Sinus Headache: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments

A sinus headache occurs when the sinus passages behind your eyes, nose, cheeks, and forehead are congested. This causes pressure and pain. You might experience sinus headaches on either or both sides of your head.

The International Classification of Headache Disorders no longer uses the term “sinus headache” because the term was too broad. But the term is still widely used by doctors and patients.

Other types of headache can feel similar to sinus headache, but a true sinus headache is rare. Sinus headache results from a sinus infection or inflammation of the sinuses, called sinusitis.

Sinus headache can happen seasonally if you have allergies, or only occasionally when your sinuses become triggered for some other reason. There are herbal remedies, over-the-counter (OTC) treatments, and prescription medications you can take to treat sinus headache.

Sinuses in head

The paranasal sinuses are hollow spaces in your skull around your eyes and nose. They serve to decrease the weight of your head, add resonance to your voice, protect your face against trauma, and control temperature inside your nose.

The sinuses also produce mucus, a thin liquid that traps bacteria, viruses, and allergens, preventing them from reaching the rest of your body. If too much mucus builds up, the trapped particles can cause a sinus infection or sinusitis.

The sinuses are prone to infection. They share a lining with your nose, so infections in the nose can easily spread to the sinuses.

Symptoms of inflamed sinuses accompany sinus headache. These symptoms include:

• nasal congestion
• runny nose
• green or yellow nasal discharge
• weakened sense of smell
• an uncomfortable pressure behind your forehead
• pain getting worse when you lean forward
• fever

What does sinus pressure feel like?

Pain or pressure is felt not just in your head, but anywhere in the sinus area. Where you feel pain depends on which sinuses are affected.

While pressure is most common behind and around the eyes, nose, and cheeks, it can extend forward to the teeth and backward to the back of the head. These areas will often be sensitive to touch.

Sometimes sinus headache can also give you a feeling of fatigue or aching in your top jaw. Redness and swelling of the cheeks, nose, or forehead can occur.

According to the American Migraine Foundation, 50 percent of migraine misdiagnoses start with a person thinking they have sinus headache. Up to 90 percent of people who go to the doctor for sinus headache find out they have migraine instead.

People with migraine may develop symptoms similar to sinusitis, like a runny nose or congestion. Migraine headaches also cause pain along the trigeminal nerve, which interacts with the sinus passages. People experiencing migraine may think this pain is related to the sinuses.

If you don’t have any of the symptoms that come specifically with a sinus headache, you may be experiencing a migraine. Migraine is treated differently from sinus headache. Symptoms specific to migraine include:

• nausea
• vomiting
• dizziness
• sensitivity to light and sound

If you’re experiencing symptoms specific to migraine, you’re likely experiencing a migraine attack and not a sinus headache.

Sinusitis directly causes sinus headaches, so they share the same causes and triggers. These include:

• Viral infection. This is the most common cause of sinusitis and sinus headache. About 90 percent of people who who get a cold end up experiencing symptoms of sinusitis.
• Bacterial infection. This often occurs after a viral infection and can cause symptoms to last longer.
• Fungal infection. This may occur more often in people who are immunocompromised.
• Seasonal allergies. Allergies that last an extended period of time can cause the sinuses to become inflamed. This is called rhinitis, or hay fever.
• Structural differences. Things like nasal polyps, enlarged adenoids, or a deviated septum can prevent the sinuses from draining properly.

Doctors often recommend letting sinus infections resolve on their own. It’s actually best practice for adults not to receive medical treatment for acute sinusitis unless they experience certain symptoms, like fever, severe pain, or infection that lasts more than 7 days.

You can connect to a primary care doctor in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool.

Home remedies

If you have a sinus headache, thinning out the congestion trapped in your sinuses may help. Try running a humidifier or irrigating your sinuses with a saline solution to cleanse the area.

Breathing in steam may also help. Applying a warm, wet washcloth to the area of your sinuses may promote drainage and relieve pressure.

OTC options

The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation says that doctors may recommend some OTC medications to help manage symptoms. But these drugs don’t address the underlying inflammation that causes the pain you feel.

Analgesics like ibuprofen (Advil) and acetaminophen (Tylenol) can dull the pain you feel from a sinus headache. They also may treat other symptoms, like an achy jaw or fever. If your sinus headache gets worse or continues over the course of several days, discontinue using analgesics and speak with your doctor about what’s going on.

Decongestants like pseudoephedrine (Sudafed) won’t help clear your sinuses but may provide short-term relief from nasal congestion. Topical decongestants like oxymetazoline (Afrin) can cause rebound congestion after 3 days. Don’t take a decongestant for more than 3 days without talking with your doctor about your sinus blockage.

