Sinus headache is a headache that occurs because your sinuses are congested with mucus. Sinus headache is caused by inflammation of sinus tissue, either due to bacterial infection or allergic reactions. Sinus headaches can be the result of a sinus infection or allergies. Sinus headache pain is due to swelling in the sinus cavities. Sinus headache is one of the many kinds of headaches which is often associated with sinusitis or an inflamed sinus. An inflamed sinus blocked the nasal passage which triggers the pain in your head. Usually, sinus headache pain is due to swelling in the sinus cavities around the nose and eyes. Often caused by allergies or infections, sinus headaches may be accompanied by fever, a stuffy nose, or toothaches. Leaning forward or lying down may increase sinus headache pain. Sinus headaches cause a dull, deep, or severe pain in the front of your head and face. Bending down or leaning over generally makes the pain worse, as does cold and damp weather. Sinus headaches are often worse in the morning, and better by afternoon. Vascular headaches are often mistaken for sinus headaches. Most sinus problems happen when the patient has had a cold or a sore throat. Some occur after a dental infection. Sometimes hay fever or irritation from dust or smoke causes swelling.
They are caused by an inflammation in the passages behind the cheeks, nose, and eyes. A sinus headache is usually being triggered by something you ate in conjunction with an active sinus infection. Migraine can also cause head pain and nasal drainage and be triggered by changes in the weather or season. The pain in a sinus headache is usually localized around the eyes, and you may actually feel some tenderness. Some symptoms of a sinus headache include pain or pressure in the forehead or around the eyes and cheek(s), tender skin and tender bones over and under the eyes. With a sinus headache, you will often deal with post nasal drip, which is a collection of mucus in the back of your throat when you're lying on your back. You may also be congested. These symptoms are also typical of migraine. However, a sinus infection will last considerably longer, and if it becomes worse you may feel generally sick and even have a fever (with migraine you may feel like you have a fever, but you usually don't). Fatigue is common. Stooping down, jarring your head (including with exercise, such as jogging or aerobics), or blowing your nose may make your headache feel worse.
Sinus headache can be problematic the condition is wholly treatable. The treatment of headaches with prophylactic medication begins with low doses. The use of nasal vasoconstrictors and pain pill medicine can be used. Sometimes anticonvulsants such as Tegretol, Depakote, and Dilantin are given for headache treatment. When the condition has been cleared then the treatment for sinus headache pain can begun. Trigger points should be at the top of the list during any examination for headaches and eye pain. When healthcare practitioners have had adequate training and experience, trigger points are easy to locate and treat. The major prescription drugs that are used for headache treatment are beta blockers like Tenormin and Lopressor. Calcium channel blockers such as Cardizem, Dilacor, and Procardia are also used. Doctors may also prescribe antidepressants like Elavil and Zoloft. You can use Serotonin Antagonists like Sansert. Tylenol and Panadol are known as Acetaminophen drugs. Taking an over the counter medication, such as Sudafed, can help with this aliment. Motrin and Advil belong to the group of drugs that are known as Ibuprofen.Sprinkle cayenne pepper on your food. Adding that quick, hot spice to some scrambled eggs in the morning could help that morning pressure with sinusitis.
Most commonly experienced during a bad cold, allergies, or the flu, sinus headaches can also be the symptom of a more serious sinus disease that may be habitually blocking the sinus ducts. This can cause repeat infections that must always be diagnosed and treated by a qualified physician.
A true sinus headache is caused by an acute infection that causes sinus ducts to become blocked, preventing normal drainage, which creates negative pressure within the sinuses. This can leave a patient with symptoms like a dull ache and feeling of fullness in the face and head, to severe pain behind the eyes, back of the head and even teeth. Caused by an infection, a true sinus headache is almost always accompanied by fever and other flu-like symptoms.
The face contains four pairs of sinuses, and when one or more of them become infected, a variety of sinus headache symptoms may occur. They include:
Frontal Sinuses. Located over the eyes, an infection here will cause minor to severe forehead pain.
Ethmoid Sinuses. Found in the deep recesses of the nose, the pain of infection here will radiates between and behind the eyes.
Sphenoid Sinuses. The deepest of the sinuses, it causes severe pain in the back of the head when infected. This type of sinus infection is the most rare of all infections.
Maxillary Sinuses. Located in the middle third of the face, pain of an infection is experienced across the face and below the eyes, next to the nose. Most sufferers experience this type of sinus headache.
When the ducts of any of these sinuses becomes blocked on a regular basis, the patient is known to suffer from chronic sinusitis, and must be treated with a course of antibiotics, decongestants and nasal sprays. These patients have limited options other than surgery.
Depending on the physical cause of the repeat infections, surgery may also be recommended to remove polyps that may be blocking the air ducts, or correct a deviated septum to alleviate the progression of the infections and ease the discomfort of repeat attacks. Unfortunately, there is no real prevention of the sinus headache, due to the fact that it is caused by a medical condition and/or chronic infection.
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