Sinus Congestion During Massage
….And How To Relieve it!
By Lisa Monroe
A massage is meant to be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. It can ease sore muscles, clear the toxins from your lymphatic system and generally result in you feeling great!
But…have you ever been in the midst of your massage bliss when suddenly your nose becomes stuffed up and then starts running? This is completely normal, but it can be embarrassing, uncomfortable, and really put a damper on the experience.
So, let’s take a look at why this occurs and what you can do to ease that discomfort!
How Massage Affects the Sinuses
Our sinuses are a system of hollow cavities in the skull which are covered with a very fine mucus membrane that drains into our nasal canal. In fact, their main function is to keep our sinus cavities moist throughout the day.
During a massage, when you are lying in the face-down position, gravity takes over and causes the mucus from the sinuses to drain into the nose. In addition, lying face down with your face in the cradle can encourage blood to pool in the blood vessels of your nose. Then, the turbinates in the nose can swell, making it difficult to breathe.
Another theory is that getting a massage stimulates lymphatic drainage. The pressure of the massage is moving the toxin-carrying lymphatic fluid through your body, gravity causes the fluid to build up in your neck, resulting in the sensation of a stuffy nose.
How to Relieve a Stuffy Nose During Massage
The good news is that there are simple strategies to help alleviate the problem!
Changing Positions. Changing positions can help. If you typically experience sinus pressure or sinus congestion, stuffy nose, runny nose or dizziness during a massage, ask your massage therapist to change your body position. For example, it may help if you lie on your side instead of lying flat on your stomach. Be aware that a feeling of dizziness or light-headedness can occur if you stay in the same position for an extended period of time.
Elevation. When lying on the massage table, elevate your head with the use of a pillow, or even place a pillow between your legs, to help with blood circulation.
Help Prevent Excess Mucus. Prevent excess mucus production by avoiding cold drinks, dairy products, and smoking, especially prior to the massage. You may want to avoid massage if you are currently experiencing a sinus infection or a runny nose.
Nasal Spray for Massage. Now, there is an easier solution to fighting congestion during massage. Finding the right products that are safe, effective and work fast, are always a challenge. Many of these products may contain drugs, additives and preservatives, which may can cause negative side-effects. For those preferring natural products, Pressureze Nasal Mist may be the best solution for this problem. Pressureze is all-natural, chemical-free and sterilized for safety. Pressureze helps to relieve a number of sinus problems, including sinus pressure, sinus congestion, runny nose, and nasal drip. It is the first nasal mist spray to focus on clearing and unblocking, BOTH, sinus and ear canals…at the same time!
Facial Massage. Ask your massage therapist to massage your face and sinuses while you are lying on your side. This can be very soothing and can relieve the pressure in your sinuses.
Stretch and Get Up Slowly. After the massage, it can be helpful to do some stretches on the table before you get up…neck, head, arms and legs…to pump the blood back to the head so you can avoid dizziness and lightheadedness. Then, be sure to get up slowly off the table.
Essential Oils. You can treat a stuffed up nose with eucalyptus essential oil or can bring it to the massage appointment to be added into the massage oil. You can also use this essential oil to make a medicated steam by adding it to hot water on the stove. Simply place a towel over your head and then breathe in the mist.
Hot Shower. Taking a hot steamy shower after a massage or applying hot compresses to the affected area can break up and drain excess mucus.
Communicate with Massage Therapist. Tell your massage therapist, as soon as you start to feel stuffed up, especially if you are feeling a headache coming on. Therapists want you to feel, as comfortable as possible, so you can enjoy the full experience.
Summing it all Up
So, if you are someone who enjoys an occasional or regularly scheduled massage, don’t let a stuffy, runny nose keep you away. Try using Pressureze Nasal Mist 15 minutes prior to your next massage. It’s all-natural and works fast. Keep your nasal passages clear and enjoy your massage experience from start to finish!