
Home remedy for nasal congestion sinus infection -
Issue 1How to Treat Sinus Pain
Sinus pain can range in severity from a mild headache to excruciating head and face pain, toothaches, and earaches. Regardless of the underlying cause, sinus pain usually develops as the result of inflammation and congestion in the sinus cavities.
Congestion is a major contributor to sinus pain, so many treatments are aimed at reducing congestion.
There are a variety of over-the-counter medications, home remedies, and lifestyle modifications that can help to prevent or reduce sinus pressure and offer sinus pain relief.
What Causes Sinus Pain
Sinuses are hollow spaces in your facial bones that are lined with membranes that secrete mucus. Sinus pain is often a result of inflammation that blocks mucus from draining and leads to pain.
Sinus swelling can follow viral illnesses, including the common cold, or it can be due to mucus production from allergies or breathing in polluted air that leads to irritation. It can also happen if there are nasal blockages due to abnormal growths called nasal polyps or structural abnormalities, such as a deviated septum, that make you prone to congestion.
Sinus Headache or Migraine?
About 80% of "sinus headaches" are actually migraines with nasal symptoms. If you get frequent headaches, consult your healthcare provider or a headache specialist, since there are medications and prevention strategies specifically for migraines.
If you have intense sinus pain and pressure that gets worse when you are diving, flying in an airplane, driving up a steep mountain, or participating in other activities that involve steep altitude changes, it could be a condition called sinus barotrauma.
Although the pain will usually subside when these activities are discontinued, sinus barotrauma is a sign of an underlying sinus problem that needs to be evaluated by an otolaryngologist, a healthcare provider that specializes in conditions of the ear, nose, and throat.
Sinus barotrauma can also be accompanied by ear barotrauma, which can cause a ruptured eardrum.
How to Treat Sinus Pain
If you experience sinus pain, there are over-the-counter (OTC) medications, home remedies, and lifestyle strategies that may be helpful.
If your symptoms last more than a week or keep recurring, see a healthcare provider. It could be a bacterial sinus infection, also called sinusitis, that requires a course of antibiotics or it might be migraines or another condition that requires medical intervention.
Fungal sinus infections can also occur and require surgery and/or antifungal medications.
Over-the-Counter Treatments
OTC medications can help relieve pain, encourage nasal drainage, or treat allergies.
Pain Relievers
Common pain relievers that may be effective for treating sinus pain and headaches include:
Aspirin can be used in adults but should not be given to children due to the risk of Reye's syndrome.
Some of these pain medications can be combined if one of them is not effective when used alone. You should talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist before trying this, however, and let them know of any other medications you are taking.
Decongestants
Over-the-counter nasal decongestants help break up congestion by reducing the swelling of blood vessels. They work well for easing sinus pain from colds and come in oral medications, such as Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) or Sudafed PE (phenylephrine), or nasal sprays like Afrin (oxymetazoline).
Unless recommended by a healthcare provider, nasal decongestant sprays, such as Afrin, should not be used longer than three consecutive days to avoid a condition called rebound congestion.
Antihistamines
If allergies are causing your congestion and leading to sinus pain, OTC antihistamines may be helpful.
Antihistamines work by targeting histamine, a chemical that's released in response to allergens and that plays a role in allergy symptoms, including runny nose. Antihistamines block histamine receptors to relieve allergy symptoms.
Common OTC antihistamines include:
Benadryl (diphenhydramine) is another OTC option, but it is an older, first-generation antihistamine that has a higher risk of side effects, especially drowsiness, compared to the second-generation antihistamines listed above.
Home Remedies
There are a variety of home remedies that can help with congestion to relieve sinus pressure. Home remedies that you can try include:
- Drink water: Staying hydrated can help to thin nasal secretions. Drinking plenty of fluids is also important in your recovery from viral illnesses.
- Neti pot: A neti pot is used to irrigate the nasal passageways and can help to control congestion and nasal secretions.
- Saline nasal sprays: Saline nasal sprays are sold over-the-counter at most drug stores. They are used to loosen nasal secretions and thereby decrease congestion by allowing it to drain. They can be used many times per day.
- Cool mist humidifier: The humidity loosens nasal secretions and the cold air can help to decrease inflammation. If you do not have access to a cool-mist humidifier, several hot, steamy showers per day can also help to loosen nasal secretions.
- Warm compress: Use a warm rag or heating pad over your sinuses to ease the pain. Do this several times per day.
