Do Allergies Cause Sinus Pressure

Can Allergies Cause Sinus Pressure

Its common to mistake sinus pressure from allergies as a bacterial sinus infection that requires antibiotics. While it is possible to develop a bacterial sinus infection because of inflammation caused by allergies, in most cases the uncomfortable sinus pressure will pass once you treat your allergy symptoms.

Why Should You Treat A Sinus Problem

Some sinus problems will clear up without needing medication or treatment. Drinking water and rest can lead to the gradual easing of symptoms, but a more serious sinus problem could result in further issues. The build-up of mucus could cause a sinus infection that will only exacerbate the problem. In fact, an ear infection may be the side effect of congestion behind the eardrum. Also, mucus drainage down the throat could cause a sore throat and persistent cough.

Signs And Symptoms Of Sinusitis

The signs and symptoms of sinusitis vary depending on the severity of the inflammation and which sinuses are involved. Symptoms and signs of sinusitis are:

• Thick, green or yellow coloured mucus from the nose or down the back of the throat.
• Loss of sense of smell or taste.
• Bad breath and/or bad taste in the mouth.
• Sore throat and/or cough.

It is important to consult your doctor if these signs or symptoms develop.

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How Do I Get Rid Of A Sinus Headache

To get rid of a sinus headache, you have to treat the underlying cause. But you can take steps to ease sinus pressure and pain at home:

• Apply a warm compress to painful areas of the face.
• Use a decongestant to reduce sinus swelling and allow mucus to drain.
• Try a saline nasal spray or drops to thin mucus.
• Use a vaporizer or inhale steam from a pan of boiled water. Warm, moist air may help relieve sinus congestion.

Sinus infection

Viruses, bacteria and sometimes fungi cause sinus infections. Viral infections often go away on their own. But if your infection is bacterial or fungal, you need antibiotics or antifungal medications. Your healthcare provider may also recommend other medications to ease discomfort, such as:

• Antihistamines to prevent allergy symptoms.
• Pain relievers to ease headache pain.
• Steroids to reduce inflammation.

Migraines with sinus symptoms

Sinus headaches that are actually migraines need a different type of treatment. The first step is to relieve your pain. You should know that frequently using over-the-counter medications when you have a headache can cause even more headaches .

Your provider may recommend prescription medication for migraine pain. You may also need a preventive medication that helps you have fewer migraine attacks.

The Lowdown On Stressed Sinuses

A flare-up of seasonal allergies, called hay fever, causes stuffy noses and irritated sinuses. But allergy sufferers will notice mainly that they have a runny nose with clear output and itchy, watery eyes. Their symptoms are also often tied to certain times of year and specific allergens like animal dander, dust, pollen or mold.

If youre plugged up with thick mucus thats green or yellow, you could have an infection. Sinus infectionswhether caused by bacteria or a viruscan also bring along other symptoms like mild headache, fatigue, weakness or a cough. Viruses are far more likely to be the cause of sinus infections. Certain symptoms increase the probably of bacterial sinusitis:

• Persistent sinusitis symptoms for longer than 10 days, especially with double worsening. This means symptoms start to improve and then get worse a few days later.
• A fever, especially a high one over 102 .
• Asymmetric pain in one or more sinus areas. These include under or above the eyes and above the bridge of the nose.

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How Long Do Sinus Headaches Last

Viruses cause most sinus infections. A viral sinus infection typically resolves on its own. Similar to how the common cold clears up by itself, your sinus headache should feel better within about a week. If it doesnt go away, see your healthcare provider. You may have a bacterial or fungal sinus infection that requires medication.

What Causes Sinus Pressure

Most of us are familiar with the pressure, headaches, and throbbing pain behind the eyes and cheekbones associated with sinus infections. This sinus pressure can be obnoxious or even debilitating, and some of us experience it more often than others. So, what causes sinus pain and pressure to occur, and what can be done to help it? Let’s find out.

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How Do You Know If You Have Allergies Or A Sinus Infection

One main difference between allergies and sinus infections is with sinus infections you may experience pain like facial, tooth or ear pain along with a fever. Another difference that may be harder to determine is the nasal discharge with allergies is usually clear whereas with sinus infections it is usually green or yellow in color.

Barometric Pressure And Your Sinuses

Many of us have a friend or relative who could tell a thunderstorm was coming because their knees hurt. It turns out that there may be something to that. Have you ever noticed that changes in the weather can mean changes in your sinuses ? It’s not your imagination! Recent studies have shown that there can be links between changes in barometric pressure and some changes in our bodies. While much remains unknown about Low and High Barometric Pressure Symptoms, here is what we know so far…

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How Can I Tell If I Have A Sinus Infection Cold Or Nasal Allergy

It can be difficult to tell the difference between a cold, allergies, and a sinus infection. The common cold typically builds, peaks, and slowly disappears. It lasts a few days to a week. A cold can transform into a sinus infection. Nasal allergy is inflammation of the nose due to irritating particles . Symptoms of a nasal allergy can include sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, congestion, runny nose, and post nasal drip . Sinusitis and allergy symptoms can happen at the same time as a common cold.

