Sinus Congestion, Pressure & Pain Management

YOUR 101 GUIDE TO SINUS CONGESTION & SINUS PRESSURE

WHAT IS SINUS CONGESTION?

The sinuses are a series of interconnected cavities that connect the nasal passageways to the throat.

When you’re sick with a cold, allergies or, flu, it can involve a runny nose or nasal congestion.  This infection can cause inflammation and strike the sinuses in such a way, that it causes the tissue walls of these cavities to swell.

That swelling blocks the connective passageways that keep you from breathing freely and allow normal mucus production to drain.

Imagine closing two lanes of a highway off-ramp. Now, you can clearly understand how much trouble sinus congestion can cause.

WHAT IS SINUS PRESSURE?

While sinus congestion restricts the normal flow of the respiratory system, sinus pressure is the resulting build-up of trapped mucus that magnifies your symptoms.

Imagine that same highway off-ramp again, but this time - picture it at rush hour.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SINUS PRESSURE?

If you’ve ever had a cold that made you feel like you had a headache pushing from the inside out, you’ve likely experienced the symptoms of sinus pressure.

SINUS PRESSURE SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE:

• Nasal Discharge
• Cranial Pressure
• Dampening Of Smell and Taste
• Light Dizziness
• Dampening Of Hearing
• Popping Ears
• Jaw Pain
• Increased Snoring
• Itchy Nose & Throat
• Post Nasal Drip

Making matters worse, you respiratory system contains four pairs of sinus cavities, for a total of eight unique locations the sinus pressure could build up.

DETERMINING THE LOCATION OF YOUR SINUS PRESSURE

• Pressure above the eyes?
  These are your frontal sinuses which sit in the center of the forehead above each eye.
   
• Pressure at the back of your jaw?
  These are the maxillary sinuses right behind the cheek bone.
   
• Pressure behind your eyes?
  These are the sphenoid sinuses that nudge up to the optic nerve.
   
• Pressure in or around your nose?
  Blame your ethmoid sinuses which are clustered closest to the nasal cavity.

FINDING SINUS PRESSURE RELIEF 

There is a simple mnemonic device you can use to remember the best home remedies to relieve sinus pressure; warm, wet, and well rested.

WARM – increased blood flow and body temperature loosen mucus and encourage recovery. Warm compresses, hot beverages, spicy foods, and massaging your pressure points all touch on this key to relief.

WET – sinuses are naturally lubricated.  Maintaining a humid environment will help flush blockages and maintain moisture. A hot shower, nasal flushing with distilled water, and gargling with lightly salted water can provide additional relief.

WELL RESTED – healing is hard work. So, give your body the time it needs. Call in sick and crawl back into bed, because the faster you recover the quicker you can get back to what really matters.

SINUS RELIEF WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST

When it comes to sinus congestion, everyone needs a little help sometimes. If you’re considering an over-the-counter medicine like TYLENOL Cold & Sinus® to get you back to feeling better, you can also discover the full line of cold, cough and flu products below. Or, use the information you’ve learned to ask your local pharmacist about which Tylenol product is right for you.