Eye Pain and Sinus

Do you know which is the most sensitive part in your body? It is the eyes, because there are many pain receptors, finely tuned nerve endings, which are located in and around them. Therefore, if you have noticed, a blast of cold air, inward growing eye lashes, dry air, etc. all trigger pain and/or irritation. Among the factors within the body, the sinus can also trigger eye pain. In some cases, simply rolling the eyes can cause an immense amount of pain, as the adjacent muscles are strained.

Sinuses are actually pea sized pouches, which extend outwards, from the inside of the nose into the bones of the face and the skull. They are air pockets, which expand and grow through childhood into adulthood. These pouches produce mucus, which passes through the nose and cleans the membranes, as it picks up dust particles, bacteria, and other pollutants.

Infection or inflammation of the sinus is called sinusitis. These problems occur when the openings of these air bags are closed shut due to various irritants like allergens, smoke, etc. If the opening is obstructed, the mucus produced cannot be drained out, causing the fluid to build up and exert pressure. This causes eye pain and headache.

More than 32 million Americans are said to suffer from eye pain and sinus infection. This happens because the sinuses surround the ocular region, and the pressure on the air pockets feels like pressure on the eye. The more the swelling of the sinuses and nasal membrane, more is the pressure exerted causing pain in the eyes. There are other reasons, apart from mucus build up, which can cause pain. They are nasal polyps, tooth infection, etc.

Pressure is built up either behind the eyes or in the space between the nose and the eyes. There can also be persistent dull pain, which radiates from the eyes to other areas around the facial region. There can be a throbbing ache behind the eyes as well. In case the infection affects the cavities closest to the eyes, there can be swelling and they may also become red.

There are many simple methods, which can relieve you of this condition. The first of them is to use steam to open the sinuses. The best way is to take nasal steam either using a nasal steamer or with water boiled in a pot. You should do this at least thrice a day. Taking a hot shower twice a day can also help to alleviate the symptoms. If you are not a big fan of steam, you may want to try a hot compress. Place the hot compress on the sinus region. This will also help in draining the sinuses.

If you have a garden, which you mow yourself, in this pollen season, you can delegate the task to someone else. Stay in clean air as much as possible. Staying away from smoke of any kind, will help to get rid of sinus related problems.

If you sleep without a pillow, you might want to start using it now. If you sleep with your head on an elevation of about 4 to 6 inches, it will help in draining of the sinuses. Using a steam humidifier will also help. You can make use of eucalyptus oil both for the humidifier as well as for steaming. Severe case of infection may require you to visit your health care professional. He/she may prescribe some antibiotics.

To prevent any further trouble, eating a well-balanced diet, along with regular exercise is the key. Since you are susceptible to sinusitis, you may want to keep away from people, who have cold and flu symptoms. Do not share your clothes, towels, napkins, utensils, etc., as these are the carriers of infection. At the same time, it is healthy to stay away from smoking as well.

Disclaimer: This story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.