I got the average head cold a few days ago, but now it's turned into an all out sinus infection. I need something to help until I can get a doctor's appointment. None of the over the counter meds are helping. I have so much sinus pressure my face feels as if it might explode. Does anyone know how to help relieve sinus pressure and nasal congestion?
Slice up a lemon or two and put them into a bowl with boiling water. Take a towel and place it over your head while leaning over the bowl about 7 or 8 inches. Breathe deeply for about 15 minutes. This may help some to relieve the pressure. Also, facial massages may help. Rub gently over your eyebrows, under your eyes just below the soft tissue, and your cheeks. Rub toward the center of your face to allow the lymphatic system to work. Do this several times a day. Drink lots of water when having a sinus infection. Good luck, I hope you feel much better. (08/22/2004)
By Nicole
I suggest taking Robitussin (or a generic equivalent) to loosen the pressure of the mucus. I'm sorry to recommend a brand of medicine, but this is the best stuff I've found for relieving pressure. Plain Robitussin, without any added D or DM or whatever, is mild, and you can take it as needed. Hope you feel better.
By Nancy Maffia
Take a small pillow that will be about 6 inches x 6 inches, either bought or home made and fill it with oatmeal, lavender and eucalyptus. If the pain is a dull ache than put the pillow in the fridge for a while and then directly over your face to relieve the pressure. If it is a sharper pain than put it in the microwave for no more than 30 seconds and use the warm pillow to soothe away the aches. It's always worked for my family. (08/22/2004)
Try adding dried rosemary to a pot of boiled water, with a towel over your head, inhale and allow the infusion to steam away the pressure. I just got over the same thing and this helped immensely. Do it as often as is comfortable for at least 10 min. Eucalyptus oil works even faster. (08/22/2004)
By sufigirl
Try acupressure, it can work wonderfully and pretty quickly. Diagram of the points that you should press are located at http://bhojraj.tripod.com/stayfit.html. Use the ones for Cold/Sinus. If that doesn't do it then add the ones for Headache. I don't think the Headache ones will cover it on their own. (08/22/2004)
By KMS
Try mixing 1/2 tsp salt to 1 cup water and spray up, inside the nose. A gross way my son found is to put your nose in the bowl and inhale. You can also buy Ocean nose spray. It works wonders. Take it from someone who has 4 to 5 sinus infections a year! (08/23/2004)
By Mari
I do something like what Mary suggested, but I use one of those bulb syringes (like what you use to clear a baby's nose) to squirt the saltwater up your nose. The best way to do it is to lean your head over the sink a little and tilt your head so that you're squirting into the nostril that's higher. Make sure to open your mouth. The water will run up into your sinuses and out the other nostril. This takes a little getting used to, but it sure helps.
Sometimes my head is so congested I can't get the saltwater through. Then I either take a hot shower or I put my head over a steaming bowl of water until I can loosen things up a bit. Sometimes eating something spicy helps, or even a good cry! (08/23/2004)
By Molly
Press your finger lightly across the top of each eyebrow. In the middle of each eyebrow is a small ridge. If you massage this ridge, it will relieve the pressure and pain for about 15-30 minutes. Enough time to find the time or materials for the other remedies. I got this tip 20 years ago from a massage therapist, and it really works. (08/23/2004)
By Jewels955
Peppermint oil extract in cold water with lots of ice. Soak a wash rag in mixture, squeeze out excess and place over your forehead, nose, and cheeks. The cold apparently reduces swelling and the peppermint opens the sinuses. Hope you feel better! (08/23/2004)
By Barb
The best way to relieve sinus pressure is to take a spoon full of horseradish sauce. There is something in it that will open you right up and relieve the pressure. The best way to prevent sinus pressure from returning is to take two spoon fulls per week, it sure does help you take control of your life again.
(09/29/2004)
By Sarah
I suggest putting a cool humidifier in your bedroom while your sleeping at night. I get terrible sinus infections and I have adenoid trouble. I went to an Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor and he told me to use a cool humidifier or a cool mist while I'm sleeping. It really does help to clear the sinuses. Don't use a hot vaporizer, it will make your pressure worse.
