled water could introduce more bacteria to your body, so it is imperative to use distilled water. It is also important to sterilize your neti pot before each use. 

A neti pot is a small container designed for rinsing your nasal cavity. After combining the provided salt solution with distilled water in the neti pot, you simply tilt your head sideways over a sink, put the container’s spout in the upper nostril and pour the solution in while breathing through your mouth. The saltwater solution will make its way out of your lower nostril. Repeat on the other side. Flushing your sinuses can be a helpful way of finding sinus pain relief. 

3. Spice Things Up 

If you’re experiencing sinus pain, another way to help ease the pressure is eating or sipping on hot, spicy foods or liquids. From heavily peppered hot chicken soup to fiery sriracha, spicy foods can help clear the nasal passages. Foods containing the compound capsaicin, the active ingredient found in chile peppers, have even been shown to help reduce some types of facial pain.   However, if you suffer from acid reflux issues, then he may want to avoid this recommendation in regards to spicy foods.  

4. Stay Hydrated 

Anytime you fall ill, it is vital that you get enough liquids to avoid dehydration. When you feel oncoming sinus pressure, drink lots of fluids, from water to juice to hot soups. At the same time, avoid liquids that include caffeine or alcohol, as both can contribute to dehydration.  

You can also hydrate your nasal passages by using a humidifier or sitting in a steamy room. Steam also works to break up mucus and clear out the sinus cavity. If you decide to use a humidifier, be sure to clean your humidifier frequently with a vinegar/water solution to avoid mold and bacterial growth in the water. 

5. Rest Up! 

Aside from these suggestions, anytime you encounter pain or pressure as a result of a sinus infection, it is extremely important to give your body time to rest and recover. Getting plenty of rest while you’re feeling unwell can help your body fight infection and even speed up the recovery process. Furthermore, taking time to rest in a quiet, dark environment may help you find sinus pain relief. 

Sinus Infection Symptoms vs. COVID-19 Symptoms: What to Know 

With the arrival of COVID-19, you may have noticed that some symptoms do overlap between the novel coronavirus and a typical sinus infection. The Omicron variant of COVID-19 causes particularly similar symptoms, such as congestion, headache and fever.  

The best way to determine whether you have a sinus infection or COVID-19 is to get tested for the coronavirus. If your symptoms are mild and mimic those of a sinus infection, but you suspect you may have been exposed to COVID-19, we advise scheduling a test as soon as possible.   If you test negative for COVID and an your symptoms last more than 3-4 days, then scheduling an appointment with an otolaryngologist (ear nose and throat doctor) would then be helpful to determine if it is a bacterial type infection. 

Reduce Sinus Pressure with These At-Home Remedies  

Anytime you have a cold or sinus infection, you may be vulnerable to sinus pressure and pain. The accompanying throbbing headaches, facial pain and congestion can be debilitating. From keeping hydrated to eating spicy foods and getting plenty of rest, try these at-home lifehacks to help reduce sinus pain.

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The Do’s & Don’ts During A Sinus Infection

Posted on 12. 08.17

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Sinus infections and suffering from sinusitis can be tough. They affect a majority of people and can be more prevalent when you have allergies or a difficult cold. However, you can recover quickly with a few helpful do’s and don’ts! Detroit Sinus Center is here to help you through the process. With offices in both Allen Park and Southfield, we are conveniently located to serve your community. These are our tips and best practices when dealing with a sinus infection.

Do’s: What To Do When You Have A Sinus Infection

When you have sinusitis there are specific things you can do to reduce inflammation and pain, and to recover faster. Our doctors at Detroit Sinus Center recommend the following:

• Stay hydrated: be proactive about drinking fluids. Your body needs to be fully hydrated in order to recover from a sinus infection. Also, drinking hot liquids like tea or soup can help break down the stuffiness and mucus in your nasal cavities.

• Use a humidifier: the cool mist of a humidifier can help you feel less stuffy and release some of the built up mucus and pressure. Make sure you always use clean water and you routinely clean your humidifier to avoid further infection.

