Inflamed sinuses cause incredible discomfort that makes it hard to focus. When the nasal passages become inflamed or irritated, the pain radiates to different areas of the face. Your forehead, behind and between the eyes, and cheekbones can all become achy. Sinus pressure can trigger ear pain, too.
Have you gotten over a cold, bent over to pick something off the floor, and felt your head pound? You got into bed and felt a headache start? Sinus pain and pressure often increase if you bend over or lie flat. It becomes hard to sleep or perform daily routines.
What’s problematic is that many things can trigger sinus pressure. It can be nasal congestion from allergies or a cold. Winter’s indoor heating can dry the sinus tissue out. People who live at a higher altitude may experience sinus pressure more than those living at a low elevation. Exposure to certain irritants, such as room fresheners and household cleaners can also irritate the sinuses.
When you experience sinus pressure, how do you alleviate the pain and pressure? Should you immediately go to urgent care or is it better to wait it out? Premium Urgent Care has answers to the most common questions about sinus pain, pressure, and infections.
What Is Sinusitis?
Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses that can be tied to allergies, bacterial infections, fungal infections, and viruses. It’s another word for a sinus infection. Symptoms include:
- Bad breath
- Congestion
- Cough
- Ear pressure and pain
- Facial pressure and pain
- Headaches
- Post-nasal drip
- Red eyes
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
If you smoke or are exposed to secondhand smoke, your risk of sinusitis increases. The same is true if you have a weaker immune system, have had a cold, or suffer from allergies. Some people also have problems with their nose’s structure, such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps.
Sinusitis can lead to a sinus infection, but it doesn’t have to. There are different levels of sinusitis.
- Acute – Nasal congestion, pain, and pressure that last no more than a month.
- Subacute – Sinusitis symptoms last from one to three months.
- Chronic – Symptoms last more than three months, typically tied to a sinus infection as bacteria are present.
- Recurrent – Symbols return multiple times per year and last a couple of weeks each time.
If you look at the structure of the sinuses, it’s easy to see why congestion becomes a big problem. Your nostril leads into three passageways. Between the passageways are ethmoidal cells and different cavities.
Sinus cavities extend upward to as far as between the eyes (ethmoidal sinuses) and over the eyes/behind the forehead (frontal sinus). There are thin tubes that connect different areas. Those tubs are found behind the cheeks, eyes, forehead, and nasal bones. That’s why sinus inflammation causes eye pain and pressure, headaches, and even ear pain and pressure.
Some of the ducts in your sinuses are just 1.5 mm in diameter. If you’re experiencing inflammation in a duct that is about the same width as a strand of spaghetti, you can imagine how hard it becomes to drain mucus. When mucus doesn’t drain, it puts pressure on other areas. If the pressure impacts the eyes, they can become red and itchy, resembling pink eye.
How Can You Release Sinus Pressure at Home?
Over-the-counter decongestants can ease sinusitis. Another option is to breathe in humid air. Fill a bowl with hot water and drape a towel over your head as you lean over the bowl. You can also stand in a hot shower or use a vaporizer or humidifier.
When you sleep, try to prop your head more than usual. You want to keep mucus draining. Also, drink plenty of water to keep the mucus more liquid.
Nasal sprays, such as saline sprays, offer temporary relief. You can also use a warm compress on your cheeks and forehead to help ease pain and reduce the pressure. Some people use Neti pots to flush out their sinuses. If you do, make sure you’re using distilled water to prevent bacteria from getting into your sinuses. If you use tap water, boil it and allow it to cool to room temperature.
What Happens if Sinusitis or a Sinus Infection Goes Untreated?
In most cases, an untreated sinus infection isn’t dangerous, but there is a small chance that it could be. In extremely rare situations, a sinus infection might spread to other areas like the eyes, bones, or brain. What’s more likely is that untreated sinusitis will become chronic.
Once you have chronic sinusitis, prescription medications may become necessary to kill a bacterial infection. It doesn’t necessarily have to lead to prescription medications, however. A doctor can offer other tips to ease the discomfort. If you take measures to ease the inflammation when it’s still in the acute stage, around 70% of sinus infections go away without the need for antibiotics.
If a sinus infection isn’t clearing up with antibiotics and other treatments and is chronic for over three months, your doctor may want to run additional tests. If there are nasal polyps or structural issues, surgery may be needed to help widen the sinus openings. If this is recommended, a balloon catheter is a common option. Removal of polyps or correction of a deviated septum are other surgical procedures.
When Should You Go to Urgent Care?
Sinus inflammation isn’t something you need to rush to urgent care for. In most cases, home treatments are effective. Try warm compresses, steam, over-the-counter pain medications and decongestants, and try to aid your immune system with foods high in vitamin C.
Those can help, but it may not be enough. You may need to go to the doctor if you experience any of the following.
- Antibiotics aren’t working.
- Over-the-counter medications and pain relievers aren’t helping.
- Symptoms aren’t getting better after 10 days.
- Symptoms improve but suddenly worsen.
- You experience severe facial pain or headaches.
- You have a fever that doesn’t go away after a few days.
- You’ve had multiple sinus infections in a matter of months.
- Your eyes are bulging, red, or swollen.
- Your fever is 103ºF or higher for adults or 105ºF in children.
Use Premium Urgent Care’s Online Check-In to shorten any wait. If you would prefer to talk to a doctor before making the drive, we offer telemedicine appointments, too. This is a good way to determine if your headaches, sinus pressure, and ear pain require you to see a doctor in person.