I also suggest putting a hot washcloth over the pressure points and trying Entsol, its a buffered saline nasal spray that you can get over the counter. It works like a charm. I use Entsol even when I don't have sinus pressure because it greatly reduces the chance of getting even the common cold. (04/30/2005)
By Dana
There are few things that work well for me. First, do the sinus rinse regularly, like at least 1-2 times a day. I use this thing from Neilmed that's a little bottle with a round nose made specifically for rinsing out the sinuses. Use a boiled salt water mix (I put the kettle on for about 10 minutes, once the water cools to a reasonable temp mix 1/4 tsp salt with 2 c of water; lean over the sink and use half the Neilmed bottle in each nostril. It sucks at first, but it really works. Also just putting a towel over your head and leaning over a steaming bowl of water works too, for instant temporary relief.
I also use a combo of Vicks and MigraStick (you can find them at natural food stores, a mix of peppermint and lavender oil) on my temples and nostrils. And if worse comes to worst, start taking sinus medicine - I use Drixoral. (09/28/2005)
Editor's Note: When using Vicks place under the nose, never inside the nostrils.
By razmatazz
The health food stores of health sections of large grocery stores carry an oil called Tei-Fu Oil. Place small amounts of oil on temples, forehead, under the nose, behind the ears and the back of the neck at the hair line. This works great and is a quick reliever. If you search the internet, there are many things that this can be used for. (09/28/2005)
A friend of mine told me her husband drinks a COKE then takes a Sudafed. The coke supposedly opens up the blood vessels so the Sudafed can work on the sinus pressure.
Hope this helps. (09/30/2005)
By Peggygv
I use these things called Frownies Facial Pads. They are little triangle adhesives that you stick to your face while you sleep. My sinus pressure is mainly around my eyebrows, so I stick them there then go to bed. I always sleep fine with them on, then in the morning, the pressure is completely relieved. I bought them at a store near my house, but I had to hunt them down. (10/20/2005)
By Eric
I've had bad sinus pressure for years, and just now started taking Singulair (sp?) before bed. I wake up clear as day now (even after sleeping in). Going without for more than 3 nights is a guaranteed infection. (12/22/2005)
By Chris
I made my son a "Rice Sock". That is what he calls it. I went and bought two pairs of sweater like socks. It has two layers. I filled them with rice (not to full). And then sewed them up. When he has pressure he takes a 30 min. warm bath with tea tree oil and peppermint oil. While he is getting out I put a few drops of peppermint oil on the Rice Sock and heat it for 1 min., then he curves it to fit around his face (forehead to under the eyes) and lays on his stomach for about 30 min. If his back (our other parts of his body) hurts I heat the other and lay it on his back to relive the pain there. He falls asleep most of the time. He also takes Nite Quil. But we all know that does not all ways help. (01/04/2006)
By Stefeni
Try this, it has always worked for me. Get some icy cold water and pour it into a Ziploc bag. Place it on your chin until you feel the coldness rise up to your forehead. When it gets above your eyebrows, take the Ziploc bag and place it on your arm. Now the cool will radiate all over. If you add some honey to the water in the bag, it will also help ease muscle pain. (01/05/2006)
By Nancy
Try nettle tea, 1 to 3 tsp. in a cup of water let steep for 15 minutes. Drink 3 times a day it really helps with swelling and pressure from infections and nasal allergies. (01/20/2006)
By Laurie
Has anyone tried Entsol? That is the best saline spray I have ever used. It's pretty powerful but worth it. I used to take Advil Sinus a lot and I don't have to take nearly as much. (02/13/2006)
By Donna
I hope this helps. I know many people that have purchased and I just did recently the Hydro Pulse Nasal Irrigation System. It is the best- you've got to try it. It's about $89 but, many health insurance policies will pay for it if you have your doctor (ENT) fill out the Certificate of Medical Necessity. They use a billing code that your health insurance may accept and see it as a "medical equipment" cost and refund you in full. You should really check out this problem. I've gotten about 7 what I thought were sinus infections since August and antibiotics did NOT work, it is not a bacterial infection. It is allergens in the air- fungus, mold, go on and read about it. The place where I bought it from is"National Allergy". Their website is: www.natlallergy.com
You should really check it out. It has helped me a lot. You use it once a day for 3 minutes and it helps clean/clear out your sinuses. Trust me, its worth every penny and definitely better than getting the surgery. I have a friend who bought it and she has gotten one sinus infection this whole year while I've had at least 7 sinus attacks. They were so bad my sight was affected- dizzy, etc. My doctor told me this is very normal with sinusitis. This product I am talking about was developed by a board-certified ENT specialist and is the first pulsatile irrigation system to be FDA registered. "Pulsatile irrigation" means that the pulsation rate matches the normal rate of the healthy nasal cilia. I never even knew anything about this til I spoke to my friend at work that has been suffering for years and she has gotten one sinus infection in an entire year. I know I'd rather live with that than 6 or 7 sinus flare ups in 6 or 7 months. Hope you check into it. It's worth it. (03/12/2006)
By Lisa
I've had only mild sinus pain until the past week. Thought my head was going to implode last night. Saw a dentist this morning. He x-rayed and found no obvious problem. My wonderful wife researched, and suggested I chew a slice of fresh ginger root. I did, and within minutes, the pain was almost completely gone. (03/24/2006)
By Jess Wunman
Read this online at msn.com/mens health.
