Sinus headache conclusion comes mostly because of the facial pain they face. This pain is sometimes because of the inflammation in the largest of all the cranial nerves the 5th cranial nerve the trigeminal nerve which got branches in forehead, cheek, jaw.

SINUS HEADACHE vs MIGRAINE HEADACHE

Migraine or sinus headaches this can be diagnosed by knowing the difference, causes and symptoms of the headache.

Migraine can occur with or without aura.
Migraine with aura is easily diagnosed but migraine without aura is difficult to diagnose. This is where the other symptoms become very helpful to diagnose the cause of the headache.

Migraine sufferers face sensitivity to

• Flashing lights
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Sinus headache is caused because of inflammation of the sinuses. They are associated with

• Swelling of face
• Toothache
• Pressure around the cheeks
• Pressure around the eyes
• Fever

Recent studies have found that almost 97% of the people who tried to self diagnose there problem were saying they are suffering from sinus headaches are actually suffering from migraine.
However your doctor is the best person to diagnose what is the actual cause of the headache if it is migraine or sinus headache by having a look at your x-ray.

You might be thinking what is the big deal in diagnosing what is the actual cause of headache if it is a sinus headache or migraine as both of them cause’s headache but let me tell you migraine is not a normal headache problem but it is a disease which have different treatment.

Sinus headache treatment includes taking care of the sinus infection where as in case of migraine the hormonal level is regulated.

In case if you are happened to take any decongestants for sinus headache and if your problem doesn’t gets solved then there is a possibility that you are suffering from migraine and tension headaches and use of decongestants may make the conditions worse for you.

Those who have self diagnosed there problem as sinus headache are advised to consult their doctors to know whether the problem is because of Migraine or sinus headache.

So in order to treat the sinus headache one must first do actual root cause of the headache which is sinus infection headache treatment.

HOW TO TREAT SINUS HEADACHE?

Treatment of sinus headache is usually done by taking pain killers like acetaminophen which helps in getting relief from sinus headache pain.

In order to treat the sinusitis antibiotics like amoxicillin can be taken along with corticosteroids. Once the sinus infection is removed the symptoms of sinusitis like sinus headache gets disappears.

Antihistamines like Benadryl and decongestants like Sudafed can be used.

To know further about the drugs which can be used for sinus headache treatment under doctor’s guidance please have a look at my other article sinus headache medication for sinus headache treatment.

Nasal drainage may need to be done in case if the sinuses still won’t get cleared up. Recently a procedure called balloon rhinoplasty has been introduced through in which a balloon is inserted into the sinus cavities and inflated so that the sinuses get cleared up.

In case if the sinus headache is because of the chronic sinusitis then nasal irrigation can be done in which the obstructed mucous is cleared by flushing with saline water which is one of the best and most effective process for sinus headache treatments.

Symptoms of sinus headache mostly depend on the cause of the sinus headache. Sinus headache can be caused due to a variety of causes but mostly because of allergy and inflammation.

Symptoms of a sinus headache are different when it caused because of the common cold caused by viruses and it gives a slow response to antibiotics.

Sinus infection headache symptoms are different when it is caused because of allergy and it gives response to the bacterial antibiotics.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF SINUS HEADACHE?

• Pain around eyes, forehead
• Pain around cheek bones
• Pain in nose area
• Toothache
• Nasal discharge
• Bad odor
• Yellow or green color mucus
• Swelling of the face
• Tenderness of the face
• Fever

Pain around eyes, nose and forehead is caused because of the sinus congestion.
Toothache is caused mostly when there is inflammation in the maxillary sinus.
Bad odor is caused because of the infection draining into the throat through sinuses.
Facial swelling occurs when the sinus headache is because of bacterial sinusitis.

Well in case the sinusitis is because of allergy then headache can be associated with

• Dizziness
• Muzziness
• Sudden change of mood
• Anxiety
• Depression

If it is because of infection then it there can be

• Dry throat
• Fever
• Inability to think
• Uneasy feeling in the digestive tract

When there is chronic sinusitis then loss of sensation of smell and recurrent ear and throat infections can be seen.

Symptoms of migraine like nausea are not associated with sinus headache which helps to differentiate between migraine and sinus headache symptom.

ANTIBIOTICS

If the doctor suspects the infection is because of bacteria then he may prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics can be widely used in order to prevent and treat the infectious diseases.
The antibiotics given will not kill all the bacteria but certainly kills some of the unwanted bacteria which are causing harm to the body.
According to the diagnosed problem the antibiotics will be directed in different manner by the doctor.

