Sinus headaches

Description

Sinus headaches are headaches that may feel like an infection in the sinuses (sinusitis). You may feel pressure around your eyes, cheeks, and forehead. Maybe your head throbs.

But, this pain could actually be caused by a migraine.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of sinus headaches can include:

  • The pain, pressure and fullness in the cheeks, the forehead or the front
  • Pain that worsens if you bend forward or lie down
  • The congestion of the nose
  • Fatigue
  • Sensation of pain in the upper teeth

Sinusitis or migraine?

Migraines and headaches sinusitis are easy to confuse because the signs and symptoms of the two types of headaches may overlap.

Both migraine and sinus headache pain often gets worse when you lean forward. Migraine headaches may also be accompanied by several nasal signs and symptoms (including congestion, facial pressure and a clear, watery nasal discharge. These are due to the involvement of the autonomic nervous system in a migraine attack. In fact, studies have shown that the majority of people who see a health care provider for the sinus headache is found to have migraines place.

Sinusitis, however, normally not associated with nausea or vomiting or aggravated by the noise or bright light — all the common features of migraine headaches.

Sinusitis usually:

  • Occurs after a viral upper respiratory infection or cold
  • Includes thick, discolored nasal mucus
  • Is associated with a decreased sense of smell
  • The causes of pain in the cheek, or on the top of the teeth

Headaches due to sinus disease often lasting days or more, and migraines most commonly last few hours, a day or two.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if:

  • Their headache symptoms occur more than 15 days, a month, or require frequent pain medicine available without a prescription
  • You have a severe headache, and pain medication without a prescription does not help
  • That missing school or work because of frequent headaches or headaches that interfere with your daily life

Causes

Sinus headaches are usually associated with migraine or other forms of headaches.

Sinus headaches are associated with pain and pressure in the face and sinuses and can cause nasal symptoms. The majority of these headaches are not caused by sinus infections, and in general, should not be treated with antibiotics.

Risk factors

Sinus headaches can affect anyone, but it can be more likely if you have:

  • A prior history of migraine or headaches
  • A family history of migraine or headaches
  • The hormonal changes associated with headaches

Prevention

Whether or not they can take preventive medicines, you may benefit from lifestyle changes that can help reduce the number and severity of headaches. One or more of these suggestions may be helpful to you:

  • To avoid the triggers.If certain foods or odors seem to have fired their headaches in the past, avoid them. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you reduce your consumption of caffeine and alcohol, and avoiding tobacco. In general, establish a daily routine with regular sleep patterns and regular meals. In addition, try to control the stress.
  • Exercise regularly.Regular aerobic exercise reduces tension and can help prevent headaches. If your doctor agrees, choose any aerobic exercise that you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, and biking. Hot little by little, however, due to the sudden, intense exercise can cause headaches. Obesity is also a factor in headaches, and regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight.
  • To reduce the effects of estrogens.If the estrogen seems to cause or make your headache worse, you may want to avoid or reduce the medications that you are taking estrogen-containing. These medications include birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Talk with your doctor about appropriate alternatives or the dose for you.

To avoid the triggers. If certain foods or odors seem to have fired their headaches in the past, avoid them. Your healthcare provider may recommend that you reduce your consumption of caffeine and alcohol, and avoiding tobacco.

In general, establish a daily routine with regular sleep patterns and regular meals. In addition, try to control the stress.

Exercise regularly. Regular aerobic exercise reduces tension and can help prevent headaches. If your doctor agrees, choose any aerobic exercise that you enjoy, such as walking, swimming, and biking.

Hot little by little, however, due to the sudden, intense exercise can cause headaches.

Obesity is also a factor in headaches, and regular exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight or lose weight.

To reduce the effects of estrogens. If the estrogen seems to cause or make your headache worse, you may want to avoid or reduce the medications that you are taking estrogen-containing.

These medications include birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Talk with your doctor about appropriate alternatives or the dose for you.

Sinus headaches

Diagnosis

The cause of headaches can be difficult to determine. The doctor will ask about your headaches and give you a physical exam.

Your doctor may perform imaging tests to help determine the cause of your headache, including:

  • Computed tomography. CT scans use a computer to create cross-sectional images of the brain and head (including the breasts) through the combination of X-ray images of the unit which rotates around the body.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). With Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a magnetic field and radio waves are used to create cross-sectional images of the structures inside the brain.

Treatment

Most of the people assume that they have sinus headaches actually have migraines or tension-type headaches.

Migraines and chronic or recurrent headaches can be treated with prescription medication that is taken every day to reduce or prevent headaches or taken at the start of a headache to prevent it from getting worse.