If you are fighting off a cold and develop symptoms of a sinus infection or nasal allergy, see your healthcare provider. You will be asked to describe your symptoms and medical history.

How Do Allergies Cause Sinus Pressure

Your sinuses are hollow cavities lined with a thin layer of mucus that have the important job of filtering and moistening the air you breathe, as well as trapping dust and germs. There are four major sinus cavities:

• Frontal, located in your forehead.
• Ethmoid, located behind your nose and between your eyes.
• Maxillary, located behind your cheekbones, between the bottoms of your eyes and the top of your upper jaw.
• Sphenoid, located deep in your head behind your nose.

When youre exposed to allergens and the immune system responds, this causes increased mucus production and swelling of the nasal tissues. This swelling blocks mucus from draining, causing it to become trapped. The result is pain and pressure in the sinuses.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, bacteria may have made its way into the sinuses and become trapped, requiring treatment from a doctor:

• Thick, discolored drainage from the nose.
• Postnasal drip .
• Headache.
• Feeling of fullness in the ear.
• Cough.
• Toothache.

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How Is Sinusitis Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will ask you a lot of questions in order to develop a detailed medical history and find out about your symptoms. They will also do a physical examination. During the exam, your care provider will check your ears, nose and throat for any swelling, draining or blockage. An endoscope may be used to look inside the nose. In some cases, you might be referred to an ear, nose and throat specialist. If you needed an imaging exam, your provider would order a computed tomography scan.

Causes Of A Sinus Infection

A sinus infection or sinusitis is an infection of the sinuses. Most often, it is triggered by a common cold, which is considered a virus. These include rhinoviruses, influenza viruses, and parainfluenza viruses. Influenza viruses, which are responsible for the flu, can also cause sinusitis. These viral infections of the sinus usually resolve in ten days.

Bacteria can also cause sinus infections. These includeS. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, M. catarrhalis, S. pyogenes, S. aureus, and various fungi can cause a sinus infection, as well.

Why do allergies can cause sinus infections? Allergic reactions cause excess histamine and inflammation, which irritate the nose and sinuses. The common cold also causes inflammation and irritation of the nose and sinuses. Once the sinus cavities are irritated and inflamed, they can easily become infected.

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Is It A Sinus Infection A Cold Or Allergies

Your nose is stuffed and your head is pounding. Here’s how to tell if a cold, allergies, or a sinus infection is to blame.

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A stuffy nose and headache are common symptoms of many illnesses. So how can you tell whether the culprit is a sinus infection, a common cold, or allergies when the symptoms of these three conditions are so similar?

“It can sometimes be difficult even for doctors to differentiate,” says Alan B. Goldsobel, MD, an allergist at Allergy and Asthma Associates of Northern California and an adjunct associate professor at Stanford University Medical Center in Stanford, California. But there are some key differences that can give you some clues. Get to know more about the symptoms of these three conditions to help you pinpoint the cause of your sinus congestion:

A Sinus Infection

A Cold

• What it feels like: You can expect a stuffy nose, but also some runny, discolored mucus, Goldsobel explains. You may also experience a sore throat, cough, sneezing, headache, or fatigue. Another sign is a rising temperature: Colds often trigger a fever, he says, but sometimes those fevers are so mild that people think they have allergies instead.
• What triggers it: A virus.
• How long it lasts: People usually fend off the cold virus within seven to 10 days, Baroody says. But if your symptoms have lingered past that window of time, you might have sinusitis. If you suspect you have a sinus infection, you should talk to your doctor.

An Allergic Reaction

Early Treatment Can Reduce The Need For Medications

Around half of all sinus infections will resolve without antibiotics. In people with frequent infections it is important to treat the underlying problems, such as allergy, and to treat symptoms quickly to prevent the need for antibiotics.

Examples of treatments include:

• Steam inhalations use a bowl of hot water with a towel over your head. This will help to thin the mucus and make it easier to drain
• Salt water irrigation of the nose using a commercial preparation will assist in nasal drainage
• Antibiotics should be prescribed if symptoms persist.
• Surgical removal of disease tissue, polyps and/or drainage of sinuses may be required for some people with chronic sinusitis, if medications do not control symptoms.

ASCIA is the peak professional body of clinical immunology/allergy specialists in Australia and New Zealand.

ASCIA resources are based on published literature and expert review, however, they are not intended to replace medical advice. The content of ASCIA resources is not influenced by any commercial organisations.

For more information go to www.allergy.org.au

To donate to immunology/allergy research go to www.allergyimmunology.org.au

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What Kicks It Off

With both sinusitis and allergies, your nose and sinuses get stuffed up, but it happens for different reasons.

