How Do I Relieve Sinus Pressure?

Learn how to keep your sinuses moist and your mucus thin to help alleviate pain and pressure.

You may have an aching, stabbing, throbbing pain if you have sinus pressure. Perhaps you're wondering, what is the fastest way to relieve sinus pressure? Thinning your mucus helps it drain from your sinuses and is a quick way to relieve that pressure. Breathing in steam, pressing a warm compress to your face, staying hydrated, and using a nasal spray help keep your mucus thin.

Sinusitis, or a sinus infection, is one of the leading causes of sinus pressure. Allergies, changes in altitude (i.e., while flying), and even anatomical differences can leave you feeling pain and pressure, Christopher Thompson, MD, an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif., told Health.

Read on to learn what causes sinus pressure and 10 ways to relieve aches and pains.

Woman sitting on sofa touching her nose having sinus problems

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What Causes Sinus Pressure?

Sinus pressure may cause pain behind your eyes, tenderness of your face, and toothache. Sinusitis, or inflamed and swollen tissues lining your sinuses, typically causes sinus pressure. A bacterial, fungal, or viral infection or inflammatory reaction typically causes sinusitis.

Factors that increase the risk of sinusitis—and as a result, sinus pressure—include:

  • Allergies or colds that produce excess mucus that blocks your sinuses
  • Altered anatomical structures (e.g., a deviated septum or nasal polyps)
  • Changes in altitude (i.e., while flying or scuba diving)
  • Cystic fibrosis, a health condition that causes thick, sticky mucus that increases the risk of bacterial growth
  • Enlarged adenoids, small tissues between your nose and the back of your throat
  • Having children who go to daycare
  • Smoking
  • Weak immune system

10 Ways To Relieve Sinus Pressure

You cannot cater your sinus pressure treatment to the exact cause. Still, most available remedies help reduce sinus inflammation and swelling regardless of the cause.

Simple remedies to alleviate sinus pressure at home include:

  • Breathe in steam.
  • Rinse out your sinuses with saline.
  • Press a warm washcloth to your face several times per day.
  • Take pain relievers.
  • Try decongestant nasal sprays.
  • Use a humidifier to keep the air in your home moist.
  • Use steroid nasal sprays.

In addition to those at-home remedies, here are ways to treat sinus pressure so you can start feeling better as soon as possible.

1. Antibiotics

Antibiotics may alleviate sinus pressure, including headaches and pain behind your eyes if you have a bacterial sinus infection. 

Still, sinusitis typically goes away on its own, so you likely will not need antibiotics. You may require antibiotics if you have a fever of 102.2 degrees or higher and painful swelling around your eyes.

Of note: Take all antibiotics as a healthcare provider prescribes—even if your sinus pressure goes away earlier than that. Tell a healthcare provider if you develop diarrhea, skin rashes, or vaginal yeast infection while taking antibiotics.

2. Decongestants

Decongestant nasal sprays and tablets help effectively reduce sinus pressure and pain. Noe that these are short-term solutions.

"In an acute infection, a decongestant can be useful, but Afrin [oxymetazoline] can become addicting if used for more than a few days. Oral decongestants used regularly can have cardiovascular effects," said Dr. Thompson. "These are targeted for short-term use."

Do not use over-the-counter (OTC) decongestants, which can increase blood pressure, if you have hypertension. You might have trouble sleeping when using decongestants if you are sensitive to stimulants, Mas Takashima, MD, chair of Houston Methodist ENT Specialists, told Health.

3. Nasal Irrigation

Your nose is like an air filter for your lungs, said Dr. Takashima. Your nose filters out particulates, like allergens and irritants. You may feel congested if you are allergic to the particulates trapped in your nose. 

Nasal irrigation is a quick way to rinse out those irritants and feel some relief. Some formulas can provide more lasting effects than others.

According to Dr. Takashima, there are three main methods:

  • Saline irrigation: This is a short-term solution for all sinus problems. Saline irrigation flushes out your nose to eliminate any irritants stuck there. Saline irrigation clears nasal blockages and thins out mucus, making breathing easier.
  • Steroid irrigation: Mixing saline with a steroid (e.g., budesonide) to get deep into your sinuses allows the steroid to reduce swelling in harder-to-reach sinus cavities. Steroid sprays help treat allergies, so people with seasonal allergies may find relief with steroid irrigation.
  • Xylitol irrigation: Xylitol, a sugar alcohol with antibacterial and antiviral effects, helps flush out your sinuses. Xylitol irrigation draws water out of your nasal tissues, decongesting better than saline irrigation. It also helps prevent respiratory illnesses and infections, which may benefit people with chronic sinus issues.