DECONGESTANTS

Looking at the symptoms decongestants can be taken in two forms. They are Oral and nasal.

The oral decongestants which can be used for sinus medication are

• Pseudoephedrine
• Phenylpropanolamine.

The nasal decongestants which can be used for sinus medication are

• Oxymetazoline
• Xylometazoline
• Phenylephrine

But note that High blood pressure patients should not used decongestants.

ANTIHISTAMINES

Antihistamines like Benadryl can used when there is sinus headache due to allergy.

CORTICOSTEROIDS

The main role of corticosteroids remains to control inflammation. They help to get sinus relief from sneezing, itching, etc.
Corticosteroids are both oral and nasal. They are budesonide, mometasone, beclomethasone, triacinolone.
For patients suffering from asthma and nasal polyps oral corticosteroids are preferred.

Sinus headache medications should be taken strictly only after prescription from a doctor.

Sinus headache during pregnancy causes a big discomfort to women. Sinus headache in pregnancy makes the headache symptoms worse.

Headaches during pregnancy mostly occur in the first and third trimester of pregnancy. It can be caused due to a variety of reasons but mostly due to

• Hormonal changes
• Improper sleep
• Too much of stress
• Decrease in the blood sugar level

Pregnancy and sinus headache has some relation.

Sinus headache pregnancy occurs because of sinus infection to the women who are pregnant.
During pregnancy the chances of sinus congestion and allergies raises to three times by normal conditions.

SINUS HEADACHE PREGNANCY TREATMENT

Sinus headache in pregnancy makes it difficult to treat the pain. This is because during pregnancy there will be lot of limitations on the type of medications a pregnant women can take. Still the pregnant woman suffering from sinus headaches can take some medications like

Tylenol is one of the safer drugs which can be taken during pregnancy. Tylenol is nothing but acetaminophen which is very much useful in curing sinus headache pain.

Benadryl is an antihistamine which can be prescribed by your doctor to reduce the nasal mucus which results in sinus headaches.

ZYRTEC-D is a nasal decongestants which may also be preferred looking at the patient’s condition.

NASOCORT is a nasal spray which is also preferred.

A warm compress to the patient’s face, eyes and temples can be done in order to get relief from sinus headache symptoms during pregnancy.

If the patient faces sudden extreme headache with changes in vision, abdominal pain or weight gain then contact your doctor urgently as these are the signs of preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia occurs only during pregnancy which can affect both the mother and the unborn baby.

NOTE – Be sure to consult your doctor before taking any medications to treat your sinus headache pregnancy.

Sinus headache allergy is caused because of the response to the inflammation to the air inlet in the nose to the sinuses. Allergy can be caused because of the inhalation of any external substance which may cause swelling in the delicate nasal mucosa. The substances which may cause allergic headaches are

• Dust mites
• Animal hair
• Brake fluid on trains
• Exhaust fumes
• Printers ink
• Tobacco smoke
• Gas, oil, factory fumes
• Air fresheners
• Formaldehyde
• Chemical inhalants from plastics
• Flooring in shopping areas

Allergy may also be caused because of eating or drinking which has the same irritating effect. The resulting headache is known as vacuum headache.
Allergic headache is different from hay fever. In hay fever it rarely involves streaming of eyes and nose. It does not seem to be the effect of localized irritation with rapid onset of sneezing. But it is possible that the action of the chewing food may transmit allergies into the nasal cavity, provoking a response in the nose directly.

CHARACTERISTICS OF ALLERGIC SINUS HEADACHE

• Swelling inside the nose
• Difficulty in breathing through the nose
• Generalized headache
• Dizziness
• Sudden mood change- anxiety, depression
• Pain over the cheek-bones and eyebrows
• Pain at the base of the nose

Allergic sinus headache can be accompanied by

• Rapid pulse
• Feeling weak
• Swelling around eyes
• Hyperventilation
• Bloated abdomen
• Fluid retention

ALLERGIC SINUS HEADACHE SYMPTOMS

• Swelling of the lining of the gut
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Hyperventilation can be seen

The allergic sinus headaches are seen minutes after exposure or may even take around six or more hours.
Few of the symptoms like restlessness and bloating is possibly seen even before the onset of headache.