Avoiding Irritants
Pay attention to triggers for allergies and nasal irritation and try to reduce or prevent those exposures whenever possible. Common irritants include:
- Cigarette smoke: Smoking and exposure to secondhand smoke are common triggers for sinus pain and sinusitis. Quitting or reducing exposure can alleviate symptoms.
- Pollution: When you breathe in air pollutants, such as industrial chemicals or paint fumes, they are absorbed by the nose and can lead to irritation of the nose and sinuses.
- Allergens: Allergies are a major culprit of sinusitis and sinus pain. Common allergens include pollen, mold, pets, and dust mites. An allergist can give you an allergy test to help identify what's causing your symptoms so that you can take steps to reduce exposure.
Relaxation Techniques
In addition to remedies and medications, practices that promote relaxation may help you to manage or prevent sinus pain. This can include:
- Massage: Relax in a dark, quiet room. Gentle head and neck exercises or gently massaging your head and face may also help.
- Meditation: Research suggests that mindfulness meditation may help decrease the intensity of head pain. Focusing on your breathing, body sensations, and surroundings can be a useful coping strategy to manage pain.
You may want to enroll in a local mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) training program to learn techniques commonly used in studies on meditation and head pain.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can you get fast relief from a sinus headache?
OTC pain relievers or decongestants are often helpful. If you get sinus headaches frequently, consult your healthcare provider, who can evaluate if it might be migraines.
How long does a sinus headache last?
Sinus pain from viral infections will typically go away within about a week. If it lasts longer, see your healthcare provider, since you may have a bacterial or fungal infection or another condition that requires medical care.
Will a sinus headache go away on its own?
Yes, but if the pain goes on longer than a week, intensifies, or keeps recurring, see your healthcare provider.
A Word From Verywell
Sinus pain can be frustrating, but it usually resolves within a few days and there are many options you can try at home to relive congestion and find some relief.
If your pain worsens, continues more than a week, or keeps recurring, contact a healthcare provider or allergist who can help identify exposures and/or evaluate if there are other medical conditions that may be causing the discomfort.
Thanks for your feedback!
Verywell Health 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.
Harvard Medical School. Sinusitis. Updated June 18, 2019.
de Camargo RA, Nicodemo AC, Sumi DV, et al. Facial structure alterations and abnormalities of the paranasal sinuses on multidetector computed tomography scans of patients with treated mucosal leishmaniasis. Ghedin E, ed. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2014;8(7):e3001. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0003001
Cleveland Clinic. Sinus headaches. Updated August 18, 2020.
Vandenbulcke R, van Holsbeeck B, Crevits I, Marrannes J. Frontal sinus barotrauma. J Belg Soc Radiol. 2016;100(1):60. doi:10.5334/jbr-btr.908
Ah-See K. Sinusitis (acute rhinosinusitis). BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:0511.
Chapman J, Arnold JK. Reye syndrome. In: StatPearls [Internet]. 2020.
Dokuyucu R, Gokce H, Sahan M, et al. Systemic side effects of locally used oxymetazoline. Int J Clin Exp Med. 2015;8(2):2674–2678.
Sinus infections(Sinusitis). AFP. 2011;83(9):1064.
Food and Drug Administration. Is rinsing your sinuses with neti pots safe? Updated January 24, 2017.
Harvard Medical School. Ask the doctor: Do nasal saline washes prevent sinusitis flare-ups? Updated March 1, 2013.
Cleveland Clinic. How you can tell if you need a humidifier. Updated October 24, 2019.
Columbia University Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Sinusitis.
Reh DD, Higgins TS, Smith TL. Impact of tobacco smoke on chronic rhinosinusitis: a review of the literature. International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology. 2012;2(5):362-369. doi:10.1002/alr.21054
Cedars-Sinai. Allergic sinusitis.
Gu Q, Hou J-C, Fang X-M. Mindfulness meditation for primary headache pain: a meta-analysis. Chinese Medical Journal. 2018;131(7):829-838. doi:10.4103/0366-6999.228242
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Spring is nearly upon us, but for many, that means that allergy season is starting. Unfortunately for this group, when the weather changes and the seasons shift, that means nasal congestion, runny nose, and itchy, watery eyes. If you fall in this group, you’re probably wondering how to get through allergy season without feeling sick for weeks upon end. While there are, of course, allergy medications you can take, they have side effects, including making you sleepy, which is no good for productivity. You can also visit a sinus specialist such as our very own ENT doctors at Detroit Sinus Center. But, before you make that step, there are a few at-home remedies you can try. Here are our top five natural remedies for clearing up seasonal allergy symptoms.
