With a sinus infection, avoid dehydrating drinks like alcohol, caffeine (coffee, soda), and sugary juices (like many fruit juices), as they worsen inflammation and mucus; also skip dairy if it thickens your mucus, and be wary of histamine-rich fermented drinks like kombucha. Focus on water, herbal teas, and broth to thin mucus and stay hydrated, but avoid alcohol and caffeine because they can dehydrate you and increase sinus swelling, making symptoms worse.
In some people, dairy can thicken mucus. And foods high in histamine can also worsen the symptoms of a sinus infection. Examples include wine, cheese, and certain condiments.
The first and most important beverage to clear congestion is water. Drinking plenty of water can help thin mucus and ease congestion. Aim for at least eight cups of water a day. If you struggle to drink enough water, try swapping a couple of cups for coconut water or other natural fruit juices.
Yes, babies can get sinus infections (sinusitis), but true bacterial sinus infections are less common in infants because their sinuses are underdeveloped, though they can still get viral ones, often after a cold. Symptoms in babies can be subtle, but look for a "cold" lasting over 10 days, thick yellow/green drainage, persistent cough, bad breath, or irritability. While many resolve, a doctor should diagnose and treat persistent symptoms to prevent complications.
To treat a sinus infection during pregnancy, focus on safe home remedies like saline nasal rinses, steam inhalation, warm compresses, and staying hydrated, while using acetaminophen for pain and resting; always consult your doctor before taking any medication, especially to avoid NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) and oral decongestants, as some are unsafe in pregnancy. A doctor might prescribe pregnancy-safe antibiotics if symptoms are severe or persist, but generally, the goal is symptom relief with gentle methods.
Home Remedies: How to Alleviate a Congestion Naturally
Common symptoms of sinus infection include:
Sinusitis red flags signal a severe infection needing urgent care, including severe eye symptoms (swelling, redness, vision changes like double vision), high fever, stiff neck, confusion, severe facial swelling/numbness, or neurological changes (difficulty walking/talking), indicating potential spread to the eyes or brain. For less severe cases, seek care if symptoms last over 10 days, worsen after improving ("double sickening"), or include severe facial pain/toothache, suggesting bacterial sinusitis.
The inflammation and mucus buildup can block the normal drainage pathways in your sinuses, leading to pressure and discomfort in your face and head. Since the sinuses are connected to the ears via the Eustachian tubes, this pressure can extend to your ears, causing earache.
A: Viral sinus infections are usually contagious for 7–10 days, or as long as cold-like symptoms (sneezing, coughing, runny nose) are present.
How to relieve sinus pressure and pain at home
To help clear mucus, focus on warm, hydrating fluids like water, herbal teas (ginger, peppermint, thyme), and broths, which thin congestion, while avoiding dehydrating drinks like coffee and alcohol; lemon with honey in warm water is also excellent for soothing and loosening mucus. Hydration is key, as it makes mucus easier to cough up, and certain teas offer anti-inflammatory or decongestant properties, like menthol in peppermint or antioxidants in green tea, to further help.
While eating ginger may not have the same effects as taking extract, which is what the research studied, there is anecdotal evidence that it can help with sinus infection symptoms, per the Cleveland Clinic. Ginger juice (without added sugars) may also be one of the best juices for a sinus infection.
How to Treat a Sinus Infection
Warning signs you should never ignore
Foods That Break Up Mucus
A GP may refer you to see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist if you: still have sinusitis after 3 months of treatment. keep getting sinusitis. only have symptoms on 1 side of your face.
To treat a sinus infection during pregnancy, focus on safe home remedies like saline nasal rinses, steam inhalation, warm compresses, and staying hydrated, while using acetaminophen for pain and resting; always consult your doctor before taking any medication, especially to avoid NSAIDs (like ibuprofen) and oral decongestants, as some are unsafe in pregnancy. A doctor might prescribe pregnancy-safe antibiotics if symptoms are severe or persist, but generally, the goal is symptom relief with gentle methods.
Salt water nasal irrigation and/or nasal steroid sprays are the main treatments for the symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Antibiotics may sometimes be helpful but not always.
Many people associate sinus and nasal symptoms with a sinus infection, also called sinusitis, or with an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold. Someone may say that they're experiencing a sinus headache. But sinus and nasal symptoms often can signal something else: a migraine headache.
Diagnosis
Head to the ER right away if you have a sinus infection that includes new vision problems, significant swelling around your eyes, a severe headache, confusion, or trouble speaking. These symptoms suggest the infection may be spreading and should be treated as an emergency.
It's not common. But a serious sinus infection can spread to the membranes and fluid around the brain and spinal cord. The infection is called meningitis. Other serious infections can spread to the bones, called osteomyelitis, or to skin, called cellulitis.
Sinus infections and COVID-19 can both cause congestion and sore throats, but COVID-19 often presents with additional symptoms like body aches and loss of smell. Understanding the key differences between COVID and a sinus infection can help with getting an accurate diagnosis and the right treatment.
Acute sinusitis symptoms often include: Thick, yellow or greenish mucus from the nose, known as a runny nose, or down the back of the throat, known as postnasal drip. Blocked or stuffy nose, known as congestion.