The third topic of my headache series are sinus headaches.
Living here in Jacksonville, Florida, we experience allergy season what seems
like all year around, but realistically twice a year. Whether it be from the
pollen from pine trees or ragweed, I always have patients coming into the
office with a sinus infection asking if I can help. This is pretty much what I
explain to them.
Your sinuses are air-filled spaces inside your forehead,
cheekbones, and behind the bridge of your nose. When they get inflamed --
usually because of an allergic reaction or
an infection -- they swell, make more mucus, and the channels that drain them
can get blocked.
The
build-up of pressure in your sinuses causes pain that feels like a headache.
Symptoms
You’ll feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones,
forehead, or the bridge of your nose. The pain usually gets stronger when you
move your head suddenly or strain. At the same time, you might have other sinus
symptoms, such as:
- A runny nose
- Feeling of fullness in your ears
- Fever
- Swelling in your face
Other kinds of recurring headaches, like migraines or tension headaches,
are often mistaken for sinus headaches. Because the treatment you need depends
on what kind of headache you have, it’s important to figure out if your
symptoms are caused by your sinuses. If a sinus blockage, such as an infection,
really is the cause, you'll likely have a fever.
Usually your doctor can tell if your
sinuses are blocked based on the symptoms you describe and a physical
exam,
but in some cases, you may need CT or MRI scans.
Treatment
The goal is usually to relieve your
symptoms and treat an infection if you have one. You might take antibiotics, as
well as antihistamines or decongestants for a short time. You
can also use inhaled nasal decongestants, but only for up to
3 days. Longer use can make your symptoms worse.
You can also take pain relievers, or
if they don't help, your doctor can prescribe corticosteroids to ease the
inflammation in your sinuses. If an allergic reaction causes your sinus
flare-ups, you might need a preventive allergy treatment.
You can also feel better with simple
at-home tricks, such as drinking more fluids, using a humidifier, or saltwater
nasal spray.
If you take decongestant and
pain-relieving medicines too often, you might
get medication overuse headaches. It's important to touch base with your doctor
if you’re using any medication for a long time to relieve your headaches.
Decongestants also can raise your blood
pressure,
so if you have high
blood pressure,
talk to your doctor before you take one.
In rare cases, he may recommend sinus
surgery to remove polyps or
open up small or constantly swollen sinuses.
Ever heard that allergies
cause sinus headaches? It’s not quite that
simple.
Allergies can cause sinus
congestion, which can make your head hurt. Treatment for your allergies can
ease that congestion, but it won’t relieve your headache pain. You usually have
to treat the two conditions separately. See your doctor to make sure you get
the right help.
Webmd doesn’t mention anything about chiropractic care
for sinus infection and I understand why. Not to many people know that
chiropractic care can help relieve the pressure of a sinus infection if only
for a short period of time within the sinus cavity. I say short period, because
keep in mind your sinuses are infected and creating more mucus and probably
blocking the pathways in which they need to drain, therefore causing more
pressure in the head in face. If you are interested in learning more about how
chiropractic can help call my office.
WebMD Medical Reference
View Article Sources
SOURCES: American Academy of
Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Mayo Clinic.
Reviewed by Neil Lava, MD on May 13, 2016
© 2016 WebMD, LLC. All
rights reserved.
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