Prescription medications

If a sinus infection is causing your sinus headache, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines, mucolytics (medications that clear your mucus), and decongestants. But your doctor won’t prescribe antibiotics unless you’re experiencing complications from sinusitis caused by a bacterial infection.

If it’s allergies causing your headaches, your doctor may prescribe antihistamines or corticosteroid shots.

Alternative treatments

There are alternative treatments that may help relieve sinus headache. Bromelain, a mixture of enzymes found in pineapple juice, may thin nasal secretions. Some evidence also suggests that stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) may bring relief to cases of long-standing rhinitis but more research is needed.

If you have a serious sinus infection, it’s important to remember that these treatment methods won’t cure the condition or provide instant relief.

The risk factors for sinus headache are the same for getting a sinus infection. Anyone can get them, but certain habits or health conditions can increase your risk. These include:

• structural differences, like a deviated septum or nasal polyps
• weakened immune system, sometimes as a result of chemotherapy
• cystic fibrosis, which causes mucus to build up in the respiratory system
• history of allergies
• nasal exposure to toxins like tobacco smoke or cocaine
• overuse of nasal decongestants

If you have reoccurring headaches as a symptom of sinusitis or seasonal allergies, you may need to consider prescription medication to manage the condition.

Lifestyle changes to reduce congestion, like avoiding allergens and incorporating aerobic exercise into your routine, might decrease how many headaches you get.

In cases of chronic sinusitis, a nasal surgery like a balloon sinuplasty might be the only way to stop getting more sinus headaches.

In rare cases, complications around the eye area can happen, resulting in the area being swollen and inflamed. This may even affect your vision.

If you have a high fever that persists, discolored nasal discharge, rattling in your chest, or difficulty breathing, see your doctor about these symptoms. While a sinus headache might seem like a harmless health condition, it’s important to determine its cause.

If you feel pressure or pain around your sinuses, don’t jump to the conclusion that you have a sinus headache. Take careful note of your symptoms and check for other signs of a sinus infection, like a fever or green nasal discharge.

If your sinus pain doesn’t subside, speak to your doctor about the pressure behind your eyes, forehead, or cheeks. There’s an array of treatment options that can help you find relief from your discomfort.

How It Works, Research, Points, More

Your sinuses are four connected spaces in your skull, found behind your forehead, eyes, nose, and cheeks. They produce mucus that drains directly into your nose and through it, helping keep bacteria, dirt, and other irritants out.

Generally, your sinuses are empty except for air that moves through the channels linking them. But allergies or a cold can block them up. Certain pollutants, like dust or smoke, and nasal growths called polyps can also cause blockages.

If your sinuses are blocked, you might feel like there’s pressure building up in your face. You might also feel congested and develop a headache. While over-the-counter decongestants can provide some short-term relief, they aren’t great for long-term use.

If you want to try a more natural route or have a recurring sinus issues acupuncture may help.

In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), your health depends on the flow of qi (energy) in your body. This energy travels along invisible pathways, known as meridians. These are found throughout your body.

Qi is believed to help keep your body in balance and promote its natural ability to heal itself. A blocked or disrupted flow of qi can negatively impact physical and emotional well-being.

During an acupuncture session, very thin needles are inserted into your skin to stimulate certain points, based on the symptoms you’re addressing. This stimulation, according to TCM, helps to clear blockages along your meridians, restoring the flow of qi through your body.

People use acupuncture to help with a range of sinus issues, including headaches, pressure, pain, and nasal congestion.

There are hundreds of acupuncture points across your body. If you try acupuncture, the acupuncturist will take a detailed history of your symptoms before deciding what acupuncture points to use.

Keep in mind that certain points are linked to multiple uses, and not all practitioners use the same points.

Some common acupuncture points used to treat sinus issues or allergic rhinitis include:

• Bitong (EM7)
• Yingxiang (LI20)
• Hegu (LI4)
• Quchi (LI11)
• Juliao (ST3)
• Yangbai (GB14)
• Fenglong (ST40)
• Shangxing (GV23)
• Sibai (ST2)
• Zanzhu (BI2)

There aren’t many studies about the effects of acupuncture on sinus problems. However, there are several studies about the benefits of acupuncture for allergic rhinitis.

Allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the mucus membranes in your nose in response to allergens, which can cause a range of sinus-related issues, including:

• congestion
• runny nose
• headache
• pressure in your face, around your sinuses
• postnasal drip

According to a 2014 review of multiple randomized controlled trials, acupuncture may provide some relief from allergy symptoms, though more studies are needed. Another 2014 review made similar conclusions.

