10 Tips for How to Relieve Sinus Pressure

Wavebreakmedia Ltd/Thinkstock

We all love to breathe (well, maybe not in an elevator full of patchouli oil), but nasal congestion can get in the way, especially as we lie supine in our beds. So consider propping yourself up at bedtime, either on pillows or by raising the head of your bed a couple of inches. If possible, avoid lying down or standing on your head for the balance of the day.

It's a question of blood pressure. When you lie down, the mucus membranes on your turbinates (spongy curled bones that jut into the nasal passages and act as nasal air conditioners) receive more blood and can swell, making breathing difficult [source: Texas Sinus Center].

Your head plumbing flows in a very specific and ingenious way: Within the mucosal layer that blankets your nasal passages, millions of tiny, hairlike cilia move in harmony with one another to move mucus to the rear of the nasal cavity, like a snotty stage dive for particles and germs. Normally, the mucus flows into the nasopharynx, where the mouth and throat come together and where — and we're sorry to break the news if you didn't already know this — you swallow it all day [source: American Rhinologic Society]. But when mucus production grows out of control or sinuses become clogged, you might need some gravitational assist to keep nasal blood flow (and swelling) low.

Sinus Congestion Tips

Here is some information to help you with sinus congestion.

Presented by Sudafed