1. Cleanse Your Nasal Passage
One of the most common causes for an allergy flare-up is from pollens sticking to your mucus membranes. Your mucus membranes, or the glands lining the inside of your nose that produce mucus, will work overtime to produce mucus if there’s any pollen present. Therefore, ensuring that your nose is nice and clean is important for reducing allergy symptoms.
There are a few ways to clear out your nasal passage, ridding your mucus membranes of pollen, but the most commonly used is a neti pot. This nasal irrigation treatment looks like a little teapot, which you add a saline solution to, and pour through one of your nostrils. Keep your head tilted so that the solution runs through the other nostril. It definitely feels weird, but once you have rinsed your nasal passages thoroughly with a neti pot, you will feel much less congested. Keep in mind that you may need to repeat this method once or more times a day in order to keep the pollen out of your nose and prevent allergy symptoms like sneezing and watery eyes.
While they work wonders when used correctly, improper use of a neti pot could increase symptoms and potentially cause an infection. Here is a guide to using a neti pot, written by the FDA.
2. Smell Essential Oils
Essentials oils can be a great way to open up your nasal passages during allergy season. Any of your favorite essential oils will do, but menthol-based ones will work the best at clearing up your sinuses. Pick up some bottles of pure peppermint, spearmint, and eucalyptus oils and smell them throughout the day. You can simply twist the cap off and smell the oil or you can get an essential oil diffuser so the smell fills the room, rub a few drops on your wrist, add some drops to your bath, even add some to your tea — it’s up to you! Either way, you’ll be breathing easy and your sinuses will be cleared up in no time.
3. Clean Your Home
This is a must-do for everyone who lives with allergies — clean, clean, clean your home. Seasonal allergies are linked to changes in nature, so there’s a very good chance that you are tracking allergy-inducing pollens from the outside into your home. So, even if you think you’re escaping the outdoors, they have likely come inside to wreak havoc on your sinuses and cling to your mucus membranes. No matter what specific plant you are allergic to, it has likely become part of the dust in your home, perhaps trapped in your carpet or fabrics, tracked indoors from your shoes, clothes, pets, and open windows. In order to get through allergy season without going through ten boxes of tissues, be sure to clean your home more frequently than usual. Dust everything, vacuum everything, wash everything — you’ll thank yourself later.
4. Try Herbal Remedies
There are a few herbal remedies that have been known to clear up clogged sinuses and alleviate allergy symptoms, but we’ll discuss just two herbs — quercetin and butterbur. Quercetin is found in many plants and foods and is an antioxidant flavonoid. Including this herb in your diet may help relieve common allergy symptoms as it works to block the release of histamines. Butterbur works similarly and also acts as an antihistamine. This herb has been known to help alleviate headaches, seasonal allergy symptoms, and more.
5. Give Acupuncture a Try
Acupuncture is part of traditional Chinese medicine and has been said to help with health issues such as allergies and chronic pain. While some may not believe in this form of medicine, it is actually heavily backed by science. Visit an acupuncture professional and discuss what allergy symptoms you are having. Acupuncture can be used to naturally alleviate allergy symptoms such as runny nose, itchy eyes, congested sinuses, and more.
Visit a Sinus Specialist in Detroit
If all else fails, schedule an appointment with your local sinus specialist or ENT doctor. Detroit Sinus Center offers a variety of sinus treatments ranging from prescription medications to non-invasive surgeries. We’ll help you through allergy season so you can breathe easy once again. Contact us today to schedule your appointment with our sinus specialists in Detroit!
Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are respiratory illnesses that refer to a variety of infections of the sinuses, throat, airway or lungs. They are extremely prevalent, accounting for 20% of medical consultations and 30% of lost work days.
Read more on Ausmed Education website

Management of dental pain in primary care
Patients sometimes present to a medical practitioner with dental pain if they cannot see a dentist. Doctors need to be aware of the common dental diseases that result in pain so they can help to manage the patient’s symptoms until they are able to see a dentist.
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Does hyperbaric oxygen therapy improve the survival and quality of life in patients with traumatic brain injury? Ausmed
For two days, Melbourne’s air quality received a rating of hazardous from the Environmental Protection Agency Victoria. While we will see this rating lower and fluctuate over the week, it is worth keeping in mind there is no safe level of air pollution.