Forget Sudafed. An easier, quicker, and cheaper way to relieve sinus pressure is by alternately thrusting your tongue against the roof of your mouth, then pressing between your eyebrows with one finger. This causes the vomer bone, which runs through the nasal passages to the mouth, to rock back and forth, says Lisa DeStefano, D.O., an assistant professor at the Michigan State University college of osteopathic medicine. The motion loosens congestion; after 20 seconds, you'll feel your sinuses start to drain. (03/27/2006)
By Joe Butler
Sav-on Drug Store's Equal Line Allergy Tablets do the trick every time! Take one to two tablets at first and follow directions. (04/05/2006)
By Michelle
I had my first sinus infection last year. No runny/stuffynose, or fever, just intense pain. It was so intense in my back teeth, I actually went to the dentist thinking I had an abscessed tooth! Turns out, it was a sinus infection, and antibiotics kicked it. But, it made me do some research and I found what I think is the best thing since sliced bread.
It's called SinuCleanse (and I apologize for sounding like the official spokesperson - I'm not). here's the website where I first read about it: http://www.sinucleanse.com/. I've seen a couple posts here that talk about warm salt water rinses. That's what this is. You can find it at Walgreens for about $10-$15. It has little saline packets, but after I ran out, I made up a mixture of 3 parts salt/1 part baking soda and use a little spoon full (instead of the packet) w/warm water right out of the tap. It takes a couple of times to get used to the sensation, but it's so worth it!
Now, whenever I feel that slight pressure (or even a tickle in my throat like a cold is coming on), I use it a couple times a day until it goes away completely. Come to find out, my grandpa suffered from sinus problems and would mix a little salt and warm water in his hand and sniff that every morning. This product (the little 'genie pot') just makes it easier. I recommend it to every person I hear complaining about colds/sinuses/allergies! Try it. Shoot - it's cheaper than most prescriptions! (04/13/2006)
By MaryB
This might sound really silly, in conjunction with steam inhalation etc, roll into any position so your head is inverted and on the floor. I did this intuitively (read: out of desperation) and guess what, it works. A doctor later told me it helps drain the sinuses. Stay in that position for about 5 minutes. Repeat when the spirit moves you. (05/08/2006)
By Anu
Flonase is the best thing to use! If you use that with Advil and Sudafed, the pain will go away. Saline spray like Ocean also helps for moderate sinus pressure. (07/21/2006)
By J
My children's ear, nose and throat specialist also recommended the salt and baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) wash. You will also need antibiotics, probiotics (to work against the side-effects of antibiotics) and pain-killers. You will want to include bed rest, keep warm, and drink lots of fluids. If you suffer from sinusitis regularly, ask your doctor to test for allergies.
