Garlic for Yeast Infections? Probably Best To Skip It
How To Relieve Sinus Pressure
You can relieve sinus pressure with the help of natural remedies like a humidifier, saline washes, and biofeedback. But you may need medical attention if your symptoms do not improve after a week or two.
Sinus pressure results from blocked nasal passages. When your sinuses cannot drain, you may experience inflammation and pain in your head, nose, and face.
Many people experience sinus pressure from seasonal allergies or the common cold. While some over-the-counter (OTC) treatments can help reduce symptoms, there are also many effective natural remedies.
Dry air and dry sinuses can increase sinus pressure, causing sinus headaches and pain. Steam can add moisture to the air, moisten your sinus passages, and thin out mucus that may have thickened over time. Some ways to breathe in moistened air include:
If your sinus pressure is related to a viral infection, you can try adding eucalyptus oil to your bath or vaporizer to help speed your recovery. Eucalyptus contains cineole, an ingredient that may speed the healing of viral sinusitis.
The oil also may help to reduce nasal stuffiness and clear your pathways.
You can do a sinus flush at home to relieve sinus pressure and congestion. A sinus flush uses sterile saltwater rinsed through your nasal passages to wash away debris and allergens.
You can also try saline nasal spray contains salt that helps to increase moisture in your nose and reduce sinus pressure.
You can buy sterile saline spray in drugstores or make your own with baking soda, distilled water, and iodine-free salt. If making your own, you must use distilled water, filtered water, or water that has been boiled, as other sources may contain harmful bacteria.
A good night's sleep can help the body to heal. Also, when you're at rest, your body can produce more white blood cells, which help you recover from viruses and other bacteria.
Allowing your body to rest can help to reduce sinus pressure, speed your recovery time, and leave you feeling more refreshed. If your sinus pressure makes sleeping difficult, check out these tips for sleeping with a cold that may help.
Just as sleep is essential for healing, how you sleep can improve or worsen sinus symptoms. Lying flat can increase mucus buildup in your nasal passages, increase your sinus pressure, and disrupt your sleep cycle.
Prop your head with pillows at night to keep your head above your heart. This sleeping position can help prevent sinus buildup and allow you to breathe more comfortably.
Dehydration can contribute to your sinus passages drying out and increased pressure on your face. Increase your water intake throughout the day if you feel under the weather. Fluids will reduce blockages in your sinuses.
While water may be your first choice to remain hydrated, you can also retain fluids through other foods and beverages, including:
Your sinus pressure may cause you to feel tension in your head, face, and neck.
Relaxation may help relieve some headaches. You can try incorporating deep breathing exercises and meditation to achieve relaxation and reduce pain. Yoga, meditation, and other relaxation techniques can help to reduce pain and pressure from sinus infections.
Similar to yoga, exercise can reduce sinus pressure. Physical activity can increase blood circulation and temporarily relieve congestion to ease breathing. Although uncomfortable to perform while sick, low impact physical activity can help to improve your recovery time and speed healing. This can include taking a walk or doing gentle yoga.
You can place a warm compress, such as a washcloth dampened with warm water, over your sinuses to relieve swelling. This may help open your nasal passages.
If home remedies do not work, you may also be able to relieve sinus pressure with common OTC products. These can depend on the cause of your sinus pressure and may include:
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Sinus pressure symptoms can be painful and uncomfortable. In addition to using traditional treatment methods like decongestants and pain relievers, alternative home remedies can also boost your recovery.
If you continue to experience sinus pressure symptoms after two weeks, or if they begin to worsen, seek medical attention. This could indicate a more severe infection that may require prescribed antibiotics.
How do you relieve sinus pressure fast?
You may be able to find relief from sinus pressure with a combination of rest, elevation, and keeping your nasal passages moist.
What pressure points drain sinuses?
Pressure points for sinus relief can include: LI20, BL2, Yintang, SI18, GB20, LI4, LU5, LU9, and Liv3.
How do you manually drain your sinuses?
You can manually drain your sinuses by inhaling steam, staying elevated, and performing nasal irrigation, such as with a Neti Pot.
Depending on the cause of your sinus pressure, at-home remedies may help relieve your symptoms. This can include breathing in steam and flushing your sinuses.
