Sinus Headache

Welcome to my blog dedicated to sinus headache. If you only take a couple of minutes off to read this page, I’m going to teach you what is sinus headache (you have to learn first what is that may or may not affect you), what are the symptoms that give it away, how can you tell for sure if you have sinusitis or just a plain, old headache and last, but not least, the relief.

Let’s begin with:

What is sinus headache

The sinus headaches are a particular type of headaches, felt as a dull, throbbing pain. The headache is caused by sinusitis, which is an inflammation of your sinuses (itis in latin means inflammation, so whenever you come across something that ends with an its, that’s what it refers to). The inflammation can have different causes such as: infection, an allergic reaction (are you allergic to something?) or autoimmune issues (autoimmune disease, immunosuppressant medication, etc).

The next question (in case you didn’t already know) is, what are the sinuses? The sinuses are air spaces in the skull (frontal, ethmoidal, maxillary and sphenoid). In case of an infection, the membranes get swollen to such an extent, that the pressure can cause pain (forehead, nose, cheekbones).

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One of the roles of the sinuses is to drain the mucus, so when sinusitis occurs, the ducts that connect the sinuses to the nose get obstructed. Draining the mucus can come to a halt (or be significantly slowed down), which is why a nasal discharge is to be expected with sinusitis.

As mucus can’t be drained properly, it becomes the perfect place to host bacteria, fungi or viruses to grow. This will lead to other complications, the most common one being infection.

Not all reported sinus headaches are actually produced by sinusitis. It is reported that about 90% of the cases are just migraines. We’ll talk about the differences later, after we’ll walk you through the symptoms.

Sinusitis is one of the most common conditions. In US alone, there are reported over 24 million results yearly, according to Wikipedia.

There are different types of sinusitis: acute, subacute or chronic. Acute sinusitis should be gone in less than 4 weeks, subacute 4-8 weeks, and chronic more than 8 weeks. Distinguishing between them can be a daunting task. However, it seems almost everybody gets at least one time acute sinusitis at one point in their life or another.

What are the symptoms

The first symptom is a dull, constant, possibly throbbing facial pain. The pain can be localized in the maxillary (cheek area), somewhere above the eyes (means the frontal sinus cavity is involved), behind the eyes (the ethmoid sinus has swollen). The pain typically gets worst when you bend over or lie down. It will also start on one side, but after a while, it “travels” to the other as well.

Another symptom is a green nasal discharge. It may contain blood or pus. Don’t worry if it does, it’s normal.

Because of the pressure build up, your inner ear may be affected. The inner ear is responsible for equilibrium, so you may feel dizziness.

Sinusitis can be bacterial or viral (caused by a bacteria or a virus). It can be pretty hard to tell which, but it is said that if it lasts more than 10 days it’s bacterial. One common complication of this condition, is infection.

I mentioned infection, because that leads to the next possible symptoms: fever, chills, muscles pain or swollen lymph nodes (aka swollen glands).

Also, a swollen face due to the inflammation of the sinuses is one of the usual, visible symptoms that might lead you to think it’s more than a migraine.

As the pain is caused by the pressure build up, if you move you make sudden movements or there’s a quick temperature change, the pain will intensify (that happens because these external factors influence pressure, which increases and therefore you feel more pain).

If the maxillary sinuses are involved, you may experience toothache.

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Making the right diagnosis & differences between sinus headache and migraines

Like mentioned before, acute sinusitis (viral or bacterial) should not last longer than eight weeks. If it lasts more than that, then you’re dealing with a chronic sinusitis and you should visit your local doctor.

Acute sinusitis diagnosis can be made based on the symptoms mentioned above and confirmed by a CT scan.

As you’ve heard me saying before, sinus headaches and migraines can be pretty hard to differentiate, which is why 90% of the time, the self diagnosis of sinusitis is actually a migraine, and in some cases only a CT scan can be the definitive answer.

The main problem is that migraines can activate trigeminal nerves, which innervate the sinuses, which makes the pain you feel pretty hard to pinpoint accurately. As a side effect, a runny nose can be triggered, which makes it look more like sinusitis. One way you can know for sure it’s sinusitis it’s the thick green nasal discharge. This does not happen when you have a migraine. Migraines usually go away in hours and are localized to one area only. Another way you can guesstimate a sinusitis is the fact that the pain is worst when you bend over (difference of pressure, which triggers more pain).

