3 Ways Your Chiropractor Can Help Sinusitis
Your sinuses are cavities inside the skull which make mucus and protect the body against pollutants and allergens. If you have a deviated septum, allergies, or a weak immune system, however, you may be susceptible to sinusitis, or sinus inflammation. This condition can cause a runny nose, congestion, facial pain, and headaches. You can treat sinusitis with over-the-counter decongestants and rinses, but if you can't shake your symptoms, you may want to visit a medical professional, like a chiropractor, for help. Here are three chiropractic treatments to look into.
Nutritional Counseling
Some foods, like dairy, may increase inflammation for some patients with sinusitis. Even if you don't have a food allergy, you may have a sensitivity to certain trigger foods which may be exacerbating your sinuses. A chiropractor can help you put together an elimination diet to see if you have any of these sensitivities. During an elimination diet, you will omit certain foods to see if your symptoms improve. You then reintroduce those foods back into your diet later to see if your symptoms stay the same or get worse. Elimination diets can be overwhelming to do on your own as you may feel restricted with your meal plans or worry about missing nutrients. It's helpful to have a chiropractor provide nutritional counseling as they can help you put together meal plans and help you incorporate anti-inflammatory foods that can reduce sinusitis symptoms.
Chiropractic Adjustments
Misalignments in the cervical spine may cause issues with corresponding nerve impulses in the sinus membranes. Spinal adjustments can improve craniofacial tension and control. Some chiropractors may offer light-force cranial adjustments, where the chiropractor makes specific adjustments along the jaw, behind the ears, around the neck, and along cranial sutures on the scalp. These movements aren't painful and can be used to help people with sinus-related headaches or TMJ dysfunction.
Massage Therapy
Some professionals say that massage therapy could reduce the severity of sinus headaches as well as facial tenderness and congestion. During massage therapy, your chiropractor will use light pressure to warm up and relax facial muscles. The heat from massage therapy can improve circulation and helps release mucus buildup. During massage therapy, a chiropractor can focus on all the sinus cavities or on just one area that's giving you trouble. For instance, if you feel pain around your cheeks and ears, you may benefit from a sphenoid sinus massage. If you feel pain in your forehead or around your eyes, then an ethmoid sinus massage may be more beneficial.
Reach out to a chiropractor today for more information about sinus pain relief services.