The patient looks pale, puffy-faced and tired.

WHAT TO DO TO GET RELIEF FROM ALLERGIC SINUS HEADACHE SYMPTOMS

1. Incase if the allergy is caused because of intolerance to food then you can take a teaspoonful of bicarbonate of soda and potassium bicarbonate.
2. Drinking plenty of water as much as you can.
3. Eat a bland diet like rice, pasta.
4. To get relief from swelling of the nose one can try steam inhalation, steamy bath.
5. Antihistamines
6. Sodium cromoglycate nasal spray
7. Paracetamol for headache
8. Rest.

In long term complications test for food and chemical allergy and avoid them. Further try to avoid stress in order to get relief from allergy and sinus headaches.

Chronic sinus headaches are not as much painful as the acute sinus headache. They do cause discomfort for sure but not much when compared to acute ones.

Often the stuffy nose is treated as common cold and we take the medications which can treat common cold. But during this the stuffy nose gets ignored which may result in chronic sinus headache.

The sinuses get clogged resulting in increase in the growth of bacteria in the nasal passages. This increase production of bacteria in the sinuses results in sinus infection. This sinus infection in turn results in sinus headache.

Chronic sinus headache and acute sinus headache both are treated by giving antibiotics.

Chronic sinus headaches are often misjudged as migraine headache. This is because of almost the same location of pain in both the kind of headaches.

Sometimes the chronic sinus headache is also misjudged as tension headache. This is because of the same nature of the pain which may usually occur around forehead and temple.

Chronic sinus headaches are a serious condition and it should be treated properly without any negligence.

CHRONIC SINUS HEADACHE SYMPTOMS

• Chronic nasal discharge
• Bad odor in breadth
• Sore throat
• Headache especially in the early morning hours
• Pressure around eyes
• Cough during nights hours while sleeping
• Accidental injury in the sinus area

CHRONIC SINUS HEADACHE TREATMENT

In order to treat the chronic sinus headache first of all it is better to find out the cause of the headache.

It is possible that chronic sinus headache can be because of certain things which are around us and are related to our daily life but we are unable to notice it. For example you might be eating something which you are allergic and you never know this may be the reason for the chronic sinus headache you are suffering from.

Find out these allergens and try to avoid them as much as you can so that you may get relief from chronic sinus headache.

You can also place air humidifiers in order to get rid of the allergens like pet dander, etc if you are allergic to those.

Your doctor may also prescribe analgesics if you are suffering from severe pain.

Recently a study conducted on 30 chronic sinus headache patients shown that most of them almost 95% are suffering from chronic tension headache and are also facing symptoms of migraine headache.

Actually there is no such term called chronic sinus headache but there is chronic sinusitis which is caused because of the blockage of the sinus opening which rarely causes headache so commonly called as chronic sinus headache.

If the sinusitis remains for 12 consecutive weeks then it is judged as chronic sinusitis otherwise for less than 12 weeks it is acute sinusitis

So here it is
Chronic sinus infection causes chronic sinusitis resulting in headache commonly called chronic sinus headache.

Sinus toothache is caused because of Sinus infection. A sinus inflammation can be caused because of allergy, chemical irritation, etc.

Sinuses toothache is caused because the sinuses are located above the molars and in some the molars may reach to the sinuses. So when there is sinus infection it may also cause sinus toothache. Maxillary sinus is one of the commonly infected of all the other sinuses. An inflammation in the maxillary sinus may lead to maxillary toothache causing sinus toothache.

Studies by experts supported that there is a relation between sinus infections and cavities of the teeth which may be because of incomplete dental work.

SINUS TOOTHACHE SYMPTOMS

• Dental pain
• Nasal discharge
• Pain on both sides of the face
• Sinus headache
• Pain in all the teeth, especially in the upper teeth

SINUS TOOTHACHE DIAGNOSIS

Sinus toothaches can be diagnosed by a doctor. The dentist performs a percussion test and taps on all the teeth individually. Pain in all the teeth indicates sinus pain toothache.

SINUS INFECTION TOOTHACHE TREATMENT

Sinus toothache treatment can be done by looking at the patient comfort level. It can be treated by

• Antibiotics
• Nasal drops
• Allergy medication

There is no dental cure available for sinus toothache.

A sinus headache is a terrible pain which is caused mainly due to the inflammation in the sinuses. Knowing how to relieve sinus headaches help us in getting rid of this pain.