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Earache: Causes, Symptoms and Treating Otalgia HEAD CONGESTION: CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS

What is Head Congestion?
Head congestion refers to the pressure and discomfort you feel from a runny or stuffy nose. Though head congestion is usually harmless, it can leave you feeling miserable and exhausted for several days.
What Causes Head Congestion?
Your head feels congested when mucus builds up, causing blood vessels in your nose to become inflamed and resulting in swollen tissues and head pressure. The cause for this extra mucus varies, but below are some common reasons you might be feeling stuffy.
A Common Cold
With more than 1 billion colds in the United States each year, it’s likely your head congestion is caused by the common cold. When you catch a cold, a virus infects your nose and throat, resulting in head cold symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, coughing and headaches.
This virus causes your nose to make thick, clear mucus, which helps wash away the germs from your nose and sinuses. This mucus also causes the nasal swelling that feels like head pressure.
When your nose swells, it can eventually interfere with your sinuses ability to drain, causing more mucus buildup. As a result, pressure builds and leads to pain in your forehead, between or behind your eyes and even your teeth.
If you’re experiencing head congestion, you probably want to know: How long does a head cold last? Most signs of a cold go away after seven to 10 days.
The Flu
Similarly, the influenza virus leads to head congestion by infecting your nose, home remedy for nasal congestion sinus infection and lungs, and causing nasal swelling. People often confuse a cold with the flu because their symptoms are similar. However, flu symptoms often come on quicker and are more severe, resulting in a fever, body aches, chills and more.
A Sinus Infection
Sometimes a runny nose and nasal swelling are actually a result of sinus congestion. Head and sinus congestion have different causes and treatments, but a sinus infection occurs when the swelling in your nose interferes with your sinuses’ ability to drain, causing a mucus buildup that attracts bacteria and other germs. If your cold symptoms haven’t improved after a week, see your doctor. You could be developing a sinus infection.
How to Relieve a Head Cold and Head Congestion
If you start to feel bad from nasal swelling or a stuffy nose, you can take steps to improve your symptoms and make yourself more comfortable. Here are some remedies for head congestion. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.

Rest
Whether you catch the cold or flu, what your body needs most is rest. Go to bed early, take naps when needed, and don’t be afraid to take time off work or keep your children home from school. Not only will this prevent you from overexerting yourself, but it also helps avoid spreading your germs to others.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking lots of fluids is key to helping your immune system function properly, so consume even more than you do when healthy. Water, fruit juices with vitamin C, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey do the best job of keeping you hydrated and loosening congestion. Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages like coffee or soda make dehydration worse, so avoid them until symptoms improve.
Add Moisture to the Air
Though it seems counterproductive, you don’t want your nasal passages to dry up. Dry airways can increase nasal swelling that leads to a stuffy nose and nasal congestion. Keep moisture in the air with a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier; be sure to change the water and clean the unit properly. Steam from a shower or a hot cup of tea can also add extra moisture to the nasal passages to help with drainage.
Don’t Use Antibiotics to Treat Colds
Because colds are caused by viruses and not home remedy for nasal congestion sinus infection bacteria, antibiotics are ineffective at treating colds. They will not relieve your symptoms and inappropriate use can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Get Ahead of Cold Symptoms
Though there’s no promise you’ll escape cold and flu season without a runny nose or sore throat, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of staying healthy.
- Wash your hands frequently to help prevent coming into contact with or spreading harmful germs.
- Disinfect your environment and frequently clean commonly touched surfaces such as sink handles, doorknobs and handrails.
- Avoid sharing personal items, especially those that come in contact with your eyes, nose or mouth like utensils, washcloths or cups.
- Do not come in close contact with people who have colds home remedy for nasal congestion sinus infection other upper respiratory infections.
Overall, pursue a healthy lifestyle to boost immunity by eating nutritious food, sleeping eight hours, drinking water, exercising and managing stress.
Fight Head Congestion with SUDAFED®
Consider taking SUDAFED PE® Head Congestion+Pain. With Ibuprofen (pain reliever) and phenylephrine (nasal decongestant), this coated tablet can help provide relief from your head cold symptoms and combat pesky nasal congestion and swelling, sinus pressure, headache, fever, and body aches. Always read and follow the label carefully, and make sure the product is right for you.
Источник: https://www.sudafed.com/know-your-head-congestion/head-congestion Ausmed
HEAD CONGESTION: CAUSES AND SYMPTOMS
What is Head Congestion?
