What is the best thing to do for a sinus headache other than taking medicine?

Question

I took sudafed sinus headache an hour ago and can't take more for at least three hours. It is extremely painful and I can't fall asleep. I am also 15 weeks pregnant so my options are limited. Are there any foods that will help or anything at all? I can't go to a doctor until tomorrow.

Answer 1

Hot shower or just fill your sink up with hot water and hold your face in the steam - w/o burning yourself. Also. try spicy foods this can help get the sinus' moving along. Ice packs or heating pad --- everyone's different, whichever gives you relief. If it's cold where you are go outside for a short walk sometime the cold air can clear up your sinus' too.

Answer 2

If you mean the sinuses that are just under the eyes... The best way to fix the headache is to get the sinuses themselves fixed, which means getting the clogged-up mucous to drain.

You can use saline nose drops to help wash our the sinuses and thin the mucus. These are good because they're so harmless you can use them as much as you want and they're certainly safe for babies, though they don't work that quickly... You can also use spray decongestants to help along with the ones you take orally, though the decongestant sprays you can only use a few days in a row. Also, if you look at the ingredients in the Sudafed you took, you can get any other sinus medication that has different ingredients and take them together, because as long as they don't have the same ingredients you won't end up with too much.

I also find myself that my sinuses drain ALOT better if I tilt my head back, the pull the skin next to my nose down and away from the nose, then breath in... Pulling the skin like this seems to help open the sinus cavity, as does tilting the head back... I discovered this technique while sitting through a three-hour class being driven absolutely mad by the sinus pain and pressure that had been worsening the entire day, and after doing it every few minutes for about an hour the sinus gradually ended up feeling completely fine! I do this all the time now. I figure it might work for other people as well because drug users say it's how they get drugs out of their sinuses, that's where I got the idea in the first place...

Oh I almost forgot, breathing in warm steamy air is supposed to help alot. I find it helps... a little. You can heat up a cup of water in the microwave and breath the steam in for a while and see if it helps you at all.

Answer 3

This is the only thing that gives me relief. My husband uses this to keep from getting bronchitis when he gets a sinus infection, and I use it to cure sinus infections. THere are many kinds of bacteria that live in the sinuses, and this gets rid of all the bad ones!.This is the only thing that really helped me --- my Dr. told me about a sinus wash that will kill bacteria. you need distilled water sea salt liquid chlorophyll and colloidal silver from the health food store. in a glass mix 1/4 cup water with a pinch of salt and heat to body temperature. add 5 drops each silver and chlorophyll and mix. using a large dropper (like one used for infant medication) drop 2 full droppersfull into one side of the nose while laying down. Turn the head and let it drain out the other nostril. Be sure to have paper towels handy. or just use a neti pot, I like this better. The silver kills the bacteria and there are several hundred kind that can live in the sinus cavities and anti biotics don't get rid of them all. Do this twice a day for a week, mixing up the mixture fresh each time. Then do it once a week for maintenance. There is nothing in this that will hurt you, and it cured me. I do not have to take claritin, or antibiotics anymore. best wishes

Answer 4

I think something to help you would be garlic........prepare a vegestable soup with chiken and once the soup is done add two or three raw garlic cut in half each clove, for about two to three minutes before eating it. Garlic will make you feel better.......

I actually would call your doctor and ask if it is ok because garlic on its raw form is very powerful. I am almost certain it is ok to eat while pregnant but I don't want you to risk it.....please check before eating the soup.........

I think you were looking for something right now.......buy Noni and drink 1 or 2 oz. tops this will take away any pain. Or if you can find Camu Camu....powder form.....mix it into water it will take care of the headache.....Camu is a fruit from South America it has more vitamin c than an orange and it does not have the harsh effect of diahrrea......prefered take use is less than 1 tea spoon.

I don't know anything faster that won't affect or risk your baby......you may want to check Accupresure but becareful because some points are not recommended while pregnant!!!

Good luck and hope I was of some help!

Answer 5

The vix vapor rub that you can buy at any store, take a spoonful or two of that and put it into a small pan of water and let it boil on the stove. It works much better then a vaporizer. That will help to open your sinuses enough to start draining. You can even use a towel to hold your head over it rather then just plain steam.
Blowing your nose as often as possible rather then sniffing it back in, that helps to drain it, and help unblock sinuses which is causing your pressure.
Also drinking a Hot mint flavored tea helps.
And one more thing I am not sure that using nasal sprays is safe during pregnancy, unless it is simply a saline spray.

Answer 6

I would try a saline nasal rinse (not a spray.) A full warm water saline rinse goes in one nostril and out the other. It draws out all the gunk and shrinks the tissue (like swimming in the ocean).
The buffered salt doesn't 'sting' as much as plain salt water. You can use a new method like Nasopure, or the vintage, Netipot

You don’t need a prescription for this therapy. If you live in a state like mine, they’ve pretty much “outlawed” sudafed medicine. Drug-free is really the way to go on a frequent-use basis.

Answer 7

I've found that a hot shower helps me. It opens up the sinuses so they drain and the pressure that causes the headache goes away. Also drinking hot liquids seems to help.
Hope you feel better, sinus headaches are horrible.

Answer 8

Try warm compresses. Wet a facecloth with nice hot water (not too hot) and apply it to your forehead or your cheeks, anyplace the sinuses are, or where it hurts the most. Lay down with your head elevated and try to relax. If you do some deep breathing it will help to relax you, and if you are less tense it will help the pain. If this doesn't work well enough, try putting a large pot of water on the stove to a very low simmer, and hold your face over it, with a bath towel tented with your hands over your head to cover your head and keep the steam on your face. This should break up some of the congestion and help your headache.

Good luck, hon, and congratulations on your pregnancy!

Answer 9

There are a lot of things to do for sinus congestion. One of the best is to inhale steam through your nose. Get a pot of water boiling and inhale the steam. Another home remedy that works INSTANTLY is to go to a health food store and get some eucalyptus oil, lavender oil and oil of peppermint (these are essential oils) put 3-4 drops of each on a tissue and then inhale the vapors through your nose. Instant relief. I use it all the time.

Answer 10

Often, a nasal spray can help break up that pressure. Sometimes immediately. (Please check to see if advisable during pregnancy.) Bear in mind, tho, that using a nasal spray too frequently is bad, and your nasal membranes become conditioned to the spray. So use it sparingly.

Cool compresses, or chilled chamomile tea bags (damp), can really reduce pressure, also.

Try some honey for prevention. Make sure you get LOCAL honey, which will provide allergy protection for local pollen(s). NOTE: Honey is NOT recommended for babies or toddlers. Their immune systems are not developed enough.

Good luck, hope you feel better soon.