Do you feel an increase in sinus symptoms, such as pressure, congestion or sinus infections, in the spring? Turns out, that’s not uncommon, and could be due at least in part to our coastal climate. At California Sinus Centers, we love serving the community of San Francisco, so let’s discuss our unique climate and how it might be affecting you more than you realize.
What Are Your Sinuses
Fun fact: “sinus” is actually a broad medical term for any air-filled cavity inside your bones or tissues. When people talk about the “sinuses,” they’re usually referring specifically to your paranasal sinuses, four air-filled cavities inside the bones of your face, located behind your cheeks and forehead. They regulate air pressure inside your skull and produce mucus to keep the nasal passages hydrated and clean of germs and debris.
How Weather Affects Your Sinuses
Sinus symptoms occur when your paranasal sinuses are blocked, filled with fluid or unable to regulate pressure. This leads to symptoms such as:
- Feeling of pressure behind the face
- Stuffy nose (congestion)
- Runny nose (increased mucus production)
- Sinus headaches
- Sneezing
- Sinus infections (sinusitis)
Here are some of the ways weather, especially our weather this close to the Pacific, can cause that to happen.
Barometric Pressure Drops
Here in San Francisco, we’re no strangers to quick changes in the weather. It’s common for air pressure, or barometric pressure, to drop dramatically before an intense change, such as an impending storm.
When the barometric pressure drops quickly, the pressure inside your sinuses becomes higher than the pressure outside. This imbalance can create a feeling of pressure or fullness behind your face. This is similar to how your ears might feel when you’re taking off in an airplane, only behind your face.
Temperature Swings
You probably know that heat makes things expand, and cold makes them contract. This principle also applies to your nasal passageways and the blood vessels within them. When the temperature suddenly drops, your nasal tissues and blood vessels will constrict, restricting airflow, increasing sinus pressure and trapping mucus higher up in the passageways. When the temperature swings upward, it can increase mucus production.
Humidity
Living close to the ocean means there’s always at least some humidity. High humidity can increase mucus production in your paranasal sinuses, potentially leading to fluid buildup in the cavities. On the other hand, low humidity can dry out the skin and membranes in your nasal passageways, making them more susceptible to irritation should you inhale a foreign substance.
Coastal Winds
Speaking of inhaling foreign substances, those breezes coming off the Pacific bring salty sea air, dust, pollen and pollutants from all along the coast. This is irritating enough to your sinuses as it is, but it’ll have an even more pronounced effect on people whose sinuses are already dried out from low humidity and people with allergies.
How to Relieve Sinus Symptoms This Spring
If you’ve noticed an uptick in sinus symptoms without having a cold, here are some ways you can find relief:
- Control indoor humidity. Dry indoor air can make sinus issues worse, especially if it’s low humidity outside. Use a humidifier to keep your nasal passages moist and breathing clear.
- Use a saline nasal rinse. This at-home treatment flushes irritants and excess mucus out of your nasal passageways and relieves inflammation.
- Manage allergies. If you have seasonal allergies, your nasal passageways are chronically stressed as it is, without the added influence of coastal winds and barometric pressure. Managing your allergies with over-the-counter allergy medications and avoiding your allergic triggers can make sinus issues influenced by the weather less intrusive.
If spring sinus flare-ups are causing you immense discomfort and affecting your daily life, or if the issue never seems to fully go away, consider consulting an ENT specialist. Call California Sinus Centers today to learn more about how we can help you get to the root cause of your sinus issues and get you the relief you need.