- Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population.
- Symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, a runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath, or fatigue.
- Sinus headaches can cause facial pain, watery eyes, and post-nasal drip, similar to other kinds of headaches.
Sinus headaches are a common symptom of sinusitis and can become quite debilitating. According to Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free, sinus headaches should be taken seriously and can become worse if left untreated.
“Sinus headaches are essentially caused by a buildup of inflammation and pressure within the sinus cavities themselves, because the openings are extremely narrow, so you have structural deficits, causing things to build up in the sinuses,” Dr. Hershcovitch told the NW LA Times. “In addition to the narrow openings, you have a lot of inflammation in the sinus cavity itself and around the openings, causing them to stay shut. The bacteria then build up in the sinuses, and they often secrete gases that increase the pressure within that closed cavity, which is going to create a significant, very annoying, very painful headache. I also want to stress that it gets worse than that; sinus headaches and pressure can trigger migraines.”
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 and produce more mucus, and the channels that drain them can become blocked, according to WebMD. The build-up of pressure in your sinuses causes pain that feels like a headache. It is important to figure out what kind of headache you are having so that the correct course of action can be taken to relieve your pain.
According to Healthline, headaches are common. Research estimates that 70 to 80 percent of people experience headaches, and about 50 percent experience them at least once a month. Allergies can be the source of some of those headaches, and allergies related to sinus disease can cause headaches as well.
If your headache gets worse when you bend over or lay down, that would be a sign of a sinus headache. Other symptoms include a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or the bridge of your nose, a stuffy nose, fatigue, and an achy feeling in the upper teeth. If headaches occur more than 15 days per month and OTC medicines are used frequently but help little, the Mayo Clinic recommends consulting a physician.
For patients with sinus headaches, the goal is typically to relieve symptoms and treat any infections, according to WebMD. Antibiotics, antihistamines, or decongestants can be taken for a short time. Inhaled nasal decongestants can be taken, but only for up to three days. Longer use can worsen symptoms.
According to SoCal Breathe Free’s website, Dr. Matt Hershcovitch earned his undergraduate degree in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He attended medical school at the State University of New York. Hershcovitch completed his residency in head and neck surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and further specialized with a fellowship in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery at Stanford University.