The chronic sinusitis however, as opposed to the common acute sinusitis, is a much more severe condition that can lead to other serious complications. The diagnosis is based on the symptoms (note: I forgot to mention that the symptoms of chronic and acute sinusitis are the same, so the only viable option to distinguish between the two is duration), CT scan that will confirm an inflammation of the sinuses and analyzing a sample of the discharge (with chronic sinusitis, an infection is almost guaranteed to show up and tests are necessary to determine which type of infection you’re dealing with).

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Sinus headache relief

Here we are at the best part of this (hopefully not too long post): how to get rid of the sinus headache.

If we’re talking about the acute sinus headache, there are a couple of home remedies that you can try:

• Breathe Moist Air: this helps decongesting your nose. Remember, drain doesn’t work properly so we must do everything we can to keep it running and thus prevent possible infections that might occur if sinusitis duration is prolonged

• Over-the-counter decongestants: more effective than moist air, but comes with a price tag

• Acupuncture: the Chinese needles have controversial effects. Sinusitis would be considered an energetic imbalance and may be treated very differently than what you would’ve expected. Many mixed results have been reported which don’t make acupuncture a viable candidate for the sinusitis cure

• Over-the-counter (OTC) Pain Relief: You can try any medication that contains ibuprofen (a common name that pops in my head is Advil) which will reduce your pain (be it migraine or sinusitis).

• Hot & Cold Compresses on your sinuses: it will help reduce the swallowing, and thus drainage will be better and you should feel less pain due to reduced pressure

• Nasal irrigation with salt water: this is one of the oldest trick in the textbook. However make sure to research how to do it properly before actually doing it

• Antibiotics: if an infection has occurred (you can read more about the signs of infection in the symptoms chapter), you need something to kill the active bacteria (usually amoxicilin)

• Corticosteroids: this can be a possible solution to acute sinusitis in conjunction with antibiotics

• Surgery: in extreme cases of chronic sinusitis nasal surgery is needed

Sinus headache on Youtube:

A lot of individuals suffer from sinus headache, which really brings them a lot of pain and discomfort. Now, because of the uncomfortable feeling, they have a difficult time doing their usual tasks and just end up resting at home. This condition may not be that serious, but it can be very annoying. Therefore, it is necessary to treat the problem to prevent it from getting severe.

If you are frequently suffering from sinus headache, it is advised to seek help from a physician, in order to undergo proper diagnosis. When the problem is determined properly, the doctor will recommend you with the most effective and suitable treatment for sinus headache.

There are so many treatment options to relieve a sinus headache. There are conventional treatments and natural home remedies. According to research, it is essential to consider and apply both treatments because when they are applied together, sufferers can recover in the quickest manner. However, if you want to save money on a treatment, go with natural remedies.

What to take for sinus headache? Check out some of these conventional treatments to alleviate sinus headache:

• Consume analgesics like aspirin- Analgesics are pain killers that would help sufferers relieve the pain they are experiencing.

• Apply decongestants- Decongestants are responsible in minimizing the swelling inside the nose area that commonly causes terrible headache.

• Ingest bromelain buccal tablets- These tablets are necessary to help reduce the inflammation and redness of the nose.

• Take magnesium supplements- According to studies and research, when a person lacks magnesium in his body, he is most likely prone to the occurrence of sinus headache.

These are the common medications to take, in order to ease the pain caused by sinus headache. These medicines are easily bought from over the counter stores, and they can be purchased with or without a doctor’s prescription. However, it is advised to get help from your doctor first to ensure that you consume the right medication.

Now, aside from conventional treatments to take, there are also natural home remedies that also effectively treat the condition.

Natural remedies are readily available, plus these treatments are not associated with any negative side effects because they 100% natural. Here are some natural remedies that you can apply:

• Healthy diet- Be mindful of food that trigger sinus headache. These foods include chocolate, milk, dairy products, wheat, nuts and alcoholic beverages. It is essential to apply a healthy diet, which includes eating of fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Essential oils- There are many essential oils that can effectively treat sinus headache. These oils are even effective in alleviating the pain when they are inhaled. Tea tree oil is one of the most common essential oil to apply. Add tea tree oil with eucalyptus and mix them with a bowl of hot water. Breathe the steam to feel better.

