Sniff, Sniff: 6 Tips for Winter Sinus Pain Relief

Your sinuses are amazing! Made up of eight hollow spaces in the bones of the forehead, upper cheeks and temples, sinuses help eliminate toxins from the air we breathe.

Your sinuses are lined with sticky mucus that catches dust and air pollutants so they won’t enter and irritate the lungs.

If your sinuses are blocked then they are not functioning properly, which makes the rest of the body work harder to keep you running smoothly. As we head into winter, here are a few tips to keep your sinuses in great shape…

1. Drink water. The easiest way to help relieve sinus pain is to up your water intake. Take your weight, divide it by half and that is the number of ounces of water you need to drink daily to maintain proper body function. So, if you weigh 200 lbs, you need 100 oz of water per day. Without water, our sinuses cannot drain properly and the mucus thickens, blocking sinus exits, trapping toxins and building pressure, which can cause pain.

2. Take a supplement. Bromelain is a supplement extracted from the pineapple plant and is known as anti-inflammatory agent that can relive sinus pain. Eucalyptus oil can be inhaled to clear nasal passages and sinus congestion. Vitamin D and magnesium supplements are also helpful for pain management when taken regularly.

3. Decrease processed sugar and wheat intake. Processed sugar and enriched wheat products can cause inflammation. If you’re experiencing sinus pain, take a 24-hour break from processed sugar and wheat to allow the inflammation to decrease and the sinuses to drain. Focus on eating vegetables and protein to provide your body energy to fight inflammation.

4. Turn down the heat. When the heater is on there is less moisture in your home’s air. This can lead to dry sinuses and blocked sinus exits. It’s better to put on a sweater and leave the thermostat at 68°-70° than to crank the heat up to 75° and make it even dryer in the house.

5. Neck adjustment. Tell your chiropractor about your sinus pain. They can adjust the vertebrae in the neck to allow the sinuses to drain properly. “Sinus pain can be caused by the Atlas (C1) and Axis (C2) vertebrae being out of alignment,” said Dr. Jamie Bell of Advanced Health Chiropractic. “Aligning these vertebrae can alleviate sinus and allergy pressure quickly. Most patients feel relief within a few minutes of their adjustment."

6. Eat a bit of local honey. When sinus pain is related to allergies, it is because the body sees an allergen as the “enemy”, so it produces more mucus to flush the allergen out of the body. Honey that was harvested from bees in the area introduces small amounts of pollen and common allergens to your immune system. Once the body has processed the small amount of the allergen, it’s less likely to be recognized as an “enemy”…this will decrease excess mucus production and keep your sinuses clear. Mix a teaspoon of honey into hot tea or drizzle over your morning oatmeal.

These tips are intended to be helpful, but not to diagnose any health issue. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions regarding these tips, or before adding a supplement to your diet. If you have questions or need more information, please give us a call at our office and we’d be happy to talk to you- 248-813-0500.

Advanced Health Chiropractic was founded in 2005 by husband-and-wife chiropractic team, Jamie Bell, D.C. and Lisa Bell, D.C. at 6585 Rochester Road in Troy. Drs Bell have been licensed and practicing chiropractors since 2001. For additional information, visit www.advancedhealthchiro.net or call 248-813-0500. Find us on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/advancedhchiro