A 2015 review additionally found that acupuncture may have some advantages over antihistamines, thought the studies suggesting these were very small.

the verdict

There’s some evidence that acupuncture can help to manage allergic rhinitis, which causes a range of sinus-related symptoms. While the existing research is promising, many more large, high-quality studies are needed.

When performed by a trained and experienced acupuncturist, acupuncture is generally safe, according to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

But if acupuncture isn’t performed correctly or needles aren’t sterile, you may be at risk for serious side effects. Licensed acupuncturists in the United States must use disposable needles, so receiving acupuncture from a licensed professional should minimize your risk of complications.

Some people do experience mild side effects after an acupuncture, session, including:

• nausea
• dizziness
• pain or tenderness around the involved areas

It’s also best to avoid acupuncture if you:

• are pregnant, as some points can induce labor
• have a pacemaker, which could be affected by the mild electric pulse that’s sometimes used with acupuncture needles
• take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder

If you’ve decided to give acupuncture a try, it’s essential to choose a qualified acupuncturist. The National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM) offers licensing programs and examinations, but specific licensing requirements vary by state.

When looking for an acupuncturist, keep in mind that a licensed acupuncturist is not the same as a certified acupuncturist. Doctors, dentists, and other medical professionals may have certification in acupuncture and a few hundred hours of training, but they may have less experience working with patients.

Licensed acupuncturists, on the other hand, typically have a few thousand hours of training and must treat a certain number of people before being licensed.

You can also ask your primary care physician for a referral or search the NCCAOM acupuncturist registry. Once you’ve found a provider, you can call your state licensing board to make sure they’re licensed to practice in your state.

Things you might ask before making an appointment include:

• how long the acupuncturist has been working with clients
• whether they’ve treated sinus issues with acupuncture before
• how long treatment will take
• whether they accept insurance or offer a sliding-scale payment system

If you’re worried about pain or discomfort, let them know. They may be able to address your concerns and help you feel more comfortable before your first session.

Acupuncture usually takes numerous treatments over several weeks to make a difference, so expect to be asked to come back for more treatments.

Even if the acupuncturist you choose accepts insurance, not all insurance providers cover acupuncture, so it’s a good idea to call your provider to find out if they’ll cover acupuncture treatments — and if so, how many.

If you have recurring sinus issues or are looking to try alternative treatments, acupuncture may be worth a shot. Just make sure you see a licensed acupuncturist and keep up with any prescribed sinus treatments.

first aid, treatment and prevention

Tachycardia can be a symptom of a serious heart disease, so timely first aid is necessary to save lives. How to act with an increase in heart rate, when to call a doctor and how to prevent heart palpitations, we tell in the article.

First aid for tachycardia

The normal heart rate (HR) in an adult healthy person is 60-80 beats per minute. To calculate the heart rate, you need to put the index and middle fingers of one hand on the wrist of the other and count the pulse rate for 15 seconds, and then multiply the resulting number by 4.

If the heartbeat exceeds 90 beats, tachycardia begins. However, not every attack requires a doctor’s call. For example, the physiological (natural) causes of increased heart rate go away on their own if the provoking factor is eliminated – reduce physical activity, stabilize the emotional state, stop smoking, etc.

Pathological variants of tachycardia begin for no apparent reason and are accompanied by symptoms of oxygen starvation, a decrease in blood pressure and a feeling of fear. This condition may stop on its own, however, in some cases, an attack of tachycardia occurs due to a serious pathology (heart or respiratory failure, hypertensive crisis). And then they will be able to adjust the rhythm of the heart only in the hospital.

Violation of the normal heart rate (HR) can lead to such serious complications as:

• heart attack;

• stroke;

• acute heart failure;

• thrombophlebitis;

• injuries resulting from fainting.

An attack of tachycardia for no apparent reason requires a visit to the doctor, even if the episode of heart palpitations has passed on its own

What to do during a tachycardia attack

• 1

  Assume a horizontal position. This will take the load off the heart and blood vessels.

• 2

  Loosen chest and neck – undo buttons, loosen collar, remove tie. Tight clothing restricts breathing, so its pressure must be relieved.

• 3

  Place a pillow under your neck. Throwing the head back can cause circulatory disorders, which is unacceptable in conditions of tachycardia.

• 4

  Supply fresh air. With an increase in heart rate, the body experiences oxygen starvation, so an open window can alleviate the condition.

