Sinusitis is the inflammation of sinus cavities due to viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. This causes pressure inside the cavities and results in a headache. Sinusitis can be categorized as acute (the condition lasting up to four weeks), sub acute (which lasts between four and eight weeks), or chronic (present for eight or more weeks) Let\’s take a look at how to get rid of sinus headache pain, from both a medicinal and non-medicinal perspective.
Sometimes sinus headaches may be relieved with over the counter decongestants that contain pseudoephedrine. Pseudoephedrine stimulates the cell receptors in the nose, throat and sinuses. The blood vessels in these areas narrow, leading to reduced inflammation and the development of mucus. Now that you have less inflamed blood vessels and mucus draining from the sinus cavities, pain from headache is eased.
Severe infections, such as those caused by bacteria and viruses, you may want to visit a doctor. Your doctor will be able to prescribe more powerful decongestants not available over the counter. If necessary, he or she may determine that you need an antibiotic. Narrow spectrum antibiotics (like penicillin) may target a specific infection or a broad-spectrum antibiotic (like cephalosporin) might be prescribed to fight a wider range of bacteria.
One non-medicinal method to alleviating headache pain from sinusitis is to use a humidifier, which increases the moisture in the air. A steam humidifier (vaporizer) can be particularly helpful. This appliance boils the water in its tank which releases steam into the room. A mentholated medicated inhalant can also be added to the vaporizer to help reduce congestion. Additionally, since the moisture released into the room is from boiled water, vaporizers maybe healthier than cool mist humidifiers which may transmit impurities that have not been boiled away from the standing water in the tank.
Some people may wish to use a low-tech solution, taking a hot shower. The steam from the shower can help drain the mucus build-up in the sinus passages and provide headache relief.
Many people find it hard to function with a sinus headache. Luckily there are many ways to ease the pain. Relief might be temporary and if symptoms persist or reoccur, you should check with your doctor.
You can start learning about the easy way to relieve sinus headache today! Learn how you can relieve your headache with easy pain relief tips and techniques.
Filed under migraine headache by Porter Smith
What is the difference between a migraine and sinus pain? Very generally, with regards migraines, there will be a history of repeated headaches with a certain aura just before the onset of the migraine and often a sore neck too. Generally a migraine will come from twitchy blood vessels. You may feel a sense of light headedness, or perhaps a need to urinate just before the onset of a migraine.
For migraine often what will help will be a hot shower stream to the back of the neck. Let this persist for several minutes and slowly and gently move the head from one side to the other. This helps the blood vessels to relax and become less twitchy.
They can be pounding in nature and cause a distortion of vision, even some are not able to speak with the onset of a really bad migraine. Interestingly, the author of Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll, during a really bad migraine saw the characters of the story.
Migraines are very often one-sided. They can be induced by a change in the weather, or maybe certain foods that have been indulged such as red wine or strong cheeses for some people. Any alcohol can bring on a migraine particularly upon over-indulgence but some people do not suffer after drinking vodka.
Sinuses may be blocked due to a vacuum which causes pain and discomfort. There are a number of anti-inflammatory products on the market however that do work well in this case. Prednisone and Aleve are two of those. There are other products such as Clear-Ease that acts as a lozenge and will melt when sucked in the mouth. This product contains papain and bromelain and it helps to ease any vacuum in the sinus area.
Some other points to note here are:
– if your sinus pain comes on due to drinking red wine its a migraine
– if you are woken in the night with a throbbing headache its a migraine
– if you are suffering from local tenderness, yellow discharge, a stuffy nose then this is sinus trouble
– if the pain lasts for a few days then this would tend to mean sinus issues as a migraine would be shorter in duration
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Filed under migraine headache by Kylie Johnson
How do we control or stop a migraine without taking the traditional pain killer? Its common knowledge now that there are other methods to reduce the onslaught of migraines – some of those methods are long-gone tried and trusted ways that would have been used a long while back when no paracetemol was available on the shelves in the chemist. In fact, there are all forms of concoctions using herbs that are commonly grown in the backyard that will help to reduce migraine symptoms. That information would fill up my day to provide for you, so instead here are a few simple ways to help you combat the migraine.
* Get enough sleep. Yes, simple right? Getting enough sleep has been shown to help reduce migraines. Enough sleep would tend to mean something like 7 to 9 hours although this does vary. Recent scientific tests have shown that the older we get the less sleep we tend to need. So its no wonder that grandma used to spend most nights and early mornings watching television or reading her book.
* Meditate. A great way to destress after work is to find a quiet place – even for a short while – and meditate. No, this does not mean humming to yourself or floating in the air. It does mean focusing upon something or somethings that relax you and make you feel good with yourself. Positive thinking does, after all, do wonders!
* Aromatherapy. This is a form of massage therapy but in general terms is much lighter – more of a gentle stroking to the body. However, the use of oils to ease bodily tensions is certainly of benefit. Aromatherapy oils are taken from plant extracts and so can help ease pain and tension in a similar way to that of medication.
* Diets and food and drink intake. I think you know without me saying here about what you should and should not be putting down your throat. Too much caffeine – migraine! Too much alcohol – migraine! Too much junky food – sore stomach and potentially a migraine! Try to avoid over-indulging in any of these \”pleasures\”.
* Eye compress. There are a number of eye compresses that can be used to ease a migraine and it is claimed reduce puffiness around the eyes. A towel dipped in cold water and draped over the eyes while you rest can be helpful.
Migraine reduction and period painhave a lot in common. Learn more about how to cope with pms.
Filed under migraine headache by Kylie Johnson
