Sinus pressure refers to the pressure and pain that results
from the sinus cavities becoming swollen, infected, blocked
and filled with mucus.
There are four pairs of sinus cavities in the facial part of the skull.
They are the maxillary (located below the eyes), frontal (located above
the eyes) ethmoid (located between the eyes) and sphenoid sinuses
(located between the eyes but further above and behind the ethmoid
sinuses).
The sinus cavities have a few tasks
namely: they lighten the skull, add quality to voice
and they act as filters to trap dust and organisms from the inhaled
air.
The sinuses produce mucus that cleans and moistens the membranes of the
nose and throat. Each sinus has an opening into the nose that
permits for free exchange of mucus and air.
When sinus cavities become swollen and the ostium narrow or
become completely blocked, mucus gets trapped in the cavities.
The colleted mucus causes a pressure build up
within the sinus cavity which we sense as . Sometime the
openings from the sinuses into the nasal passage become blocked causing
a vacuum within the sinus cavity. This negative pressure that develops,
causes the membranes to "pull away" from their underlying structure
resulting in pain and the pressure sensation we term as SINUS PRESSURE.
Sinus pressure is a symptom of Sinusitis and a Sinus infection. Sinus
pressure may feel like tightness and pain behind the eyes and in the
ears. It may depict itself as
unyielding throbbing in your
head and face. Sometimes it may present itself as dental pain.
Vertigo is a dizzy feeling, with a sensation of the room spinning
around you. However vertigo is not usually related to the sinuses like
many think.