• 5

  Drink a glass of cold water in small sips. Hot drinks, coffee or strong tea are prohibited, and cold water must not be poured over.

• 6

  Cool the face – for example, place a towel soaked in cold water on the forehead and temple areas.

• 7

  Perform breathing exercises. A cycle of repetitions of slow, deep breaths, holding your breath for 5 to 8 seconds, and slow exhalations can slow your heart rate.

• 8

  If signs of panic appear, a sedative should be taken.

• 9

  If this is not the first episode of tachycardia, you should take antiarrhythmic drugs prescribed by your doctor.

With tachycardia at a young age, massage of the neck and neck is acceptable. This method is contraindicated for the elderly due to the high risk of heart attack and stroke.

When to call the doctor

If the tachycardia is caused by a serious heart condition, the first aid measures described above may not be enough. If the tachycardia does not go away within 15-20 minutes, especially while taking antiarrhythmic drugs, you should immediately call an ambulance.

Other reasons to call a doctor

• The heart rate is 120 beats per minute or more.

• Intense pain behind the sternum, which is accompanied by pallor, sweating, fear of death and a burning sensation in the left arm, lower jaw or abdomen.

• Tachycardia is accompanied by a severe headache and a feeling of numbness of the limbs or half of the face.

• The attack happened during pregnancy.

Tachycardia prophylaxis

Since tachycardia itself is not a disease, there is no specific prevention of this condition. Primary preventive measures are to maintain a healthy lifestyle, daily routine and good rest – that is, the same as in the prevention of any heart failure.

Secondary preventive measures, which should be followed in case of already established heart pathology, imply a more serious lifestyle correction, drug therapy prescribed by a doctor (if necessary, and surgical interventions), as well as regular medical examination.

How to get rid of a headache, what to drink and what folk remedies

Headaches can occur for various reasons. In some cases, they indicate banal overwork, but sometimes pain is a symptom of serious pathologies. Do not drown out discomfort with medication if you do not know the cause. Especially if the pains recur, become stronger – this is a natural defense mechanism of the body. Thanks to pain, we can understand that something is going wrong and take action in time.

Causes of headaches

Headaches can take many forms. Below we list common localizations of painful sensations in the head.

1. Headaches in the occiput. Such pain may indicate that you have developed cervical spondylosis, osteochondrosis, increased muscle tone in the cervical region. Also, pain in the back of the head indicates hypertension.
2. Headaches in the temples. The reasons can be completely different: intoxication of the body with some chemical substance, an infectious lesion, sudden pressure surges.
3. Pain in the forehead. Such pains indicate increased intracranial pressure, frontal sinusitis, that the occipital nerve was infringed. In addition, painful sensations in the front of the head indicate typhus, malaria, pneumonia, meningitis and other serious pathologies.
4. Pain in the eyes or in the region of the optic nerves. It indicates a migraine attack, autonomic dysfunctions, and eye pathologies. If you ignore the appointment with a specialist with such pain, the disease can give complications.

Frequent headaches: causes

A severe headache does not always indicate a severe pathology. In some cases, this is normal. The head may hurt due to experienced acute stress, against the background of nervous strain, due to severe fatigue or noise. But it can also lead to pain intolerance to a certain food factor, infection and inflammation.

If you had a headache once, and the pain did not recur, it may not make sense to worry and turn to different specialists. But if your head hurts constantly, for example, once every 2-3 days, and you do not understand the reasons, you should not postpone the visit to the treating specialist.

Severe headache can be triggered by migraines, sudden pressure surges, sinusitis, TBI, infections. Sometimes the pains increase – that is, tomorrow the head hurts more than today. This is a wake-up call for a person.

If we talk about prolonged headaches, they may indicate serious chronic pathologies. In particular:

• syphilis
• tuberculosis
• encephalitis
• arachnoiditis
• meningitis
• parasitic pathologies
• oncology

Throbbing headache may occur in the presence of migraines. Also, such pain indicates sinusitis, eye diseases, otitis media, and vascular pathologies.

Sharp attacks of headaches can be caused by vasospasm, which, in turn, can be triggered by cervical osteochondrosis or a sharp jump in pressure. The most dangerous causes are internal hemorrhage, aneurysm rupture.

It is impossible to exclude environmental factors: experienced stress, professional overstrain, malnutrition, use of medications.

Types of headaches

When it comes to throbbing pain, the most common cause is migraine. With such a pathology, nausea, photophobia, intolerance to pungent odors, a feeling of fatigue and weakness additionally occur. Usually the pain is localized in one half of the head. The duration of such pain is 2-3 hours-3 days. Young women are more often affected.