If you have allergies, the passages of your nose and sinuses swell because they’re trying to flush out “allergens.” That’s just a technical word for anything you’re allergic to, like pollen, mold, dust mites, and pet dander.

Sinusitis usually develops because of allergies or a cold. Sometimes, but not often, it’s from bacteria that cause an infection.

When you have allergies or a cold, your nose and sinuses get inflamed. That blocks mucus from draining, which can cause an infection — not to mention pain and pressure.

If you have allergies, you’re more likely to have sinus problems. That’s because the inside of your nose and sinuses often swell up when you breathe in triggers.

What Is Barometric Pressure

Barometric Pressure is, in short, how the weight of the atmosphere is measured. This can be lower or higher depending on the air’s density and moisture content, temperature, altitude, and more. One of the more obvious environmental signs of barometric pressure is rain. This occurs when the atmospheric pressure decreases, causing air to rise and condensation to occur – which falls back to earth as rain.

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Allergies Vs Sinus Infection

Allergies can develop at any point in your life. While allergies tend to come up during childhood, its possible to develop allergies to new substances as an adult.

This type of reaction is caused by a negative response to a substance. Your immune system responds by releasing a chemical called histamine, which can then cause symptoms such as headache, sneezing, and congestion. Its also possible to feel foggy and develop a skin rash.

Severe allergies can lead to a cold-like condition called allergic rhinitis. With allergic rhinitis, you can have the above symptoms as well as itchy eyes. This itchiness is one of the key distinguishing factors between allergies and sinusitis.

A sinus infection, on the other hand, occurs when your nasal passages become inflamed. Sinusitis is most often caused by viruses. When the nasal cavity gets inflamed, mucus builds up and gets stuck, further compounding the problem.

Along with nasal congestion and headache, sinusitis causes pain around your cheeks and eyes. Sinus infections also cause thick, discolored mucus, and bad breath.

Compare the following symptoms to see if you have allergies or a possible sinus infection. Its also possible to have both conditions at the same time.

What Does That Have To Do With My Sinuses

These changes in the atmosphere’s weight can impact more than just the weather. Here’s what that means for your sinuses. Our sinuses are filled with air, and the pressure in those sinuses is no longer at equilibrium with the pressure outside of the body when the barometric pressure changes. This difference in pressure is what causes sinus pressure and sinus headaches, which can be exacerbated by an existing sinus infection, allergies, congestion, or other sinus issues. When the atmospheric pressure drops, it can also cause lower blood pressure, which can result in dizziness, blurred vision, and fatigue in some cases. This “perfect storm” of circumstances and symptoms can make it hard to go about your day and even keep you from getting out of bed if the symptoms are bad enough.

At Ashford Clinic, we can help with all of your ENT issues like sinus infections, allergies, and more. Give us call to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

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How Do I Stop Sinus Pressure

You might be wondering how to relieve sinus pressure if youve been experiencing the discomfort and pain that comes alongside it. Some home remedies for congestion you could try include:

Hopefully, these tips help you find relief, but its important to remember that they only treat the symptoms. If you are experiencing sinus pressure or throbbing pain for more than 12 weeks, you may be suffering from chronic sinusitis. Dont wait to schedule an appointment with your ENT.

Causes Of Chronic Sinusitis

As you’ve just learned, chronic sinusitis can cause both sinus pressure and sinus pain. Generally, sinusitis is frequently caused by a bacterial infection. However, sometimes, viruses and molds can cause it. If you have a weak immune system, you have a greater risk of developing a fungal or bacterial sinus infection.

Some individuals can also suffer from “allergic fungal sinus infection”, which afflicts those with allergies. A sinus cavity infection that’s near your brain can become fatal if you don’t receive treatment. It can spread to your brain, although this is rare.

Sinusitis might be due to a viral infection and can lead to nose inflammation. This inflammation, along with the reduced ability of your sinuses to drain, could also be caused by hay fever, or another allergic reaction. The inflammation leads to the:

• Increased fluid production and swelling

• The sinuses can’t drain effectively

• The reduced drainage causes sinus headache pain

Some specific and common causes and reasons for chronic sinusitis are:

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Using Cold Therapy To Reduce Swelling

As we discussed above, painful sinus pressure occurs when swelling in your nasal tissue prevents proper drainage from your sinuses. Your nasal tissue can become irritated from inhaling various air particles or by something as arbitrary as an atmospheric change in pressure. To reduce swelling in your nasal tissue, apply a therapeutic cold compress, like the Bruder Sinus Compress.

Keep your Bruder Sinus Compress in the freezer for several hours prior to use. Remove the mask from the freezer when you are ready to relax for 5-10 minutes with the mask over your eyes, eyebrows, forehead, and nose. The patented MediBeads technology delivers a medically safe and consistent amount of cold. Just enough to help alleviate swelling from your nasal tissue and pressure from your sinuses.

Bruder products were highly recommended during my annual eye exam !If you suffer from headaches, allergies, sinus infections this compress is a game-changer.

Allergy sufferer