• Herbal remedies- There are many herbal remedies to apply, in order to relieve sinus headache. The most popular herbal remedy to employ is peppermint. Simply mix the peppermint with water and add some lemon slice. Drink the solution to help relieve sinus and chest congestion.

What to take for sinus headache? A sinus headache can be gradually alleviated and even stop it from re-occurring for good with the application of the right treatment. Whether you apply the conventional treatment, or natural remedies, you can be rest assured that your sinus headache can be treated in the most efficient manner.

Contrary to regular headaches which simply make your head hurt a bit, sinus headaches are much more unpleasant, although they are quite easy to spot. In most cases, a sinus headache is characterized by a congested feeling, a pressure in the head, behind the eyes and around the cheeks. Also, there are the other typical symptoms that come along with it such as a cough, a sore throat and a runny nose. Fortunately, there are ways to relieve yourself from this affliction, but first it is important to learn more about the condition itself.

How long does a sinus headache last? Well, there are four different forms of sinusitis that have been identified as of now. The Acute form is for when symptoms last less than four weeks, Subacute is for when they last 4 to 12 weeks, chronic is if they last 12 weeks or longer, and finally there is the recurrent form which consists of at least three acute episodes over the period of a year.

As you can see, how long your sinus headache lasts mainly depends on your ability to treat the condition as well as what its cause is. To put it in other words, if you don’t treat it is as fast as possible it may end up staying with you for a very long time.

What exactly influences the duration of a sinus headache? One of the most important things is the quality of air in your environment, as what you breathe directly affects your sinuses, and can thus lead to a sinus headache. For example, some of the most common causes of sinus headaches include dust, smog, dirty air, smoke, pollen, and various other types of polluting agents. In other words, keeping your environment clean will do your sinuses a lot of good.

Sinusitis is not something that you can exactly get rid of with the snap of your fingers. It takes some time and patience to nurse yourself back to health, but meanwhile there are things you can do for fast relief besides painkillers and various types of medication. First off, you can use the good old-fashioned and time-tested method of wetting a towel in cold water and putting it on your forehead to relieve the pain.

The second thing you can do for a bit of quick relief is to eat some spicy foods as they help to eliminate the mucus in your sinuses. Finally, there are various natural herbs such as the Chinese Magnolia flower for example which have for effect to widen the sinus passage, which also helps to drain the mucus out of there fast, relieving the pressure in your face and providing you with some quick relief.

All in all, keep in mind that while sinus headaches are not the end of the world, they can be pretty debilitating and if you do not work on treating yours then the symptoms may start to extend over very long periods of time. While there are ways to quickly relieve yourself you should definitely look into the treatments which are currently available for this nefarious condition.

Your sinuses are cavities in your skull connecting to your nose. They are located directly above and beneath your eye sockets on each side of your nose. When you have a cold or allergies, fluid can collect in your sinuses and cause a sinus headache. If the fluid is not drained, it can become infected, causing a sinus infection and an even worse sinus headache. There are so many different kinds of headaches that it can be hard to determine which kind you are suffering from. However, it’s important to determine which type of headache you have since different kinds of headaches require different treatments.

What does a sinus headache feel like?

In order to determine if you are suffering from a sinus headache, you first need to figure out where the pain is originating. Sinus headache pain, although it can radiate outward, will originate on the inner corners of the eyebrows and cheekbones. To test if this is where the pressure is coming from, gently tap on these spots on your face with your knuckle. If tapping above and below your eyes like this causes more pain, it is originating from your sinuses. The pain from sinus headaches is dull and achy feeling.

Sinus headaches are similar in feeling to migraines. So, how do you know if you have a migraine or a sinus headache? First of all, there is a difference in the type of pain. A migraine feels sharp and stabbing, whereas a sinus headache is duller. It also helps to consider the other symptoms you’re experiencing. A sinus headache will be accompanied by thick nasal drainage. Migraines are usually accompanied by symptoms such as nausea, extreme fatigue, sensitivity to light, and sensitivity to sound. If your nose is congested with thick drainage and you are not experiencing any other migraine symptoms, it is likely you have a sinus headache.