Mild or moderate headache, which everyone has probably experienced, can occur against the background of muscle spasm due to an uncomfortable sitting, sleeping position. It can also be caused by emotional stress. The pain extends to the back of the head, forehead, temples and other parts of the skull.

There is also a cluster type of pain. There are pulsating painful sensations that most of all give to the eyes and forehead. During an attack, lacrimation may increase, swelling and redness may appear. The duration of the attack is 20 minutes-1.5 hours. More often men suffer from such pains.

Headache of infectious origin is accompanied by fever, chills. If we talk about respiratory infections like SARS, then the pain is usually not too strong. More like pressure. In parallel, a person suffers from a runny nose, cough, fatigue.

The pain of meningitis will be sharp and throbbing. Body temperature rises to 37.5 degrees and above, nausea and vomiting also develop. Such patients need urgent medical care, hospitalization.

When it comes to pain from injuries, it depends on the location of the injury. Pain occurs both immediately and after a certain period of time.

There is also a sinus type of headache. It occurs against the background of the inflammatory process, while it is accompanied by swelling of the nasal mucosa.

If the headache occurs due to high intracranial pressure, then the headache will be quite strong. It will be accompanied by intolerance to light, nausea.

Pain that occurs against the background of an inflammatory process in the trigeminal nerve, manifests itself in short time periods – a couple of seconds, but the pain is very strong. It can occur anywhere, at any time – even during a conversation or during breakfast. Doctors say that such pains can be provoked by sinusitis, malocclusion, stomatitis, caries.

What to drink for a headache and what helps?

There are at least 8 ways to get rid of a headache at home.

So, what to do with a severe headache? Follow these guidelines:

• drink hot tea with a pinch of cinnamon. Do not use cinnamon if you have an allergy – it is quite a strong allergen
• take a contrast shower
• try chewing mint, lemon or ginger
• arrange a small promenade for yourself – a walk in the fresh air
• try aromatherapy
• massage your head
• do acupressure
• drink pure water

Certain methods can be combined. If the headache is caused by overexertion, stress, worries, fatigue, lack of sleep, it will quickly go away.

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Headache preparations

As for drug relief for pain, then there are the following drugs:

1. Analgesics. These include panadol, analgin, ibuprofen, paracetamol. Such drugs also have an antipyretic effect.
2. Antispasmodics. They are used by patients whose headaches are caused by vascular disorders – for example, a jump in blood pressure. These include no-shpa, papaverine, dibazol, dexalgin.
3. Vasoconstrictor drugs. They are used to combat migraine attacks. These include migraine, caffeamine, and other agents.

Recall that pills are good for pain, but they do not eliminate the reasons for which this pain was caused. If the attacks are repeated often enough, seek the advice of a specialist.

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What can be pregnant and lactating for headaches

K Unfortunately, during pregnancy and lactation, a woman faces many restrictions. Doctors do not recommend taking medications to alleviate the condition. But there are proven remedies that are perfect for new mothers:

• Head massage: acupressure or general.
• Sleep – it is advisable to have a good sleep in a ventilated room.
• Applying an ice pack.
• Herbal decoctions. Melissa, rosehip, chamomile are perfect – these remedies soothe, relieve headaches.

During pregnancy, headaches can be triggered by various factors. In particular, the reasons are as follows:

1. Hormonal fluctuations. Against the background of hormonal changes, blood circulation is significantly disturbed, which causes headaches.
2. Jumping blood pressure. At the same time, the woman develops weakness, her head begins to spin. Often this condition accompanies the first trimester of pregnancy. In case a woman still gets vomiting, it is better not to self-medicate. Hospitalization may be indicated.
3. Aggravated chronic pathologies. In particular, pain can be provoked by osteochondrosis, vegetovascular dystonia, old neck and head injuries, infections, and oncological pathologies. Pregnancy often acts as a litmus test: it allows you to identify even diseases that did not bother the woman before, were asymptomatic. This is due to a decrease in the protective functions of the immune system.

What can children do for headaches

As for children, paracetamol, ibuprofen and other analgesics are given in children’s doses. But it is also necessary to deal with the causes of headaches. If they happen often, it is better to consult a doctor for help. You should not self-medicate – remember, drug analgesics are suitable for one-time pain relief, but they do not cure a person, but only muffle the symptoms.

Most often, a headache manifests itself against the background of stress, an unhealthy lifestyle, and bad habits. It does not require a mandatory medical examination. It is necessary to consult a doctor if the pains become constant companions, if the quality of life and working capacity suffer because of this.