Head congestion refers to the pressure and discomfort you feel from a runny or stuffy nose. Though head congestion is usually harmless, it can leave you feeling miserable and exhausted for several days.
What Causes Head Congestion?
Your head feels congested when mucus builds up, causing blood vessels in your nose to become inflamed and resulting in swollen tissues and head pressure. The cause for this extra mucus varies, but below are some common reasons you might be feeling stuffy.
A Common Cold
With more than 1 billion colds in the United States each year, it’s likely your head congestion is caused by the common cold. When you catch a cold, a virus infects your nose and throat, resulting in head cold symptoms like a runny nose, sneezing, coughing and headaches.
This virus causes your nose to make thick, clear mucus, which helps wash away the germs from your nose and sinuses. This mucus also causes the nasal swelling that feels like head pressure.
When your nose swells, it can eventually interfere with your sinuses ability to drain, causing more mucus buildup. As a result, pressure builds and leads to pain in your forehead, between or behind your eyes and even your teeth.
If you’re experiencing head congestion, you probably want to know: How long does a head cold last? Most signs of a cold go away after seven to 10 days.
The Flu
Similarly, the influenza virus leads to head congestion by infecting your nose, home remedy for nasal congestion sinus infection and lungs, and causing nasal swelling. People often confuse a cold with the flu because their symptoms are similar. However, flu symptoms often come on quicker and are more severe, resulting in a fever, body aches, chills and more.
A Sinus Infection
Sometimes a runny nose and nasal swelling are actually a result of sinus congestion. Head and sinus congestion have different causes and treatments, but a sinus infection occurs when the swelling in your nose interferes with your sinuses’ ability to drain, causing a mucus buildup that attracts bacteria and other germs. If your cold symptoms haven’t improved after a week, see your doctor. You could be developing a sinus infection.
How to Relieve a Head Cold and Head Congestion
If you start to feel bad from nasal swelling or a stuffy nose, you can take steps to improve your symptoms and make yourself more comfortable. Here are some remedies for head congestion. Be sure to talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
Rest
Whether you catch the cold or flu, what your body needs most is rest. Go to bed early, take naps when needed, and don’t be afraid to take time off work or keep your children home from school. Not only will this prevent you from overexerting yourself, but it also helps avoid spreading your germs to others.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking lots of fluids is key to helping your immune system function properly, so consume even more than you do when healthy. Water, fruit juices with vitamin C, clear broth or warm lemon water with honey do the best job of keeping you hydrated and loosening congestion. Alcoholic and caffeinated beverages like coffee or soda make dehydration worse, so avoid them until symptoms improve.
Add Moisture to the Air
Though it seems counterproductive, you don’t want your nasal passages to dry up. Dry airways can increase nasal swelling that leads to a stuffy nose and nasal congestion. Keep moisture in the air with a cool-mist vaporizer or humidifier; be sure to change the water and clean the unit properly. Steam from a shower or a hot cup of tea can also add extra moisture to the nasal passages to help with drainage.
Don’t Use Antibiotics to Treat Colds
Because colds are caused by viruses and not home remedy for nasal congestion sinus infection bacteria, antibiotics are ineffective at treating colds. They will not relieve your symptoms and inappropriate use can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Get Ahead of Cold Symptoms
Though there’s no promise you’ll escape cold and flu season without a runny nose or sore throat, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of staying healthy.
- Wash your hands frequently to help prevent coming into contact with or spreading harmful germs.
- Disinfect your environment and frequently clean commonly touched surfaces such as sink handles, doorknobs and handrails.
- Avoid sharing personal items, especially those that come in contact with your eyes, nose or mouth like utensils, washcloths or cups.
- Do not come in close contact with people who have colds home remedy for nasal congestion sinus infection other upper respiratory infections.
Overall, pursue a healthy lifestyle to boost immunity by eating nutritious food, sleeping eight hours, drinking water, exercising and managing stress.
Fight Head Congestion with SUDAFED®
Consider taking SUDAFED PE® Head Congestion+Pain. With Ibuprofen (pain reliever) and phenylephrine (nasal decongestant), this coated tablet can help provide relief from your head cold symptoms and combat pesky nasal congestion and swelling, sinus pressure, headache, fever, and body aches. Always read and follow the label carefully, and make sure the product is right for you.
The term headache refers to any pain in the head, face or neck area. Headaches are an extremely varied and common symptom of many conditions. In fact, about 15 per cent of Australians are estimated to be taking medication for a headache at any given time.
Read more on Ausmed Education website

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