• Use a warm compress: applying a warm compress like a washcloth to your face and allowing it to sit for 10-15 minutes can also help break up the mucus and alleviate the pressure when you have a sinus infection.

• Sleep: make sure you are getting plenty of sleep when you are fighting sinusitis. Your body needs to be well rested in order to fight the infection and recover properly.

• Rinse your sinuses: using a neti pot or nasal spray can help clean out your nasal cavities and alleviate the pressure build up. Remember to always use distilled, sterile, or boiled water to cleanse your sinuses.

• Over The counter drugs: if you have mild pain or pressure, over the counter drugs can help with this. We recommend acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.

• Exercise with caution: if you feel like exercising, great! Exercise can also help break up some of the mucus. However, always use caution when exercising with an infection, you may feel slightly dizzy as a result of your sinusitis.

• Go to work and school: do not skip work or school because of a sinus infection. We always suggest that our patients continue their normal schedule.

• Visit Detroit Sinus Center: when you feel a sinus infection coming on or you are experiencing more difficult symptoms, call for an appointment, we are here to help! Sometimes sinusitis cannot be handle on your own and we are here for that specific reason. If you continually suffer from sinus infections, our doctors may recommend balloon surgery, a safe and effective sinus procedure to alleviate sinus pain.

Sinusitis is frustrating and uncomfortable. With these best practices and our doctors, we will have you back to normal in a heartbeat.

Don’ts: What Not To Do With Sinusitis

Of course there are certain activities you should do when you have a sinus infection and things that you should not do when you have a sinus infection. We recommend avoiding the following activities to have a speedy recovery.

• Don’t fly in an airplane: The pressure on an airplane can increase the pain in your ears and nasal cavities. If you can avoid it, we suggest not flying when suffering from sinusitis.

• Don’t drink alcohol: You shouldn’t consume alcohol with a sinus infection. Alcohol dehydrates the body and can cause your nose and nasal cavities to swell when dehydrate, in turn exacerbating your symptoms.

• Don’t swim in a pool: chlorine in swimming pools can irritate your nose, especially in higher doses. If suffering from sinusitis, avoiding returning to the pool until you’ve fully recovered from the infection.

• Don’t breathe irritating materials or smoke:avoid breathing in harmful materials or fumes when you have a sinus infection. You should not smoke cigarettes or cigars. And, you should avoid high pollution areas. Try to breathe in clean, fresh air. This will be the best for your sinuses and your recovery.

Questions & Consultations

Our do’s and don’ts list is a pretty good place to start when dealing with a sinus infection. However, if you symptoms increase or you are experiencing continual sinusitis, please call one of our offices in Allen Park or Southfield for a consultation today. Our doctors and staff will be happy to answering any initial questions or concerns, and set you up with a scheduled appointment. Sinus infections are difficult, but relief is right around the corner and we can help. Call or visit Detroit Sinus Center today!

Is it possible to warm up the nose with sinusitis?

Inflammation of the paranasal sinuses of an infectious origin is accompanied by a number of unpleasant symptoms and is fraught with dangerous complications. It seems to many that warming up with sinusitis is an easy way to eliminate the effects of a cold. However, only a doctor can establish the nature of the disease and determine the complex of therapeutic measures, including physiotherapy. In what cases is warming up useful, and in what cases can it cause serious damage to health?

Benefits and harms of heating

In the medical community, the issue remains debatable. Parts of the human body, in this case the sinuses, cannot be heated to a temperature that can cause the death of bacteria. At the same time, the disease includes certain periods when warming up improves the blood supply to tissues and activates local immunity.

The appointment of such a physiotherapeutic procedure as warming up is advisable in the following cases:

• Chronic sinusitis in remission.
• The initial stage of viral sinusitis. Those very first days of a cold, when most people, suffering from a common cold, do not suspect that catarrh is developing in the sinuses.
• Acute sinusitis in the final stage, when the symptoms subside, and the general condition of the patient improves markedly.