If these remedies do not work, you may decide to contact a doctor. They may be able to diagnose and treat the cause of your sinus pressure.
Merck Manuals: What Patients Need To Know About Sinusitis And Sinus Infections
RAHWAY, N.J., March 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A sinus infection, known as sinusitis, is one of the most common medical conditions. But in some cases, it can come with dangerous complications.
MerckManuals.Com (PRNewsfoto/MerckManuals.Com)In a new editorial on MerckManuals.Com, Marvin P. Fried, MD, Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital of Albert Einstein College of Medicine, breaks down what patients need to know about sinusitis and how to distinguish it from other respiratory conditions.
1. Sinusitis can have many causes
Sinusitis is the blanket term for inflammation of any of the body's four groups of sinuses. Often, sinusitis is caused by a viral upper respiratory infection, such as a cold, creating a buildup of fluid, says Fried. Other causes include bacteria and seasonal allergies, which can cause swelling that leads to sinusitis, as can irritants like dust particles or smoke. Certain fungi can also cause sinus infections. Nasal polyps may also be associated with sinusitis.
2. There are telltale symptoms of sinusitis
There is often symptom overlap among various respiratory conditions, but sinusitis has a few specific symptoms to watch for, says Fried. Often, sinusitis is more painful than other respiratory illnesses. The pressure in the sinuses can causes swelling and aching cheeks, pain behind the eye, or headaches. Fatigue is another known symptom. Patients with sinusitis may feel run down and more exhausted than what is typical with allergies or the common cold.
3. Treatment options may vary
Duration of symptoms is another important indicator of sinusitis. A cold tends to last between a week and 10 days. If you aren't feeling better after two weeks, it may be time to see your primary care provider, says Fried.
For cases of sinusitis causing a fever or severe pain and lasting more than 10 days, doctors may prescribe an antibiotic. Fried says providers will also typically recommend at-home remedies to help the sinus drain, including:
breathing steam from a hot shower;
hot, wet towels covering the sinuses;
drinking hot fluids;
saline rinses;
over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays.
4. Sinusitis can become chronic
Individual sinus infections are known as acute sinusitis. Sinusitis is defined as chronic if it has been ongoing for more than 90 days. Patients with suspected chronic sinusitis are often referred to as an otolaryngologist or ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist. Treatment tends to be more involved and can include stronger courses of antibiotics, oral steroids, and other medications. Ultimately, surgery may be recommended, depending on the cause of the sinusitis, says Fried.
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5. Getting diagnosed is crucial
The spread of bacterial infection to the eyes or brain can pose serious medical risks. If you or a loved one is suffering from sinusitis symptoms for more than 14 days, seeking proper care is essential. Children, older individuals, and immunocompromised individuals should be especially careful.
Fried says the best way to prevent bacterial sinusitis and its complications is to prevent the infection from occurring in the first place. Wash your hands and keep a safe distance from others who are sick.
To read more of Fried's editorial on sinusitis, visit MerckManuals.Com.
About The Merck Manuals and MSD Manuals
First published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, The Merck Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the world's most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers. As The Manual evolved, it continually expanded the reach and depth of its offerings to reflect the mission of providing the best medical information to a wide cross-section of users, including medical professionals and students, veterinarians and veterinary students, and consumers. In 2015, The Manuals kicked off Global Medical Knowledge 2020, a global initiative with the goal to make the best current medical information accessible by up to three billion professionals and patients around the world by 2020. The Manuals achieved that goal, and today its medical information is available in nearly 250 countries and in 14 languages. It's continuing its ambitious mission through outreach, education and creating new reliable medical resources. For access to thousands of medical topics with images, videos and a constantly expanding set of resources, visit MerckManuals.Com or MSDManuals.Com and connect with us on social media: For Consumers in the U.S. And its territories: X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. For Professionals in the U.S. And its territories: X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook
About Merck
At Merck, known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, we are unified around our purpose: We use the power of leading-edge science to save and improve lives around the world. For more than 130 years, we have brought hope to humanity through the development of important medicines and vaccines. We aspire to be the premier research-intensive biopharmaceutical company in the world – and today, we are at the forefront of research to deliver innovative health solutions that advance the prevention and treatment of diseases in people and animals. We foster a diverse and inclusive global workforce and operate responsibly every day to enable a safe, sustainable and healthy future for all people and communities. For more information, visit www.Merck.Com and connect with us on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
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Sinus Headaches
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces inside your forehead, cheekbones, and behind the bridge of your nose. When inflamed — usually because of an allergic reaction or an infection — they swell, make more mucus, and the channels that drain them can get blocked.
