Other Reasons For Dizziness
There are many causes of dizziness. But there is a difference between dizziness or feeling light-headed vs. actual vertigo.
When you are dizzy or light-headed, you may feel like you are going to pass out. This feeling will typically become worse when you stand up and try to move around and improve when you lie down.
Vertigo, however, can cause you to feel as if the room is spinning or swaying or as if objects are moving around you. Vertigo may cause nausea and often will not improve when you lie down.
Understanding the types of dizziness you are experiencing can narrow down potential underlying causes.
The Most Common Misdiagnosis For Migraine Is This
You guessed it, sinus headache.
According to recently published research, over half of all those with migraine who participated in their study were misdiagnosed. The authors concluded that the under-recognition of migraine constitutes a significant public health problem.
Why are so many people not diagnosed?
There are a number of reasons why an individual with symptoms of migraine report that they havent been diagnosed by a health professional. These include:
Sinusitis Vertigo Causes And Treatments
Not all individuals with sinus infections have sinusitis vertigo however, the ones who do are frequently surprised by its symptoms.
While sinusitis vertigo is not life-threatening, its presence can and often does point to a worse-than-average sinus infection one that will likely require treatment that goes beyond what OTC medications can provide.
Learn more about what causes sinusitis vertigo, what you can do to avoid sinusitis vertigo, and what sinusitis vertigo treatments are available to you.
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Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response
Brain tingles can also result from autonomous sensory meridian response or ASMR. It is a newly discovered phenomenon that can result from hearing a specific type of sound such as whispering or finger tapping. Research is still underway for this area of neuroscience, but it is becoming popular. It has been found that there are a variety of sounds that can trigger such a response.
What Causes Sinus Inflammation
There are many factors that can cause your sinuses to swell up. In most cases, its probably just allergic rhinitis or common colds. But if youre experiencing symptoms of chronic sinusitis, it could be because of the following:
- sinus infections
- nasal polyps
- immune system-related diseases
All of the above conditions require various treatments. For instance, most sinus infections can be treated with over-the-counter medications. But a deviated septum and nasal polyps usually require surgery to prevent recurring sinus infections. This is why its important to know the underlying cause of your sinus problems to effectively treat them.
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Is It A Sinus Infection Or Cold
It can be difficult to tell the difference between a sinus infection and a cold as the symptoms can be very similar. Sinus infections often develop after a cold.
Sinusitis tends to last longer than a cold. Cold symptoms tend to get steadily worse, peaking at 35 days, then gradually get better. Sinus infections may last 10 days or more.
Some symptoms are more likely to be caused by sinusitis than a cold, including:
- swelling of the tissue in the nose
- green discharge from the nose
- a swollen or tender face
Unlike a cold, sinusitis can become chronic, which means it lasts longer than eight weeks. Chronic sinusitis causes swelling and irritation in the sinuses and usually develops after a person has had acute sinusitis. Sometimes the symptoms go away and then come back again.
Ongoing sinus symptoms even if they get better and then come back may indicate chronic sinusitis.
Sinus infections often go away on their own without medical treatment. There are, however, some things a person can do at home to relieve the bothersome symptoms.
To treat sinusitis symptoms with home remedies , try:
Avoid using decongestants on a long-term basis without talking to a doctor first because they can make congestion worse if used for too long.
- symptoms last longer than 10 days with no improvement
- fever lasts longer than 3-4 days
- the pain is very intense
- a person with a suspected sinus infection has a drugs that suppress the immune system, or organ failure
Are These Your Symptoms
From those patients confirmed with a migraine diagnosis in the study:
- 83% noticed the weather affected their headaches
- 73% noticed seasonal variations in their headaches
- 62% said their headaches were triggered by allergies
- 56% had nasal congestion
- 25% had a runny nose
- 22% had red eyes
- 19% had watery eyes
You could be forgiven for thinking these symptoms are sinus related. They look a lot like the symptoms you might expect from a sinus infection so its no surprise that there is a significant amount of confusion between sinus headache and migraine.
Results found that 9 out of 10 patients in the study had migraine, not sinus headache.
Furthermore, the 100 patients from the study had seen an average of 4 physicians each and had gone on average 25 years without the correct diagnosis or significant relief.
Thats 25 years without significant relief and 4 physicians who had gotten the diagnosis wrong!
The lead investigator of the SAMS study Dr. Eross says It was hard to convince some of them that they actually suffered from migraine headaches, said Dr. Eross. Many were shocked.
One in ten people from the study knew they had migraine, but thought they had sinus headaches in addition. In reality they actually suffered two different types of migraine, one with sinus symptoms and one without, Dr. Eross noted.
