Sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses caused by blockage in the nasal passageways. The sinuses are unable to drain mucus, and as it accumulates within the sinus cavities they become a breeding ground for infection. One of the most aggravating symptoms of sinusitis is sinus pressure. Headaches, stuffiness and a general feeling like your head is about to pop is enough to drive anybody crazy. There are many methods of how to relieve sinus pressure and congestion, and most of them can be done safely in the comfort of your own home.

Getting relief from sinus pressure is not always as daunting a task as it seems. Sinus pressure is caused by congestion and blockage in the nasal passageways, so in order to treat pressure you must treat the congestion itself. Relief from the pressure will come after. Methods of relief fall into one of three categories:

• Home remedies
• Prescription medications
• Surgical procedures

HOME REMEDIES

For most people their congestion is treated easily at home. Many people find relief in steaming their nasal passages with a humidifier while they sleep. Drainage is made possible by small hair like structures, called cilia. When the nasal passageways become dry, the cilia are not able to move and mucus will dry causing congestion. Keeping your passageways moist and introducing warm steam will help break up congestion and keep the cilia healthy and moving. If you do not have access to a humidifier taking long hot showers will help as well.

Over the counter medications are one of the quickest ways to find sinus pressure and congestion relief. Decongestants come in either pill form or in the form of a nasal spray. They work by restricting blood flow to the nasal passageways, effectively reducing swelling and allowing for drainage. As a precaution, if you choose to use a nasal spray do not use it any longer than 3 days as there is a high risk of dependency.

Nasal irrigation is another great way to reduce congestion, promote drainage and keep your nasal passageways moist and healthy. Using a neti-pot, you can rinse a saline solution (salt water) through your nasal and sinus cavities flushing out all bacteria, debris and crusted mucus. It is safe, natural and promotes good sinus, nasal and cilia health.

PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

In some cases home remedies and OTC medications are not enough to break up congestion and provide sinus relief. In these instances it is recommended that the patient see their doctor so that they can be prescribed medications to relieve the pain and pressure. Commonly prescribed medications are antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications to fight infection and reduce swelling. If the congestion and pressure was caused by allergies or an allergic reaction, then anti-histamines can be prescribed. Some doctors will also prescribe a corticosteroid nasal spray that will greatly reduce inflammation and swelling, although results will not be seen for a few days to a week.

SINUS SURGERY

Sinus surgery is a last result as treatment for sinus pressure and congestion. While it is extremely effective, it does little to treat infection and many people will have multiple procedures in their lifetime. There are two popular procedures that are minimally invasive and will offer quick, immediate results.

FESS stands for functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Using an endoscope, the surgeon will shave tiny bits of bone and tissue to open the ostia and allow for drainage from the sinuses. The other is balloon sinuplasty, where the surgeon will feed a small balloon into the nasal passages using a wire and inflate it to open the nasal passages. As mentioned before they are both extremely effective short term, but since they do not treat the infection the problem can return rather quickly.

OTHER THOUGHTS

Hopefully this article gave you a good idea of how to relieve sinus pressure and congestion. While it can be especially frustrating, there is hope for relief if you know what your proper diagnosis is. If you have an inclination that you might have a sinus infection as well, it is highly recommended that you see your doctor immediately for proper treatment.

If you have tried these tips and suggestions and have still been unsuccessful in finding relief, contact Sinus Dynamics now and we can help you find long lasting relief from your sinus problems for good. Call us now at 1.877.447.4276, and one of our friendly staff members will be happy to answer any questions that you have. Don’t give any more time, money or effort to a fruitless battle with your sinus problems, call us now and let us get you back on your feet TODAY!

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