Local warming procedures can aggravate the disease and lead to serious complications under the following conditions:

• Acute phase of sinusitis, in which body temperature is elevated, local symptoms and signs of general intoxication are pronounced.
• The period of exacerbation of chronic sinusitis.
• Presence of blood in nasal discharge.
• In allergic sinusitis and polyposis, warming up the nose provokes a sharp increase in edema with overlapping of the anastomosis.

Warming procedures, which are often resorted to without medical advice, can lead to the spread of a purulent process, melting of the walls of the sinus, the formation of phlegmon and even brain abscess, acute otitis media and other pathologies. In order for heat to be beneficial in the treatment of sinusitis, a doctor should prescribe this type of therapy, taking into account the characteristics of the course of the disease and the patient’s condition.

Heating methods

Home remedies for warming up the nose for sinusitis include:

• Blue lamp (Minin reflector). This simple heating device is available to many. Its action is based on infrared radiation, which warms up tissues to a depth of 3 cm from the surface of the skin. The blue color of the lamp is necessary so as not to irritate the eyes through closed eyelids. Dry heat contributes to the discharge of mucus residues, the restoration of epithelial cells of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity and sinuses, and the activation of local blood circulation. The lamp is held at a distance of about 20 cm from the nose area for 15-20 minutes, the procedure is repeated 2-3 times a day for 2 weeks.
• Hot salt. This method can be attributed to folk recipes, it is familiar to everyone. 100 g of coarse salt is heated in a pan, other bulk materials (sand, fine grains) can also be used. The heated material is placed in a bag of dense fabric and applied to the diseased sinus for 15 minutes. There should be no burning sensation, if necessary, you can put a handkerchief or towel under the salt bag.
• A hard-boiled egg is another source of dry heat. A hot egg is wrapped in a linen napkin and placed in the projection area of ​​one or both sinuses. Hold until the egg has cooled.
• Paraffin applications. Warmed paraffin is applied with a brush on the sides of the nose with a layer of 0.7-1 cm. Put paper and a towel on top. After an hour, the paraffin is removed.
• Hot compresses. A piece of soft cloth or gauze folded in several layers is soaked in hot water and applied over the sinus. Polyethylene is placed on top, the face is covered with a towel. The compress is changed as it cools. The procedure lasts 10-15 minutes.
• Steam inhalation is a method of warming up the nose in case of sinusitis, familiar from childhood. You can breathe over soda-salt solutions, decoctions of herbs (chamomile, bay leaf, St. John’s wort, sage), freshly boiled potatoes. To enhance the antiseptic effect, a few drops of tincture of iodine, propolis, and essential oils are added to herbal and saline solutions. It is necessary to sit down in front of a ladle with hot liquid, cover yourself with a large towel. Inhale steam through the nose (in case of severe congestion, drip a vasoconstrictor drug), keep the face at a distance at which discomfort and burning of the upper respiratory tract are not felt.
  The duration of the procedure is 15-20 minutes.

When treating sinusitis in children, it is important to ensure that warming agents do not cause burns of the skin and mucous membranes. The temperature and duration of thermal exposure depend on the age of the child and are determined by the doctor.

Alternative methods

As an alternative to dry heat, devices such as Bioptron and Denas can be considered. However, their action is not based on tissue heating. Activation of blood circulation and stimulation of local immunity occur under the influence of light and currents generated by these devices. Whether to resort to the help of such devices, you need to find out from your doctor.

Recently, nebulizers have gained popularity – special devices that convert the medicinal components placed in them into thin suspensions that penetrate the foci of inflammation. The devices do not have a thermal effect on the sinuses, so they can replace steam inhalations in the acute phase of sinusitis, when heating is contraindicated. Their use is also advisable for allergic sinusitis.