4. Nasal Steroids

Nasal steroids may help if you have allergy-related sinus pressure. You might consider trying one if you are not already using an OTC spray like Flonase (fluticasone) or (mometasone).

"The only thing to keep in mind is that these don't work well if you only use them occasionally," noted Dr. Takashima. "You need to use it on a consistent basis."

It may help to figure out when your allergies are worst—during April or October, for example—added Dr. Takashima. Pre-medicate before your symptoms appear, then continue using a nasal steroid throughout the season to avoid symptoms.

5. NSAIDs

Try taking an OTC nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) for sinus pressure and pain relief if your symptoms cause discomfort.

NSAIDs, like Aleve (naproxen) or Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen), typically work better than Tylenol (acetaminophen), said Dr. Takashima. NSAIDs reduce swelling and inflammation. In contrast, Tylenol might numb the pain, but it does not help with the cause of the pain.

6. Pressure Points

You may manually relieve sinus pressure by stimulating specific areas on your face, or pressure points.

On both sides of your face, try gently massaging areas like:

  • Cheekbones
  • Sinuses
  • The space between the base and sides of your skull and your lower jaw

Applying light pressure to those areas helps drain lymph away from your face. Lymph is a clear or white fluid made up of fluid from your intestines and white blood cells. A build-up of excess lymph may cause swelling, resulting in sinus pressure.

7. Stay Hydrated

Drinking plenty of fluids may help alleviate and prevent sinus pressure. Your mucus will be too thick to clear out irritants if you are dehydrated

"The way the nose protects the body is by recognizing irritating things trapped there," said Dr. Takashima. "The brain then sends a signal to your body [to] get rid of it, and your body produces mucus to clear out the foreign irritant."

Thick mucus clogs your sinuses, causing congestion and pressure. You may develop an infection from bacterial growth.

8. Steam

Steam—whether from a humidifier or a hot shower—can provide some comfort if dry air or excessively dry sinuses cause discomfort, said Dr. Takashima. Still, steam is not a long-term solution.

"Certain areas are moist anyway, and you can cause an overgrowth of mold [which can worsen allergies or swelling]," noted Dr. Takashima.

9. Surgery

You may consider seeing an ENT specialist to discuss the possible benefits of sinus surgery if you have chronic or recurrent sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis causes sinus symptoms for more than three months. Recurrent sinusitis includes more than four sinusitis episodes in one year.

"Surgery can be helpful in opening up the sinuses to allow better drainage," said Dr. Thompson. "You can use as much saline as you want, but if you need surgery and you're using saline, you're only flushing out your nose, not your sinuses."

You may require surgery if a fungal sinus infection is causing your sinus pressure. Surgery can correct abnormal anatomical structures, such as a deviated septum and nasal polyps, that cause sinus pressure.

10. Warm Compress

A warm compress thins your mucus to help drain your sinuses if you have a stuffy nose, alleviating sinus pressure. Dampen a washcloth with warm water and place it over your forehead and nose. Repeat several times per day to alleviate congestion and sinus pressure.

Things To Avoid With Sinus Pressure

Sinus pressure may cause discomfort that interferes with your daily activities. You may be able to prevent sinus pressure by avoiding common triggers.

Try avoiding the following if you are prone to sinusitis and sinus pressure:

  • Allergy triggers (e.g., animals, plant pollens)
  • Dust and dust mites
  • Flying if you have a stuffy nose
  • Keeping your head down while bending forward
  • Mold, which may grow inside and outside of your house
  • Smoking
  • Sudden temperature changes or very cold or hot temperatures

A Quick Review

Sinus pressure causes pain behind your eyes, tenderness of your face, and toothache. Sinusitis is one of the most common causes of sinus pressure. 

You may relieve sinus pressure by thinning your mucus to drain your sinuses. Try breathing in steam, pressing a warm compress to your face, staying hydrated, or using a nasal spray.

Talk with a healthcare provider if traditional sinus treatments do not alleviate your symptoms. Sometimes, bruxism (teeth grinding), migraines, and neck tension cause facial pain, including pain in your sinuses, said Dr. Thompson. 

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17 Sources
Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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