Many people think that if they are suffering from a severe headache, it is a migraine when actually a migraine is a specific type of headache and there are many different types, including tension, cluster and, another very common one, is a sinus headache.
Although many of the symptoms might overlap, there are often distinct features of headaches and recognising these differences can help with receiving effective treatment. The sinuses are the air-filled spaces inside the cheekbones, forehead and the bridge of the nose. It’s not known exactly why we have sinuses – one suggestion is that they help to humidify the air we breathe in – but we do know that when they become inflamed, they can be incredibly painful. Whether due to an infection or allergic reaction, the mucus lining of the sinuses swell and you will feel a deep and constant pain in your nose, cheekbones and forehead and the latter is known as a sinus headache.
Sinus headache treatment
The first aim of treatment is to relieve any symptoms and treat an infection if that is causing the problem. Antibiotics, antihistamines or decongestants might be recommended. For a small number of patients who suffer from repeated sinus headaches, sinus surgery may be recommended to remove nasal polyps or open up compressed or swollen sinuses.