If you treat the allergies, you will be rid of the sinusitis, because sinusitis could be allergies that got out of hand. This worked for me. I now use an antihistamine daily to keep my allergies in check and have not had sinusitis in years. In fact, the specialist told me four years ago that he does not want to see me again!! (08/03/2006)
Tylenol Sinus (Non Drowsy) works great for me. (09/05/2006)
By Sharon
I have had extremely congested sinuses for decades and am also battling sleep apnea. Recently I have gotten serious about correcting this, and have found a combination of easy treatments which has so far opened up my sinuses to an extent that I did not know existed. I have been doing this for a couple of months and expect to do it forever. I do this:
As the muscles get tighter and toned, I can feel them pull the sinuses open. It gets better the longer I do this as part of the daily exercise routine. It is not an instant solution (months), but the progress is quite noticeable. I hope this helps someone. (09/15/2006)
By Judd (guest)
When I am entirely stuffed up and have sinus pressure, I take a hot steamy shower and continually blow my nose in the shower. I am always surprised at all the "gunk" that I can get out. Gross but effective. If the mucus is discolored or dark, you definitely have a sinus infection. I would go to a doctor if it doesn't clear up in a few days. Of course, help your body heal by drinking lots of water and your other favorite home remedies. I love "Gypsy Cold Care" tea. (03/06/2007)
By Jess
I just got a CT scan, and it turns out that my sinuses do not properly connect. Apparently I was born this way, but it's taken 30 years for me to go to a specialist. I tried all sorts of nasal sprays, etc. but nothing helped. Now I know why. I need to have surgery to cut the proper holes in my sinuses. The doc said that this is fairly common, so some of you might have the same problem, which cannot be cured by sprays, nasal washes, etc.
(04/16/2007)
By Kara
By Jax
Folks, There is a product by Blairex Labs that I've been using called Simply Saline. It is a life saver for dry, infected sinus. It's basically a compressed can with a spout on the end that shoots the sodium chloride solution up your sinus. The relief is monumental. After flushing my sinuses I press the bridge of my nose and press the roof of my mouth with my tongue. It causes a small bone in my sinus to move and allows the pressure to escape. When I experience ocular migraines, this is what I do to recover most quickly now. I hope this helps. (09/10/2007)
By Matt
A holistic doctor told me this years ago and it works for me every time. Whenever I feel that I'm starting to get a sinus infection, or feeling sick in general, I do this:
If you do nothing else, try the lemon juice in warm water each hour. Other than time spent in the shower doing the above, make sure to limit your time in the shower and don't use water that is too hot. This can make you feel tired and deplete your energy.
Good luck and I really hope you feel better soon! God bless you.(09/12/2007)
By metroplex
You mentioned that you have ear pressure that has not gone away. I suffered for over 9 months with ear pressure that would not let up, and vertigo/or dizziness to go along with it. It affected every aspect of my life. Not sure the severity of yours, but I know that it is not fun. After 20 that's right 20 different medications and five doctors later we learned what was causing it. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. I read numerous articles on this and finally was able to explain to the Ear Specialist what I thought it was. Come to find out that is what I had.
The Eustachian tube connects the middle ear to the throat. Its normal function is illustrated on the diagram above. Its purpose is to equalize middle ear pressure with environmental pressure. When your ear "pops" on a high-speed elevator or in an airplane, the reason is that the Eustachian tube has opened and equalized pressure. The following procedure is what I had done. It works in the same way when children have tubes put in their ears due to ear infections.
Treatment:
Treatment of ETD is not very sophisticated or effective.
Occasionally, people with severe symptoms due to ET dysfunction may have a ventilation tube placed in their ear drum. This relieves the symptoms of ET dysfunction but creates a perforation in the eardrum which reduces hearing to a small extent as well as provides a potential entry point for infection. However, in most cases, it is worth it to find out if symptoms respond to ventilation of the ear. It worked! And three years later no more issues. It feels nice not to have the ear pressure and being unbalanced. Hope this helps.
