How to relieve sinus pressure

Relieve sinus pressure fast with corticosteroid sprays, nasal decongestants, or saline rinses

By Sarah Bradley | Dec. 6, 2023 Medically reviewed by Josephine Bawab, Pharm.D.

A pounding, throbbing feeling in your cheeks and forehead, an inability to breathe clearly, and a head that feels like an overfilled balloon are all signs that you’re experiencing some severe sinus pressure or inflammation in your nasal passages.

Worse, sinus pressure isn’t just uncomfortable; it can also be hard to relieve. According to Christine Franzese, MD, an allergist and immunologist at MU Health Care, sinus pressure is a symptom, not a disease or condition itself, so it can be caused by any number of problems, including viral infections, allergies, bacterial infections, or even migraines. For the most part, she adds, figuring out the best way to treat your sinus pressure requires finding out why it’s happening in the first place.

Here are the best ways to treat all types of sinus pain and pressure, whatever the cause.

Over-the-counter sinus pressure relief

Drugs available over-the-counter (OTC) are the most common treatments used to relieve sinus pressure. There are several types of oral and intranasal medications, each with their own pros and cons

Pseudoephedrine: This oral decongestant is often sold under the brand name Sudafed and works by narrowing the blood vessels in the sinuses to reduce swelling and congestion. Pseudoephedrine is not a prescription, but you can’t simply buy it off the shelf either; you’ll have to go to the pharmacy counter and buy it with a valid ID. In the past, experts recommended taking a similar oral decongestant, phenylephrine. However, the FDA announced in September of 2023 that phenylephrine does not work as a nasal decongestant, so people should use caution before taking it.
Antihistamines: Dr. Franzese says oral allergy medications, like Claritin, Zyrtec, and Allegra, and intranasal antihistamines, like Astepro, can help address the root cause of sinus pressure if seasonal or environmental allergies cause it.
Intranasal corticosteroids: These steroid sprays reduce nasal swelling and mucus and are sold under multiple brand names, including Flonase, Nasonex, and Nasacort.
Nasal decongestants: Nasal decongestants made with the active ingredient oxymetazoline relieve sinus congestion by working similarly to oral decongestants like Sudafed. The most well-known of these nasal decongestants is Afrin. However, Dr. Franzese says oxymetazoline should only be used briefly with a maximum of three to five days in order to prevent rebound congestion.

Prescription medications for sinus pressure relief

Unlike OTC medications, there are only a few recommended ways to treat sinus pressure using prescription drugs.

According to Kashif Mazhar, MD, an otolaryngologist and founder and CEO of ExcelENT Medical, oral steroids have the best and most predictive effect in relieving sinus pressure. Typically, this means taking prednisone for up to a week.

However, because oral steroids have side effects, this treatment is usually reserved for severe or chronic sinus pressure or sinusitis or during the recovery period after sinus surgery.

Another prescription option is a nasal spray made with olopatadine, says Dr. Franzese, noting that while the ophthalmic version of this antihistamine is sold OTC as Pataday, the nasal spray version can be prescribed for a broader treatment of allergies.

Sinus surgery options

Some people have chronic inflammation of their sinuses or severe symptoms that may need more invasive treatment.

Dr. Franzese says that you should see your healthcare provider and possibly get a CT scan of your sinuses if you have sinus pressure related to frequent sinus infections or chronic sinusitis. She explains that these infections may cause symptoms such as discolored discharge, nasal congestion, and changes in smell and taste.

Several things can cause the types of sinus problems that benefit from surgery, says Dr. Franzese, including blockages in the sinus tract, nasal polyps, and enlargement of the turbinates in the nasal cavity. Turbinates are responsible for regulating airflow in the nasal passages.

There are also several types of sinus surgery:

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) clears and widens nasal passages responsible for drainage, allowing for improved breathing.
Balloon sinus dilation involves inflating a tiny balloon into the sinus openings to open and drain the nasal passages.
Turbinate surgery is when a surgeon removes, repositions, or reduces the size of enlarged turbinates interfering with breathing.
Septoplasty is performed to correct a misshapen or deviated septum, blocking one or both nostrils from letting air pass through.

Your healthcare provider can discuss your options with you based on your symptoms and any identifiable problems with your sinuses, like blockages or enlargements.

Home remedies for sinus pressure

In addition to medication treatments to relieve sinus pressure, you may want to use home remedies to reduce further discomfort. Home remedies for sinus pressure include:

Saline sprays or rinses to perform nasal irrigation, including neti pots, which keep the nasal passages moist, loosen mucus, and reduce inflammation. Dr. Franzese says these are especially helpful when colds and other viruses, like the flu, cause your sinus pressure. It is important to only use distilled or sterile water, as unfiltered tap water could cause infections. Warm steam inhalation or hot showers also loosen mucus and can relieve pressure.
Eucalyptus oil added to a hot shower or bath can ease sinus congestion, but be sure to always follow directions about using essential oils safely, including avoiding use with young children.
Hydration, both by drinking plenty of water or clear fluids and by adding moisture to any dry air environment with a humidifier, can help alleviate sinus pressure symptoms.
Elevation, such as propping up your head while you lie down at night in order to prevent excess mucus from going into your sinuses, may prevent pressure from building in the sinuses.
Warm compress applied to the forehead or over the eyes, which feels soothing, may also ease pressure or a sinus headache.

More tips on relieving sinus pressure

How to relieve sinus pressure fast

The quickest way to relieve sinus pressure is usually with intranasal treatments, like corticosteroid sprays, nasal decongestants like Afrin, or saline rinses. Unlike medications that are taken orally, intranasal medications don’t require much time to take effect. Fast-relieving home remedies that go straight to the source of sinus pressure include warm steam showers and elevating your head.

How to relieve sinus pressure in the ears

Patients with chronic or acute sinusitis often have eustachian tube dysfunction, which means the tube that connects the ears to the back of the nose isn’t equalizing pressure effectively, according to Dr. Mazhar. This can result in ear pressure and pain, which Dr. Mazhar says can be treated similarly to sinus pressure with nasal steroid sprays and oral steroids, as well as nasal decongestants and oral decongestants on a short-term basis.

How to relieve sinus pressure in the face

Many people think there are acupuncture pressure points that trigger the sinuses to drain, relieving pressure from the face. Still, Dr. Mazhar says it’s anatomically impossible to drain the sinuses by manual massage or pressure point release. The only thing that does that, he adds, is sinus surgery.

However, Dr. Mazhar explains that activating specific pressure points can give you temporary pain relief by modulating the nerves that carry sensory information from the sinuses. Try gently massaging the areas around the eyebrows, temples, and bridge of the nose in a circular motion for fast relief.