Sinus headache
Sinus Headache: All You Need to Know
Sinus headaches are characterized by a pressure-like sensation on one or both sides of the nose, cheeks or forehead. If you experience any of these symptoms, you may be tempted to self-diagnose a sinus headache. It’s important to understand that not all headaches are the same.
The pressure-like sensation linked to sinus headaches is caused by inflammation in your sinuses. This may be due to infection, allergies, colds, or other causes. If accompanied by other symptoms like facial pain, wasiting, fatigue,defouled breath,sore throat, runny nose, watery eyes or cold or allergy symptoms, you may suffer from sinus headaches. Here are some of the different types of sinus headaches you should know about.
Types of Sinus Headaches
- Primary Headache: A primary headache occurs when the pain is isolated to the head or facial area. An example of a primary headache is a migraine, tension, or cluster headache.
- Inflammatory Sinusitis: This type of sinusitis is caused by infection and inflammation of the sinus lining and cavity.
- Allergic Sinusitis: Allergic sinusitis is caused by allergies to things like pollen, pet dander, dust mites, mold, and other airborne particles.
- Viral Sinusitis: This type of sinusitis is caused by a virus, such as the common cold.
Complications of Sinus Headache
Sinus headaches can cause a wide range of complications, such as:
- Nasal congestion
- Facial pressure
- Nasal discharge
- Facial fullness
- Facial pain
- Headache
- Ear fullness
- Earache
- Fatigue
Diagnosis and Treatment
To diagnose a sinus headache, your doctor will take a detailed medical history, do a physical exam, and order tests to determine the underlying cause. Common tests that may be ordered include X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans. Treatment for sinus headaches will focus on eliminating the underlying cause.
Common treatments for sinus headaches include rest, icing, humidifiers, steam therapy, decongestants, and anti-inflammatory medications. If sinus headaches are caused by bacterial or fungal infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics or antifungal medications. Surgery is also an option if other treatments fail to provide relief.