To treat these types of headaches, your healthcare provider may recommend:

  • The analgesics available without a prescription. Migraine headache and other types of headaches can be treated with medication available without a prescription, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others).
  • The triptans.Many people with migraine attacks use of triptans to relieve the pain. Triptans work by blocking pain pathways in the brain, but promote the constriction of the blood vessels and should be avoided if you have a history of heart disease or a stroke. Medications include sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra, others), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan, naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), frovatriptan (Frova) and eletriptan (Relpax). Triptans are available as tablets, nasal sprays and injections. A single tablet combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium (Treximet) has been shown to be more effective in the relief of migraine symptoms that any of the medicines on your own.
  • The ergot of rye.Ergotamine and caffeine combination drugs (Migergot) are less effective than triptans. The ergot of rye seems to be more effective in people whose pain lasts for more than 72 hours. Ergotamine can cause worsened nausea and vomiting associated with migraine headaches and other side effects, and can also lead to medication overuse headaches. Dihydroergotamine (D. H. E. 45, Migranal) is a derivative of the ergot of rye that is more effective and has fewer side effects than ergotamine. It is available as a nasal spray and in an injectable form. This medicine may cause fewer side effects than ergotamine and is less likely to lead to medication-overuse headaches. The ergot of rye, including dihydroergotamine, promote the constriction of the blood vessels and should be avoided if you have a history of heart disease or a stroke.
  • Lasmiditan (Reyvow). This new oral tablet is approved for the treatment of migraine headaches with or without aura. It blocks the pain pathways, similar to a triptan medication, but it does not seem to constrict the blood vessels.
  • CGRP antagonists. Ubrogepant (Ubrelvy) and rimegepant (Nurtec ODT) are oral calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonists approved for the treatment of acute migraine with or without aura in adults.
  • CGRP monoclonal antibodies. Erenumab-aooe (Aimovig), fremanezumab-vfrm (Ajovy), galcanezumab-gnlm (Emgality), and eptinezumab-jjmr (Vyepti) are the newer drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat migraine headaches. It gives them a monthly or quarterly basis by injection.
  • Anti-nausea medications. Because migraines are often accompanied by nausea with or without vomiting, medication for the nausea is adequate and is usually combined with other medications. Frequently prescribed medications include chlorpromazine, metoclopramide (Reglan, Gimoti) and prochlorperazine (Compro, Procomp).
  • Glucocorticoids. A glucocorticoid such as dexamethasone (Hemady) can be used in combination with other medications to improve pain relief. Due to the risk of steroid toxicity, glucocorticoids should not be used frequently.

The triptans. Many people with migraine attacks use of triptans to relieve the pain. Triptans work by blocking pain pathways in the brain, but promote the constriction of the blood vessels and should be avoided if you have a history of heart disease or a stroke.

Medications include sumatriptan (Imitrex, Tosymra, others), rizatriptan (Maxalt), sumatriptan, naratriptan (Amerge), zolmitriptan (Zomig), frovatriptan (Frova) and eletriptan (Relpax). Triptans are available as tablets, nasal sprays and injections.

A single tablet combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium (Treximet) has been shown to be more effective in the relief of migraine symptoms that any of the medicines on your own.

The ergot of rye. Ergotamine and caffeine combination drugs (Migergot) are less effective than triptans. The ergot of rye seems to be more effective in people whose pain lasts for more than 72 hours.

Ergotamine can cause worsened nausea and vomiting associated with migraine headaches and other side effects, and can also lead to medication overuse headaches.

Dihydroergotamine (D. H. E. 45, Migranal) is a derivative of the ergot of rye that is more effective and has fewer side effects than ergotamine. It is available as a nasal spray and in an injectable form. This medicine may cause fewer side effects than ergotamine and is less likely to lead to medication-overuse headaches.

The ergot of rye, including dihydroergotamine, promote the constriction of the blood vessels and should be avoided if you have a history of heart disease or a stroke.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your provider. You may be referred to a neurologist who specializes in headaches and migraines.

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment and know what to expect from your doctor.

What you can do

  • Be aware of pre-appointment restrictions. When you make the appointment, ask if there is something that you need to do in advance, such as the restriction of the diet.
  • Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that may seem unrelated to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
  • Write down key personal information, including major stresses or recent life changes.
  • Make a list of all the medicines, vitamins, and supplements you are taking.
  • Have a family member or friend along, if possible. Someone who accompanies you can help remember what your doctor tells you to.
  • Write questions to ask their provider.

Preparation of the questions will help you make the most of your time with your provider. For sinus headaches, some basic questions to ask include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms or condition?
  • There are other possible causes of your symptoms or condition?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • What are the alternatives to the primary approach you're suggesting?
  • I have these other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?
  • Are there any restrictions I need to follow?
  • You should see a specialist?
  • Is there a generic alternative to the medicine you're prescribing?
  • Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

Don't hesitate to ask any questions you may have.

What to expect from your doctor

Your provider is likely to ask you questions, such as:

  • When was the first experience of your headache, and what was it?
  • Has your headache has been continuous or occasional?
  • Has anyone in your immediate family had a history of migraine headaches?
  • What appears to enhance your headaches?
  • What seems to worsen headaches?
Symptoms and treatment of Sinus headaches