(09/21/2007)
By David C
Eucalyptus in a vaporizer really helps, or you can do the same thing by boiling water with some added to the stove top. I also run a hot bath and add some there as well. (11/10/2007)
By Julie
I have found in my experience, that peppermint oil works very well in opening our sinuses and also kills bacteria. Just a drop or two will do under the nose. (11/13/2007)
By Brenda
I have been dealing with sinus pressure fore years off and on. There are many things that have helped me. First drinking enough water in a day is important. This keeps you're mucus thinner. Another thing that has helped that I've tried more recently is eating plain yogurt with some cereal on top every morning. Good digestion can help with chronic sinus issues. Hope this helps some of you. (12/08/2007)
By Don
I forgot to add that I've used a "facial spa" to steam my face with a towel over my head. This has helped me a lot. (12/08/2007)
By Don
For the past three years I've gotten sinus pressure around fall/winter. I didn't know what it was at first or why I was getting pain on one side of my face. I got a root canal, and MRI to see if it was brain tumor, etc. I finally figured out that it was sinus pressure. My doctor suggested saline spray and Sudafed. The Sudafed dried me out and made it worse, the saline spray didn't seem to reach high enough to have an effect.
Since then its been home remedy after home remedy, because its hard to tell when it is the home remedy that made your sinus pressure go away or if it would have left on its own anyway. I get pain on the right side of my face usually after lying down, sometimes while standing. Ice against my nose gives me a little bit of pain relief. Saltwater snorted through a straw seemed like it worked but only once.
Recently my best results have been Benadryl, drinking lots of water, a shot of apple cider vinegar and one I just discovered. Tapping my nose like a shaken soda can is tapped. This worked to get rid of the pressure, almost instantly. I will continue to try it and post results. (12/15/2007)
By Brett
I had the same problem, and yes there is something that absolutely works. It's not cheap but it does work. You need more than a nasal rinse; you need is a high flow pressurized irrigator that really clears and disinfects your sinus cavities. Check out this website www.sinuscare.us. You wont be sorry. It sure works for me. (02/18/2008)
By phil suss
See http://www.distanthealer.co.uk/sinus_sinusitis.htm for a diagram for sinus tapping (scroll down towards the bottom of the page and you will see the chart). I learned some of the techniques in OT, and they are effective in draining the sinuses and relieving sinus pressure. Another thing to do, if you don't have blocked nasal passages is to use a Neti pot with saline solution. Steaming, which was already mentioned, is also a fantastic remedy for relieving sinus pressure and releasing some of the green stuff.
Hope this helps!
(02/19/2008)
By Aleta
I've tapped under my eyes for this and it's been very effective. There is also one medication that I have found to work. At Wal Mart they sell the Equate brand sinus pills. There are two types; the ones you need are green pills. It's basically a larger dose of acetaminophen. When I have bad sinus blockage two of these pills will go to work in 30 minutes to an hour. The first time I ever had sinus blockage it lasted for two weeks. My father gave me some of these pills and when I took them everything loosened up. (04/02/2008)
By Bub
Relief in 3 minutes. I kid you not. I read in one of the comments about tapping your sinuses and I tapped my forehead, side of my temples, cheekbones, nose but primarily forehead with most focus on the eyebrow area. I cannot tell you how effective this was for me. I was going to cry from the pain but it would hurt too much to cry. My wife who was sitting next to me heard this hissing sound as the pressure was relieved. I was in severe pain less than 5 minutes ago and now I am almost back to normal. I really hope this helps you because I know how painful it is. (08/29/2008)
By GLR
Try Echinacea/goldenseal herb at drugstore or Walmart. You can also mix 1 cup very warm water with
Drink at night, the next morning you will see a difference. Its nasty but it works and it's all natural. (09/16/2008)
By Graham
I have had sinus pain for many years. I have had an MRI and a Catscan. No doctors have helped me rid the headaches. There is a pill though that gets rid of them when I have them after a nights sleep. It is called Relpax or Maxalt. A neurologist prescribed them to me. They both work within an hour and the pain is gone all day. Works every time. The only thing is they are expensive.
Recently I found that Excedrin Migraine works just as fast. I have tried the steam, hot clothes, nasal sprays, and I found they only work a little. I have started with a nose spray called Fluticasone Propionate you use before you go to bed. It seems to have cut back on the number of headaches I wake up with but it is not a magic bullet. Let me know if you try anything and if it works for you. Thanks. (12/06/2008)
By Keith
I have posted before. I found a relief on accident. I had a sinus headache one morning as usual and it had been snowing all night and day. I would say the pain was about a 6 on a 1 to 10. Couldn't get rid of it. I figured I had to clean my walk and drive anyway. So I went outside and started snow removal. I was outside for about 10 min, it was 20 to 25 degrees, and my sinus headache was completely gone. It did not return when I came in the house to the warm either. There is a posting about a cold pack on your eyes to help relief the pressure. I am going to try, this is why I added this story. Maybe the cold will help some of us. I've always used heat. Good luck (01/16/2009)
By Keith
Was at the allergist today. He scoped my sinuses and everything looks good. He told me to keep doing what I've been doing and to use a saline solution. The interesting thing to me was, he told me to keep it in the refrigerator. He said that the cold saline, when sprayed into the nostrils will bring down inflammation within five minutes, and the sinus passages will open up. He said this is an especially great idea when you are clogged up at bedtime.
