(LifeWire) - Sinus headaches are definitely something to sneeze at. This is because the headache symptoms rarely occur alone.
In addition to the pain and pressure experienced in or around the forehead, cheeks and nose, sinus headaches may be accompanied by congestion, cough, runny nose, sore throat, fatigue, fever or sneezing. Individuals suffering from a sinus headache may also notice nasal discharge that is yellow-green in color or tinged with blood.
Each year, nearly 30 million adults -- more than one in eight Americans -- experience sinus headaches. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that sinus headaches account for 12.6 million trips to a doctor's office, and more than one million outpatient hospital visits annually.
Sinuses and Sinus Headache Symptoms
The signature of a sinus headache is headache paired with other severe symptoms, such as thick, discolored nasal secretions or post-nasal drip, that annoying sensation of mucus trickling down the back of the throat.
Sinus headaches take their name from the sinuses, which consist of two sets of cavities, located on either side of the head, that stretch from the center of the forehead and below the eyes toward the temples.
Under normal circumstances, these cavities produce mucus that drains down the sinuses into the nose, lubricating the nasal canals. But when a sinus headache strikes, it is usually the result of sinusitis, the inflammation of the sinus membranes.
Sinusitis can develop for a variety of reasons, including exposure to a cold or flu virus, or an allergic reaction to pollen, mold, dust or smoke. Conditions that impair breathing, including asthma, cystic fibrosis or other chronic conditions, can also be a factor in sinus headache development.Rarely, individuals with recurring sinus headaches have structural abnormalities in the nasal cavity, which can be repaired surgically. However, sinusitis usually occurs when the mucus in clogged sinuses becomes infected with bacteria, causing pressure changes that trigger pain.
Sinus Headaches and Other Headache Types
Sinus headaches fall under the category of inflammatory headaches. This classification sets them apart from the other two broad classes of headaches, neurovascular and tension-type.
Neurovascular headaches, such as migraines, are thought to result from two major factors:
- Imbalances in the levels of neurotransmitters, substances that help carry nerve impulses across the the gaps between nerve cells in the brain
- Spasms in the blood vessels of the brain
Tension-type headaches, the most common headache type, result from muscle contractions around the face and neck. Tension headache pain is usually fairly cut-and-dried. These headaches are concentrated in the forehead or jaw areas, where many muscle groups are located.
Of course, when you have a headache, classifying it by type is probably the last thing on your mind. Even doctors can find it difficult to distinguish certain headache types. Diagnosis depends on what triggers the onset of the headache and the location and nature of the headache pain.
Migraines can feel similar to sinus headaches, with pain behind the eyes that worsens if the individual bends forward. But individuals with migraines are often highly sensitive to noise and bright light, which do not affect those with sinus headaches. In addition, migraine pain tends to be concentrated in the temples and often on only one side of the head.
Yet sinus headache and migraine can be difficult to differentiate. Recently, researchers have turned to CT scans, a high-tech form of X-ray imaging, to compare the two.
Links Between Sinus Headache and Migraine
A January 2008 article in the medical journal Headache found that approximately three-quarters of patients reporting sinus headaches also met the International Headache Society criteria for migraine. But these patients often had sinus disease, and reported sinus pressure, pain and congestion.
"Newer discussions of acute sinusitis diagnosis have focused more on the length of illness, which may be very helpful," wrote Mark E. Mehle, MD, the lead author of the Headache study. Further, he noted that migraines usually last less than 72 hours, while acute sinus inflammation can last five days or longer.
Heading Off Sinus Headache PainIn the case of a sinus headache, over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief -- such as aspirin, Tylenol (acetaminophen), or Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen) -- can help relieve symptoms. But symptomatic treatment is likely not enough, as it does not address the underlying sinus problem causing the pain.
Recovering from a sinus headache may involve a number of remedies, including use of room humidifiers, or OTC saline sprays, antihistamines or decongestants.
If the sinusitis is caused by irritants such as smoke, pollen or dust, rather than by bacteria, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid nasal spray, which is designed to reduce the sinus swelling that is responsible for the headache pain.
In any case, individuals experiencing sinus headache symptoms should to contact their physician if:
- Pain is not relieved with OTC remedies
- Symptoms last longer than 10 days
- Fever is higher than 100.5 degrees
When consulting your physician, the doctor may ask about symptoms you are experiencing, and will likely perform a physical exam. The doctor may test mucus samples for bacteria or examine your nasal passages with a thin, light-tipped instrument called an endoscope.
The most effective treatment for bacterial sinus infections is antibiotics, which need to be taken for the full duration of treatment to ensure that all the bacteria are eradicated. Eliminating the bacterial infection should also put an end to the sinus headaches.
Sources:
"Chronic Sinusitis." National Center for Health Statistics. 5 Nov. 2007. US Centers for Disease Control. 20 Mar. 2008 <http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/sinuses.htm.>
Kaniecki, Robert. "Headache Assessment and Management." Journal of the American Medical Association. 289.11. 19 Mar. 2003. 1430-1433. 20 Mar. 2008.
<http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/extract/289/11/1430?maxtosh> (subscription).
"Sinus Headaches." MayoClinic.com. 22 Feb. 2008. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 19 Mar. 2008 <http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sinus-headaches/DS00647>.
Levine, Howard. "Headache and Sinus Disease." American Rhinologic Society. 2008. American Rhinologic Society. 19 Mar. 2008. <http://www.american-rhinologic.org/patientinfo.headache.phtml>.
"Sinusitis and Sinus Headache." ClevelandClinic.org. 30 Aug. 2005. The Cleveland Clinic. 19 Mar. 2008. <http://www.clevelandclinic.org/health/health-info/docs/2700/2706.asp?index=9947>.
Mehle, Mark and Patricia S. Kremer. "Sinus CT Scan Findings in 'Sinus Headache' Migraineurs." Headache. 48. Jan. 2008. 67-71. 22 Mar. 2008. <http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2007.00811.x> (subscription)
