How to Get Rid of a Sinus Headache

Author:Stella M | November 17th, 2017

There are many reasons why people experience headaches. However, one of the most common causes of headaches is clogged sinuses. Clogged sinuses can be quite irritating to deal with. As the pressure builds up on areas around your eyes and nose, you can easily find yourself experiencing a headache in certain areas of the face and the head.

Before discussing ways on how to get rid of a sinus headache, it is important to know exactly when you are having one. The symptoms are usually pain and pressure surrounding the forehead especially in the area between the eyes and somewhere around the nose. These areas can also be a bit tender to touch. Usually, the headache usually worsens when you bend over. Usually, sinus headache comes with a cough, fatigue, and sore throat.

How exactly do you get rid of a sinus headache? Here are some things that you can do to find relief.

Treating the underlying cause of a sinus headache

It is important to determine the underlying cause of a sinus headache. This is the best solution that you can go for especially if you are also dealing with cough and colds. It is important to take high doses of vitamin C and drink a lot of water to hasten the recovery towards getting rid of a sinus headache.

Nasal Decongestants

There are a lot of over the counter medications that you can use in order to get rid of your sinus headache. One effective treatment is to make use of nasal decongestants. However, you shouldn’t be using nasal decongestants for more than 3 days in a row since this could worsen the decongestion.

Antihistamines

Another reason why you are having sinus headaches is due to allergic reactions. If you are having an allergic reaction, it is wise to stay away from the allergen. In addition to this, it is a good idea to take antihistamines. You should take allergic reactions seriously since there could be instances wherein it could even lead to a more serious complication that could lead to difficulty in breathing.

What you can do as well is to know exactly the allergens that can trigger an allergic reaction. Are you allergic to dust? Perhaps, you should start cleaning the room more often?

Massage

Another great way to relax and open up the sinuses is by having a massage. However, it is important to know exactly where the sinuses are. Massaging the sinuses can help offer relief. You can also do it on your own.

Moisten the sinus

It is a common problem to experience a sinus headache in places with dry air. In order to avoid irritating the sinuses, you can plug in a humidifier. If you don’t have a humidifier at home, there could be a good alternative for this scenario. You can use a wet towel over your face for a few minutes. Also, you can make use of saline solution nasal spray. These are effective alternatives in order to moisten your sinus.

Staying away from possible irritants

One of the best ways to find sinus headache relief is to simply stay indoors and stay away from possible irritants that you may get outside. You should stay away from cigarette smoke, pollution, and even perfume that could worsen the symptoms of your sinus headache.

Hot and cold compress

Another simple and effective method on getting rid of nasal discharge and relieve sinus headache is by using hot and cold compress. Start by placing a hot towel across the sinuses for at least three minutes. Next, you can place cold compress across the sinus for thirty seconds. Do this alternately for two to three times. You will be surprised by the improvements that you will feel after doing this activity.

Eat spicy food

Do you like to eat spicy foods? If you love spicy food, then this could easily be good news for you. Another great natural method on how to open up the nasal passages and get rid of a sinus headache is by eating spicy food. There are studies that used capsaicin in treating sinus headaches. Capsaicin is the active ingredient found in chili peppers. But of course, you might want to make sure that you are not doing this on an empty stomach since spicy food can cause a gastric disturbance.

Lying down in a quiet room

Just like any other headache, it is also possible to get some relief simply by taking deep breaths and relaxing in a dark quiet room. This lessens the number of stimulants that can worsen your headache. You can also hum while you are relaxing. Humming, according to experts, can help clear the sinuses since it increases the airflow through the sinuses.

Avoiding triggers

There are a lot of triggers that could be causing a sinus headache. It is also a good idea to stay away from these possible triggers. One great way to minimize the triggers in your home is by keeping the environment clean. You should wash the linens and clean areas where dust tends to accumulate.

In addition to this, you should also avoid swimming or flying. Keep in mind that sinus headaches may worsen in high altitude or when you are deep underwater.

Antibiotics

But there are instances wherein antibiotics are already needed in order to treat the sinus headache. If you are already observing your nasal discharge to be color yellow, and if you are feeling weakness for over the last few days, it is a good idea to talk to your doctor. Your doctor might prescribe an antibiotic that you will be taking for a period of time. But of course, always remember to not self-medicate especially with antibiotics.

Conclusion

There are many reasons why you are experiencing sinus problems. It could be an allergic reaction or it could be from colds. It is crucial to understand the underlying cause of this problem if you want to effectively find relief. But of course, there will be times when you need to go to your doctor. This is especially true if you are also dealing with an infection that is causing clogged sinuses.

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Author Bio:

Stella M. is a writer based in Los Angeles, California who has been blogging about health, fitness, and living an active lifestyle for nearly 10 years. In her spare time, she can be found working out at their local gym.

Website: https://treatheadaches.com/