There is no medicine to take to get rid of polyps. You can inject a steroid in to shrink them but without surgery, they will grow back.
There are things you can do for sinus pressure relief. Start by using an aromatherapy eye pillow. It's great for treating sinus congestion and sinus pressure, stress and anxiety issues as well as insomnia and sleep disorders. What I have to found to work best for me is an eye pillow, right out of the freezer. I use a peppermint scented one because it opens up my sinuses and that helps me to breathe a lot better and helps any sinus or tension related headaches. The cold flax seed inside the eye pillow surrounds my eyes and temples which helps to reduce swelling in the sinus cavities and around the eyes. The weight of the flax seed applies just enough acupressure to soothe and relax my facial muscles. The eye pillow also block out all light, when the pain is so bad it just makes you squint you eyes.
I searched online and found several sites that had them. The one I decided to go with was A Touch Of Satin. I liked them because their ingredients were organic, and that was important to me. They had an unbelievably large selection of patterns and I like the feel of satin on my skin. They also had a page on their site that talked about the benefits of their aromatherapy scents. They also had lavender and that is suppose to be good for migraines. It was very interesting. Well, I hope this helps you. Good luck! (01/22/2009)
By CathyF
Do not take more than one medicine at a time! By taking multiple types of the same drug (antihistamine, pain killer, etc.) you are risking your liver. For the dizziness and vertigo associated with sinus pain and pressure, try taking a Dramamine. It works for me.
I've had to develop my own drug cocktail over the years - an anti-nausea medicine and Advil PM get rid of the pain and nausea. Hot showers, spicy foods, and Robitussin cough syrup help get rid of the "gunk" in my sinuses. I have never tired sinus irrigation, but I've been hearing good things about it. I also used to get allergy shots, and they made the most difference. My Mom is a nurse, and she said that the "gunk" in your sinuses can harden up, and you can have pain and pressure even if you have little to no drainage. This is why sinus irrigation works so well.
Also, run a humidifier in your house, even if it's as simple as the hot plate/pot of water method. This keeps your sinuses from drying out and the "gunk" from getting hard. Vicks Vapor rub helps, as do jalapenos. I get nachos, and load them up with jalapenos, to the point where I'm pouring sweat while I eat. Pop, pop, pop go the sinuses. I tried the tapping method, too, and I thought it was crazy, but not 5 minutes after tapping all over my face, I could feel my ears draining, and had stuff draining down the back of my throat! It wasn't perfect yet, but it sure did help! I followed the chart that's available on one of the posts above.
I also use a mouth guard at night, because I grind my teeth. This can cause pain in your jaw that feels like your head is going to explode. I can tell a big difference when I forget to wear it.
Be persistent, try it all! (01/26/2009)
By Jesseca
The doctor did tell me not to flush too many times a day. Once or twice is enough. (02/02/2009)
By Jesseca
Careful with the flax seed pouches. I was gifted one from a friend, and used it just for leisure, as I had no symptoms but just liked the cool and fragrance of the pouch. The next morning I was hit with something fierce, of allergy-like-symptoms. I was utterly miserable, and came to the conclusion that I must have had an allergic reaction to the flax.
I looked it up, and it turns out that home-made flax seed pouches are dangerous in that the crafter rarely rinses the dust from the seeds before putting them in the pouch. Several people with store brand flax seed pouches also complained of the same problem. This leads me to believe that even companies who produce flax seed pouches do not rinse them thoroughly, as rinsing washes away the fragrance very much, which is why people tend to buy them: because they smell so good. (02/19/2009)
By Chud
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