Sinus Headaches
Sinuses are the spaces or cavities filled with air and are located behind the bridge of the nose, in the cheekbones, and in the forehead. The sinuses are responsible for producing the thin mucus. The mucus drains out of the passages of the nose. When your sinus becomes swollen, often as a result of an infection, a tumor or an allergic reaction, the swelling will prevent the drainage of mucus. This causes a pain that is similar to that of the pain one feels when she or he has a headache. This is what we call sinus headache.
Sinus headache has several symptoms. Sinus headache is associated with constant and deep pain in the bridge of your nose, forehead, or cheekbones. Sudden head movements often intensify the pain felt by the individual. Usually, the pain comes with other sphenoid sinusitis symptoms such as facial swelling, fever, feeling of plumpness in your ears, and nasal discharge.
Diagnosis of sinus headache
A physician needs to determine if the headache’s symptoms can, in fact, be attributed to your sinuses. If the headache is due to sinus blockage, like an infection, the patient is likely to get a fever. MRI or CT scans, together with physical examination, are often conducted in order to determine whether a blockage occurs in the sinuses.
People often mistake allergies as a cause of headache. Allergies might cause congestion of the sinus. Sinus congestion might lead to severe headache pain. Treatment intended for the allergies will not be able to relieve headache pain. Normally, these two conditions should have separate treatments.
Treatment of sinus headache
Sinus headache treatment varies depending upon the objective of the treatment. Sinus headaches treatment is often directed towards treating an infection to relieve the patient from symptoms. Antibiotics are taken as treatment for infections while decongestants or antihistamines are used as treatment for symptoms. It is pertinent to note that decongestants should not be taken if the patient has a sinus headache since the medication could only worsen the headache.
There are other medications available for treating sinus infection and dizziness. These medications include analgesics or pain-relieving medications as well as vasoconstrictors.
Corticosteroids might be prescribed for some patients if the pain remains after using analgesics. Usually, preventive allergy therapies are needed if an allergen has caused sinus flare-ups.
Decongestants might be used in relieving headaches that come with a sinus infection. Decongestants help in relieving headache symptoms since decongestants constrict the blood vessels which cause the headache pain. Decongestant use might turn into a habit. If the headaches seem relieved by the decongestants, but a sinus infection is not present, the patient might have tension headache or migraine. These require treatment that has preventive or abortive medications.
Treating chronic sinusitis
Acute sinusitis may escalate into chronic sinusitis if left untreated. Simple remedies might be used to treat chronic sinusitis. In treating chronic sinusitis, warm moist air might ease sinus congestion. Inhaling steam from a pot of boiling water (removed from the heat) or using vaporizers might also help. Warm compresses are effective in relieving pain in your sinuses and nose. Likewise, saline nose drops are safe to be used at home.
Sinus headache has several symptoms. Sinus headache is associated with constant and deep pain in the bridge of your nose, forehead, or cheekbones. Sudden head movements often intensify the pain felt by the individual. Usually, the pain comes with other sphenoid sinusitis symptoms such as facial swelling, fever, feeling of plumpness in your ears, and nasal discharge.
Diagnosis of sinus headache
A physician needs to determine if the headache’s symptoms can, in fact, be attributed to your sinuses. If the headache is due to sinus blockage, like an infection, the patient is likely to get a fever. MRI or CT scans, together with physical examination, are often conducted in order to determine whether a blockage occurs in the sinuses.
People often mistake allergies as a cause of headache. Allergies might cause congestion of the sinus. Sinus congestion might lead to severe headache pain. Treatment intended for the allergies will not be able to relieve headache pain. Normally, these two conditions should have separate treatments.
Treatment of sinus headache
Sinus headache treatment varies depending upon the objective of the treatment. Sinus headaches treatment is often directed towards treating an infection to relieve the patient from symptoms. Antibiotics are taken as treatment for infections while decongestants or antihistamines are used as treatment for symptoms. It is pertinent to note that decongestants should not be taken if the patient has a sinus headache since the medication could only worsen the headache.
There are other medications available for treating sinus infection and dizziness. These medications include analgesics or pain-relieving medications as well as vasoconstrictors.
Corticosteroids might be prescribed for some patients if the pain remains after using analgesics. Usually, preventive allergy therapies are needed if an allergen has caused sinus flare-ups.
Decongestants might be used in relieving headaches that come with a sinus infection. Decongestants help in relieving headache symptoms since decongestants constrict the blood vessels which cause the headache pain. Decongestant use might turn into a habit. If the headaches seem relieved by the decongestants, but a sinus infection is not present, the patient might have tension headache or migraine. These require treatment that has preventive or abortive medications.
Treating chronic sinusitis
Acute sinusitis may escalate into chronic sinusitis if left untreated. Simple remedies might be used to treat chronic sinusitis. In treating chronic sinusitis, warm moist air might ease sinus congestion. Inhaling steam from a pot of boiling water (removed from the heat) or using vaporizers might also help. Warm compresses are effective in relieving pain in your sinuses and nose. Likewise, saline nose drops are safe to be used at home.