The buildup of pressure in your sinuses causes pain that feels like a headache.
You'll feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or the bridge of your nose. The pain usually gets stronger when you move your head suddenly or strain. At the same time, you might have other sinus symptoms, such as:
Other kinds of headaches that keep coming back, such as migraines or tension headaches, are often mistaken for sinus headaches. Because the treatment you need depends on the type of headache you have, it's important to figure out if your symptoms are caused by your sinuses. If a sinus blockage, such as an infection, really is the cause, you'll likely have a fever.
Usually, your doctor can tell if your sinuses are blocked based on your symptoms and a physical exam, but in some cases, you may need CT or MRI scans.
The reason behind your sinus headaches can vary from person to person. Generally, it is because your sinuses get blocked or inflamed. Some causes for this include:
Sometimes, you can get sinus headaches or sinus pain without any inflammation. This could happen if you are exposed to secondhand smoke, perfume, or other chemicals you may breathe in.
Sudden changes in air pressure — like when you are on an airplane — can also cause sinus pain.
The goal is usually to relieve your symptoms and treat an infection if you have one. You might take antibiotics, as well as antihistamines or decongestants for a short time. You can also use inhaled nasal decongestants, but only for up to three days. Longer use can make your symptoms worse.
You can also take pain relievers, or if they don't help, your doctor can prescribe corticosteroids to ease the inflammation in your sinuses. If an allergic reaction causes your sinus flare-ups, you might need a preventive allergy treatment.
You can also feel better with simple at-home tricks, such as drinking more fluids or using a humidifier or saltwater nasal spray.
It's also possible to ease sinus pain and pressure using a bioelectronic device that emits microcurrent waveforms. Sold over the counter, the device emits waves that target blood vessels and nerves to ease sinus congestion and pain.
If you take decongestant and pain-relieving medicines too often, you might get medication overuse headaches. It's important to consult your doctor if you have been using any medication for a long time to treat your headaches. Decongestants also can raise your blood pressure, so if you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before you take one.
In rare cases, they may advise sinus surgery to remove polyps or open up small or constantly swollen sinuses.
How to get rid of a sinus headache instantly
While there is no 100% reliable "instant cure," some things can ease a sinus headache quickly. They include:
Ever heard that allergies cause sinus headaches? It's not quite that simple.
Allergies can cause sinus congestion, which can make your head hurt. Treatment for your allergies can ease that congestion, but it won't relieve your headache pain. You usually have to treat the two conditions separately. See your doctor to get the right help.
Sinus headaches happen when your sinuses get blocked or inflamed, causing pain in areas such as your forehead, cheekbones, or nose. They can be triggered by infections, allergies, nasal issues, or even things such as smoke or changes in air pressure.
To treat sinus headaches, you can try pain relievers, decongestants, nasal sprays, and home remedies such as drinking fluids and using steam. In severe cases, a doctor might suggest surgery to clear blocked sinuses or remove polyps.
Allergies can cause sinus congestion, which may lead to headaches, but treating allergies won't necessarily stop the pain. You might need to address both the congestion and headache separately to feel better.
How long should a sinus headache last?
Most sinus headaches usually last 7-10 days. If it lasts longer, you may want to see your doctor. You could have a migraine or a bacterial or fungal infection. In either case, you may need meds to help.
What drinks help sinus headaches?
To be clear, no drink can cure a sinus headache. However, keeping yourself hydrated with water and warm liquids like soup or tea can help soothe your sinus headache.
What triggers sinus infections and headaches?
Sinus infections and headaches can be triggered by viral or bacterial infections, allergies, polyps in your nose, a deviated septum, or dental problems. Secondhand smoke or even changes in air pressure can also be triggers for some people.
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