Sinus Pressure Treatment

Sinus pressure can be difficult to live with, especially if it occurs frequently. Sinus pressure can often be relieved with home remedies or over-the-counter medications. However, the Mayo Clinic recommends that if the pressure and pain lasts more than eight days, you may need to see your physician to get checked out for more serious medical problems.

Natural Relief Methods

• Relieving sinus pressure can be done in several ways, but since everyone is different the relief method varies. The Natural Health Remedies website gives some examples of relief:

  • Using steam -- in a shower
  • Hot compress on the face
  • Using sinus irrigation -- with warm salt water
  • Using Tea Tree Oil -- it has antibacterial properties
  • Breathe in Eucalyptus -- put some in a warm bowl of water and breathe in.
  • Using a humidifier

  Try different methods to find the one that works best for you.

Over-the-Counter Relief

• Sometimes a simple over-the-counter allergy medication or product can be used to treat sinus pressure. These can include:

  • Purchasing allergy medication such as Claritin or Guaifenesin (Mucinex)
  • Purchasing a sinus irrigation kit
  • Using nose drops to relieve congestion (with or without menthol)
  • Using saline drops (with or without menthol)

  Your local pharmacist can make even more suggestions about what kinds of over-the-counter products to use. It is important to be careful with some over-the-counter medications because they can create additional problems such as causing the sinus cavity to become irritated and dry.

Seeing Your Physician

• If none of the above methods work, you may need to see a physician for treatment. Sinus pressure and pain can be caused by severe infections such as a staph infection. This type of infection needs to be treated with prescribed medications. Untreated infections can lead to more serious complications.