• Sinus Infection
• Cluster Headaches

Sinus Headaches: What Causes Them and How to Find Relief

When allergy season rolls around, most people try to do what they can to avoid getting sick. Many health experts recommend keeping your hands clean and staying on top of your vaccinations. Still, you may get sick occasionally as your immune system fights off infection during the winter and spring season.

People who experience allergy symptoms every year are more likely than others to get sinusitis, often referred to as a sinus infection. A sinus infection can be caused by a virus or harmful bacteria. 

This leads to a build-up of fluid in the nasal passages and other air-filled pockets in the face. During a sinus infection, you may experience congestion, eye redness, and sinus headaches. 

Are frequent headaches disrupting your life?

Get to the root of the problem. Schedule an online appointment for relief.

Get Started

What Causes a Sinus Headache?

Headaches from a sinus infection are caused by inflammation of the trigeminal nerves. These nerves send signals between the brain to the face and other parts of the body.

A sinus infection may sometimes affect one group of sinus passages more than the others. Ethmoidal sinuses are the airways at the bridge of the nose. Ethmoiditis – an infection in the ethmoidal sinuses – may cause headache pain in the space between the eyes.

A build-up of fluid in the sinuses leads to pressure behind the face that may feel like headache pain in the forehead, cheeks, and behind the eyes. Sinus headaches don’t tend to last more than 10 days. However, people with chronic sinusitis may experience symptoms for months at a time.

What causes chronic sinus headaches?

Chronic sinusitis can also result in sinus headaches that cause pain in the face where the sinus passages are located. Long-term inflammation in the sinuses comes from an obstruction in the nasal passages that disrupts the flow of fluid out of the sinuses. An obstruction can come from swelling in the nasal passages or an infection.

Those with asthma, autoimmune conditions, and cystic fibrosis are at an increased risk for chronic sinusitis. Injuries to the nasal passages from trauma, nasal polyps, and nasal tumors can also block fluid drainage from the sinuses.

Symptoms of a Sinus Headache

Sinus headaches may feel like pressure right behind the sinuses. In addition to pressure, a sinus infection may also cause the following infections:

• Nasal congestion

• Runny nose

• Eye itchiness

• Swollen eyelids

• Eye redness

• Nasal swelling

What are the symptoms of a chronic sinus headache?

Some healthcare providers consider infections that have lasted more than three months to be chronic. Sinus headaches and other symptoms from a chronic sinus infection can last for several hours. Chronic sinusitis may last for months or years.

Chronic sinusitis may cause more severe sinus headaches. Additional symptoms you may experience from chronic sinusitis include:

• Fever

• Toothaches

• Nasal discharge

• Postnasal drip

While congestion is one of the most noticeable symptoms of a sinus infection, not every case of sinusitis causes an increase in mucus. Some sinus infections cause inflammation without a build-up of mucus.

How to Get Rid of a Sinus Headache

There’s no way to instantly get rid of a sinus headache. Many OTC medications can help relieve sinus infection symptoms like sinus headaches gradually depending on how severe your infection is. Pain relievers like Tylenol (acetaminophen) can help relieve pain from sinus headaches.

Other medications like nasal saline sprays can be used to clear out excess mucus in the sinuses. Decongestants are oral medications that can reduce swelling and improve sinus headaches.

Home Remedies for Sinus Headache Relief

Steam may help to open up blocked nasal passages. You can also purchase a humidifier at home to help with breathing issues. This can be especially beneficial for people who have an allergy to dust. Those with allergies may be prescribed corticosteroids to target allergy symptoms.

Chronic sinusitis caused by swelling or nasal polyps may require endoscopic surgery to relieve symptoms.

When to See a Healthcare Provider

Be sure to see a healthcare provider immediately if sinus headaches are worsening. They may suggest imaging tests to see what may be causing a blockage in your sinuses. A CT (computed tomography) scan and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) test can produce a more detailed image of the air passages behind the face.

Where Can I Learn More About Managing My Sinuses?

During the winter months, it can be challenging to know how to best protect yourself from viruses and infections. LifeMD can connect you with licensed healthcare providers who can provide tips on managing sinus infections and allergies.

Schedule an appointment today to speak with a healthcare provider about treatment options and tips for staying healthy.

LifeMD makes it easy to stay on top of your health because talking to a doctor, filling your prescriptions, getting your labs done—and more—are all easy and cost-effective. Come discover a healthcare solution built around you and your life.

Connect with a doctor now!

Join Now

Text

Call