Urgent Care for Sinus Pressure

Struggling with sinus pressure? Whether you’re experiencing a sudden onset of symptoms or have been struggling with sinus pain for several weeks, we can help you get the treatment you need to breathe easier.

Walk into your nearest ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care clinic for fast, effective sinus pressure relief today.

What Is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis, or a sinus infection, occurs when fluid builds up in the air-filled pockets in your face—your sinuses—leading to inflammation and swelling. Sinusitis is often an immune response to allergens, irritants, or infections, and it can sometimes be linked to other conditions like asthma, allergies, or nasal polyps.

How Long Can a Sinus Infection Last?

Depending on the type of sinusitis, your symptoms can vary in duration and severity:

• Acute
  Often triggered by a cold or viral infection. Symptoms appear suddenly and intensely. This type of sinusitis usually lasts up to four weeks.
• Subacute
  This type lasts 4 to 12 weeks and usually develops when acute sinusitis symptoms are not fully resolved.
• Chronic
  If symptoms like facial pain and nasal congestion last longer than 12 weeks despite treatment, it’s considered chronic.Many people with chronic sinusitis may also experience a reduced sense of smell.
• Recurrent
  If you experience four or more episodes of sinusitis in a 12-month period, it’s considered recurrent. You may need to be assessed for underlying medical conditions or structural issues.

How Do I Know If I Have a Sinus Infection?

If you are experiencing pain, tenderness, congestion, or swelling around the eyes, cheeks, nose, or forehead, you might have a sinus infection.

Additional symptoms include:

• Runny or stuffy nose
• Post-nasal drip (e.g., mucus dripping down the throat)
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Cough that worsens at night
• Fever (100.4° F or higher)
• Toothache
• Fatigue
• Reduced sense of smell
• Bad breath

Is a Sinus Infection Contagious?

Sinus infections are not contagious. However, the viruses, bacteria, or fungi that cause them can be:

• Viral sinus infection
  Viruses cause most sinus infections and are often the result of an upper respiratory infection. Viral infections are contagious and can be spread to others through respiratory droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes.
• Bacterial sinus infection
  Bacterial infections can be spread through close contact with an infected person or contaminated items (e.g., door handles, TV remotes, phones, and other high-touch objects).
• Fungal sinus infection
  Fungal sinus infections are not contagious but can be very serious if left untreated. If you’re experiencing asthma-like symptoms, fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, night sweats, weight loss, or chest pain, along with signs of a sinus infection, seek urgent medical treatment to lower your risk of complications.

How to Relieve Sinus Pressure—At-Home Remedies

Here are a few ways you can get sinus pressure relief at home:

• Apply a warm, damp towel to your nose, cheeks, and eyes to help loosen mucus.
• Inhale steam from a hot shower or bowl of hot water to help clear your sinuses.
• Use a saline spray or rinse to thin mucus and help drain your sinuses.
• Gently massage the area above your sinuses to help break up mucus.
• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, antihistamines, and nasal corticosteroids to relieve pressure and reduce swelling.

When To Go to Urgent Care for Sinus Pain Relief

If you experience persistent symptoms of sinusitis for ten days or more (or they worsen despite at-home remedies), walk into your nearest ClearChoiceMD Urgent Care for fast, effective relief. You can also save your spot in line to expedite your visit.

Our providers are skilled in diagnosing and treating all types of sinusitis and give you the care you need to begin feeling better today.