RELIEVE SINUS HEADACHE

Medication- Before taking any medication first of all conform that the headache is because of sinusitis or any other cause. If it is because of because of sinusitis then you can take antibiotics.

If you are above 18 years of age then you can take Acetaminophen, aspirin or ibuprofen for relieving from sinus headache pain.

For common cold relief Vitamin C and B complex can be taken which are effective in getting relief from common cold.

Note- You must consult a doctor before taking any medication.

RELIEVING SINUS HEADACHES NATURALLY

Drinking plenty of water may help in cleaning the mucus through sweat or urine.

You can inhale hot steam which also helps in removing the excessive mucus.

Grapefruit-seed extract- One of the most inexpensive way on how to get rid of sinus headache naturally is grapefruit-seed extract.

Grapefruit-seed extract (Citricidal) is a natural antibiotic and a very effective remedy which can be used in treatment of common problems like sore throat, nappy rash, sinus infections and many more proving itself a good remedy.

Studies have proved that grapefruit-seed extract is effective against at least 20 disease causing bacteria and more than 30 disease causing fungi.

One of the disadvantages of consuming antibiotics is it may kill helpful bacteria such as bifidobacteria and lactobacilli and may cause many side effects causing problems to other internal organs.

This is where the natural remedies like grapefruit-seed extract comes to the rescue and helps in getting relief from sinus headaches.

PARANASAL SINUSES

Paranasal sinuses are air filled cavities which are located behind the nose at the base of the forehead and below the eye sockets.

The paranasal sinuses are of four types:

• Frontal
• Ethmoidal
• Maxillary
• Sphenoidal

Infection to any of these areas will cause localized pain.

SINUS HEADACHE CAUSES

The inflammation to the sinuses is called sinusitis.

There are various causes of sinus infection. They are:

• Allergic sinusitis
• Infective sinusitis
• Chronic sinusitis
• Acute sinusitis

Note: Allergy alone will not cause sinus headache however allergy is one of the reasons for causing sinusitis

Usually there will be marked tenderness over the sinuses in the forehead or below the eye socket. Post nasal drip (mucous collection in the throat when lying on the back) commonly accompanies this problem.

Sinusitis has to be treated well. In case if not treated properly the infection may escalate and may cause infection in the brain and it’s covering membranes which may lead to a serious condition called meningitis.

In acute infection of the sinuses the frontal sinuses refer pain to the forehead, the ethmoids and maxillary sinuses to the overlying areas, and the sphenoid to the top of the head.

Sinus headache may occur at any time of the day but more frequently when the person wake up in the morning.

SINUS HEADACHE SYMPTOMS

Sinus headache symptoms are as follows:

• Post nasal drip
• Nasal congestion
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Thick mucus
• Headache soon after cold

These symptoms are very much useful to differentiate sinus headache from migraine headache. In most of the cases sinus headache may not actually be a sinus headache. It may be migraine. So it is important to diagnose the cause of the headache properly.

SINUS HEADACHE DIAGNOSIS

Sinus headache diagnosis is done by a doctor. The doctor examines the patient physically and checks for pain around the bridge of the nose radiating into the forehead.

Sinusitis can be confirmed by undergoing:

• X-ray
• Computed Tomography (CT –SCAN)
• Magnetic Resonance imaging (MRI-SCAN)

If the doctor found any swelling or inflammation in the sinuses then sinus headache is almost confirmed.

WHO ARE AT RISK OF SINUS HEADACHES?

• Asthmatics
• Injury to the nasal bones
• Cold
• Poor immune system
• Dust allergy
• Lot of Swimming

SINUS HEADACHE TREATMENT-

Sinus headache treatment can be done by antibiotics.

Sinus headache pain can be relieved by taking analgesics like aspirin, acetaminophen.

If there is allergy then nasal decongestants and antihistamines are prescribed by doctor.

Sinus headache relief can be obtained by placing hot and cold towel on the affected area if the patient needs immediate relief.

The main aim remains to clear the sinuses which may occasionally involve surgical draining if there is any structural problem in the nasal cavity which is causing sinus headaches.

SINUS HEADACHE PREVENTION

• Avoid smoking cigarettes
• Stay away from air pollutants like dust, gases, fumes
• Eat healthy, stay healthy so that your immune system remains good
• Drinking lot of water

Everybody knows prevention is better than cure. So if you follow the above advice then you can prevent sinus headaches.