Dooley Noted: 3/7/2014
You may think you need to learn skull anatomy like you need a hole in the head. But if you know your sinus anatomy, you understand you already have several!
Paranasal air sinuses are naturally occurring holes in the skull. They are designed to keep the skull lighter. Meanwhile, they filter, moisten and warm the air entering the skull.
Since they are lined with mucosa, they are privy to increasing secretions in a suboptimal environment. This can lead to sinus congestion.
Since you have several sinuses, it’s helpful to know the positions in which they drain into the nasal cavity. (See photo)
Positioning for drainage:
1. Standing: drains frontal and ethmoidal sinuses
– congestion between eyes and above nose
2. Prone: drains sphenoidal and some ethmoidal sinuses
– deep and central, between and behind the eyes
3. Left side down: drains right maxillary sinus
– right cheek, by nose
4. Right side down: drains left maxillary sinus
– left cheek, by nose
Depending on your head position, you can potentially open – or clog – a sinus.
Learning your own patterns of congestion can be a helpful step in keeping them clear.
Tips on draining your sinuses:
1. Put some peppermint oil on a tissue and inhale deeply through the nose.
2. Try xylitol nasal spray to moisten the nasal passages.
3. Use all-natural inhalers, like Olbas, to open the airway. A congested nose is often a nose not used for breathing.
4. Follow the anatomy to find out which sinus is clogged by its draining pattern. Put yourself in proper drainage positions while you perform nasal breathing drills.
5. Remember: you have three destinations for sinus content removal:
A. Through the nostrils (snort it out)
B. Through the mouth (spit it out)
C. Through the pharynx (swallow it down)
Get the mucus out to free the airway.
6. Use steam baths and sinus massage, following your clog pattern. The steam from a shower is helpful.
7. Neti-pot sinus washes with distilled water and salt are quite effective for prevention and treatment of sinus congestion.
8. Getting exercise and consuming aromatic foods can both break up sinus congestion and free the airway.
9. If your symptoms persist, seek an EENT specialist and/or an acupuncturist to help with chronic sinus congestion.
While the list of suggestions can continue, these tips are a way to start freeing up sinus congestion.
Knowing the anatomy helps!
As always, it’s your call.
– Dr. Kathy Dooley
