Sinus pressure can feel like your face is heavy with fluid or, in this case, mucus. Practicing sinus massage is an excellent way to relieve a little of that facial pressure.
How Does Sinus Massage Relieve Pressure?
Your sinuses are four pairs of hollow spaces behind your nose and cheeks. When you’re healthy, your sinuses drain mucus easily. You probably aren’t even aware it’s there. But when you have a sinus infection, these spaces narrow, preventing mucus from draining and leading to congestion and an achy feeling.
Sinus pressure works by putting gentle pressure on the sinuses to promote drainage and relieve pain.
How to Massage Your Sinuses
For a full-sinus massage, hit these areas:
- Upper sinus pressure point. Place your index fingers on either side of your nostrils and trace them up to your eyebrows. Rest your fingers right below your eyebrows and apply light pressure for a few seconds at a time. Move your fingers in small circles on that spot for 10 seconds.
- Upper sinus pinch. Gently pinch the brows with your thumb and forefinger for about two seconds before moving toward the temples. Pinch each thumb-length section of your eyebrows as you move your fingers.
- Lower sinus pressure point. Place your fingers on either side of your nostrils and apply light pressure to the smile lines (the lines branching off from your nostrils) in two-second increments.
- Upper sinus sweep. Place your fingers on the innermost part of your eyebrows. Sweep your fingers over the top of your brow line to your temples and back. Repeat a few times, moving a little further up each time until you reach your hairline.
- Bottom sweep. From either side of the nostrils, move your fingers along your cheekbones to your ears, up your temples, over your eyebrows and back down your nose. Do the same motion in reverse
These sinus massage techniques are an effective method to bring you a little relief. You can grab some face oil from a local St. Peter’s store for an extra soothing massage to help your fingers glide more easily.
If you’re dealing with chronic sinus infections (lasting three months or longer), contact Midwest ENT Centre today to discuss your treatment and prevention options with one of our specialists.