Nasal lavage is both an alternative and a parallel treatment for sinusitis. This is a basic procedure that can be applied at any stage of the disease. For irrigation, water-salt solutions, decoctions of herbs, antiseptics are used. So, to prepare an isotonic saline solution, it is enough to dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt in 0.5 liters of pure water. To obtain a hypertonic composition, 2-2.5 tablespoons of salt are added to the water. Pharmacies sell ready-made solutions for washing, in particular the drug Aqualor.

Aqualor for sinusitis

The advantage of Aqualor is that these are ready-to-use saline solutions of various concentrations, produced on the basis of natural sea warfare. The preparations do not contain pharmacological additives and preservatives, therefore they can be used in the treatment of sinusitis during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood (from 12 months).

Unlike the warming procedure, nasal irrigation is indicated in the acute stage of sinusitis. With severe swelling of the soft tissues of the nose, hypertonic Aqualor Forte Duo and Aqualor Extra Forte Duo will provide invaluable assistance. Regular washing of the sinuses with isotonic Aqualor Soft Duo will moisturize and cleanse the mucous membrane, prepare it for the effects of medicinal substances.

Do not forget about prevention, which is especially important in chronic sinusitis. Daily irrigation of the nasal passages with isotonic saline solutions helps to remove microbes and allergens, strengthens the capillary network and the protective mechanisms of the mucosa.

It should be remembered that, no matter how useful individual methods of treating sinusitis are, the doctor determines the complete treatment regimen during an internal consultation.

Sinus pain: causes, symptoms, treatment

Very often, when something hurts, home remedies are used first. Sometimes they bring relief, but do not always solve the problem. If symptoms or suspicion of sinusitis appear, it is better not to delay and contact an ENT doctor as soon as possible. ENT symptoms should not be underestimated as if left untreated they can lead to problems with hearing, smelling or speaking.

Why do my sinuses hurt?

Pain in the sinuses does not always mean that they are inflamed, but be careful. If your sinus problems are not treated quickly and completely, they can become chronic. People are susceptible to this disease, especially after a cold, flu, or respiratory infections.

Allergics and asthmatics, as well as people with a deviated septum, are more likely to experience sinus problems. Interestingly, one of the reasons may be inflammation of the teeth or caries. It is also common to experience pain in the sinuses, for example, as a result of swimming or diving, polluted air or adverse weather. However, the main symptom that causes sinus pain is sinusitis, or inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

Sinus symptoms

Depending on which part of the sinuses is inflamed, symptoms may vary slightly. The most characteristic of these include: nasal congestion, purulent discharge, loss of smell and facial pain, especially around the base of the nose and forehead, which additionally radiates and intensifies when bending over. In addition, there may be fever, headache, lack of appetite, and malaise. If symptoms persist for several days or worsen, contact your doctor immediately.

Is an ENT examination painful?

One of the most frequently asked questions before a visit to the doctor – will it hurt? So, the answer is no, a visit to an ENT doctor is usually painless. The examination of patients with sinus pain begins with a detailed interview. In some cases, in-depth diagnostics may be required, i.e. x-ray or CT. X-rays are the simplest and most affordable solution, but CT scans are much more accurate, and most importantly, give doctors detailed information. Perhaps the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound of the paranasal sinuses. These studies are not painful, but are necessary to determine the further treatment of the patient.

Medical therapy

Antibiotics are the mainstay of treatment for sinusitis. There are many groups of antibiotics, the doctor determines the need for indications, the presence of concomitant diseases, the cause of inflammation.

Additional medicines for sinusitis:

• Vasoconstrictor drugs (drops, nasal sprays) to relieve mucosal edema, vasoconstriction
• Antihistamines if there are signs of an allergic reaction to relieve swelling
• Painkillers, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• local antiseptics (washing the nose with a solution of furatsilina), sea water, saline)
• in chronic sinusitis, course use of sprays based on glucocorticoids is possible (on the recommendation of a doctor)

Home treatment

If the sinusitis is in the acute stage, drinking plenty of warm water can relieve the condition by reducing swelling and moisturizing the mucosa.