Now that you know what a sinus headache feels like, you need to know how to treat one. Since sinus headaches are caused by pressure inside the sinuses from fluid buildup, the quickest remedies are ones that work to drain the sinuses of excess fluids. Squirt a saline nasal spray into each nostril to allow it to loosen fluid caught in the sinuses. A more extreme method is to pour saline water into your nostril with your head tilted sideways to let it drain out the other nostril. This will irrigate your sinuses of all fluid buildup. To prevent additional fluid buildup, sleep with a humidifier running in the room. Learn more about Sinus Headache here…

Regardless of how severe the pain is, it’s important to recognize what kind of headache you’re experiencing. If you’re experiencing a migraine, sinus headache remedies won’t work. Once you figure out what a sinus headache feels like, though, you’ll know what you need to do to fix it. However, if your sinus headache does not go away after quick remedies, you may want to consult a doctor. Sinus infections and chronic sinusitis are conditions that require more extensive care.

Sinus headache is a condition characterized by constant pain in the bridge of the nose, cheekbones and forehead. It is often accompanied by nasal discharges, fever, facial swelling and fullness in the ears. Throbbing of the head and pressure around the forehead, eyes and cheek can also be experienced by the victim.   Treatment methods for sinus headaches are actually geared towards treating the infection and reducing its annoying symptoms. There are actually lots of ways on how to relieve sinus headache. Prescription medications are excellent ways to relieve sinus headache but there are patients who prefer natural remedies to treat the infection.

Lying on a heating pad for at least 30 minutes can help an individual relax and ease the symptoms of sinus headaches. Hot and cold compress should also be applied to reduce the symptoms of the illness. Aside from stimulating and enhancing blood flow, cold and hot compresses can help in draining clogged sinuses. Quercetin and Bromelain supplements are also effective in treating sinus headaches because of their anti-inflammatory properties.

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How to relieve sinus headache

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Rubbing a menthol cream on the temples can also help in relieving the symptoms of the condition. A vaporizer or vapor-rub should be applied around the nose, neck, chest and nasal passage for immediate sinus headache relief. Many people apply natural oils and plant extracts around these areas because of the therapeutic benefits of these herbal products. Peppermint, ginger, basil leaves, cloves and eucalyptus are powerful herbs that can provide immediate relief to sinus headaches.

Inhaling the moist air released by vaporizer and humidifier is also effective in relieving the symptoms of sinus headaches. Moist air can reduce the inflammation and reduce sinus congestion. Increased intake of fluid is also effective in stopping sinus headaches. Keeping the body hydrated all the time also moistens the nasal passages. Massaging the pressure points found between the sides of the nose is also an effective way on how to relieve sinus headaches.

Here’s an interesting video for you:

When sinus headache is present for more than a week already, a consultation with a physician is strongly recommended. Sinus headaches that last for more than 7 days can already indicate a sinus infection. Doctors usually recommend medication to treat sinus headaches. Antibiotics are prescribed to treat the infection while antihistamines and decongestants are used to treat the symptoms of the infection. In fact, decongestants are effective in relieving sinus headaches because of its ultimate capacity to constrict the blood vessels which trigger the onset of sinus headaches.

Vasoconstrictors are also prescribed to reduce nasal congestion. Meanwhile, pain relievers and corticosteroids are advised to reduce the intensity of pain and inflammation.  Taking ibuprofen is one of the best ways on how to relieve sinus headache. Ibuprofen contains powerful ingredients that are capable of relieving the pressure and pain which the sinus infection brings about.

With the advent of modern technology, lots of treatment methods were formulated to get rid of sinus headaches. Though prescription medication provides immediate relief to sinus headaches, some patients prefer natural herbal remedies in dealing with their condition because it is safe, inexpensive and non-invasive. Natural herbal remedies is an effective way on how to relieve sinus headache aside from the fact that they do not bring any adverse side effects to the human body like what prescription medication does. Nevertheless, it cannot be denied that prescription medications are really effective in providing immediate and long lasting sinus headache relief to the patients.