Are you having trouble breathing? Do you have a headache or pressure in your head? These are all symptoms of sinusitis, which can be alleviated by giving yourself an effective sinus massage.
Sinus infections and their resulting symptoms can be very unpleasant at best and debilitating at their worst. Unfortunately, sinus infections frequently occur during the winter months due to colds and flu viruses going around. As such, it’s a good idea to take some preventative measures with a sinus rinse solution to keep your nasal passages clear of viruses that could lead to infection.
Sinusitis is an inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, usually caused by infection. Symptoms include:
- Pain in the face, through to the nose and forehead.
- Facial tenderness.
- Headache.
- Nasal congestion with thick nasal discharges may be discolored post-nasally (yellow or green).
Other symptoms include fever, bad breath (halitosis), sore throat, cough (which may produce yellow sputum), toothache, reduced sense of smell/taste, and general malaise. We will cover the steps to give yourself an effective sinus massage that is easy to do on your own until you get a sinus relief.
- Use your dominant hand’s thumb and index finger to form a ring around one nostril shut.
- Close your other nostril with your ring finger or middle finger, and then inhale through your nose.
- Use the same hand to press over the bridge of your nose where the tear duct is once you’ve inhaled as much as possible.
- Hold for five seconds before exhaling through both nostrils. If you are congested, do not hesitate to use some treatment on the inside of the nose before starting this treatment. This should help open up nasal pathways for improved breathing. Repeat daily until symptoms subside, usually within three days. For more information about how you can relieve sinus pressure with a nasal wash, visit a sinus doctor.
Before trying the above method, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions regarding sinus infection symptoms or treatment options. You can also ask them for help choosing a saline-based sinus rinse solution that will work best for you. Keep in mind that if your symptoms worsen, persist for more than ten days, or are accompanied by a fever, you should see a physician immediately.
The steps outlined above will give you an effective sinus massage that is easy to do independently. If you feel like this method is not working for you, see a doctor who may determine if your sinus infection requires medical treatment or not.