Much of the pain or pressure is in the face, on both sides, so it doesnt occur to them that this might be a migraine. Dr Eross
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The Lowdown On Stressed Sinuses
A flare-up of seasonal allergies, called hay fever, causes stuffy noses and irritated sinuses. But allergy sufferers will notice mainly that they have a runny nose with clear output and itchy, watery eyes. Their symptoms are also often tied to certain times of year and specific allergens like animal dander, dust, pollen or mold.
If youre plugged up with thick mucus thats green or yellow, you could have an infection. Sinus infectionswhether caused by bacteria or a viruscan also bring along other symptoms like mild headache, fatigue, weakness or a cough. Viruses are far more likely to be the cause of sinus infections. Certain symptoms increase the probably of bacterial sinusitis:
- Persistent sinusitis symptoms for longer than 10 days, especially with double worsening. This means symptoms start to improve and then get worse a few days later.
- A fever, especially a high one over 102 .
- Asymmetric pain in one or more sinus areas. These include under or above the eyes and above the bridge of the nose.
Teladoc gives you best-in-class care from doctors from wherever you are. Access our doctors by phone or video to diagnose, treat and even prescribe medicine if needed for common conditions like allergies, cough, flu, pink eye, rashes, sinus infections, sore throats, stomach bugs, UTI and more. Schedule a visit now to talk to a doctor 24/7 for non-emergency conditions.
When Professional Medical Help Becomes Necessary
Even though tingling in the head is not classified as a disorder, persistent symptoms of weird feelings in the head should not be ignored. Consulting a physician and getting your condition diagnosed is necessary to relieve the unusual sensations.
Seeking professional medical help for paresthesia becomes necessary in the following circumstances:
- It is becoming more frequent
- It changes its intensity or severity
- It is accompanied by pain
- It occurs on different sides of the head
- It lasts longer than normal
- It has started recently
- It turns into a severe headache
The expert and experienced doctors will run a variety of tests, including MRI, bloodwork, electromyography or electroencephalography, and, if necessary, a nerve biopsy. Combined with your medical history and physical exam, the physician figures out what is causing these weird feelings and suggests the most effective treatment that works best for your specific discomfort.
Occasional tingling in the head is not a cause for concern, but if this sensation persists and begins to affect your routine life with headaches and other severe symptoms, seek medical help immediately. It is best to get a doctors advice regarding diagnosis and treatment as some serious underlying conditions may be responsible for chronic tingling in the head. The pain management specialists at the Advanced Headache Center come up with the most positive solutions that provide relief and ensure you enjoy good health in the long run.
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The Prevention Of Tension Headaches
Tension headaches can take a heavy toll on your life. In addition to causing pain, they can also cause you to miss days of work, or impair your ability to function at work. Or they may cause you to be irritable with friends and family. If any of these things are happening to you, then you want to be sure to take one or more of the many available steps you can take to prevent tension headaches.
- Exercise – this will relieve stress.
- Learn to Detect When You Are Pushing Yourself – much of the stress and tension that we experience in life comes from pushing ourselves too hard. Learn do detect when you are pushing yourself, and then learn to gently stop yourself pushing yourself. And dont judge yourself when you find yourself pushing yourself. Just let it go.
- Biofeedback Training – biofeedback training will teach you how to stop making the muscular responses to stress that cause your headaches.
- Psychotherapy – go into therapy to find out why you are feeling stressed and/or anxious. Once you find out why you are feeling stressed, you can take measures to reduce your stress.
- Meditation – meditation will help you see why you are feeling stressed and learn to let it all go.
- Mindfulness Training – mindfulness training will do the same.
- Create a Life That is an Expression of Your True Self and Your Deepest Values – this is the best way to stop stress and anxiety. Be yourself. Believe in and love what you do.
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What Is Brain Fog
One of the most common symptoms of chronic sinusitis is brain fog. Essentially, brain fog is a condition that affects your brain and leads to memory problems and the inability to focus and think as you normally would. If your thinking is “fuzzy” and brain isn’t as sharp as it used to be, you may have brain fog.
Unfortunately, brain fog can take a serious toll on your quality of life. It can interfere with your productivity and prevent you from completing everyday tasks at work, school, or home. If you have brain fog due to chronic sinusitis, you may be mentally fatigued and struggle with day-to-day life.
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Fight Head Congestion With Sudafed
Consider taking SUDAFED PE® Head Congestion+Pain. With Ibuprofen and phenylephrine , this coated tablet can help provide relief from your head cold symptoms and combat pesky nasal congestion and swelling, sinus pressure, headache, fever, and body aches. Always read and follow the label carefully, and make sure the product is right for you.
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When To Seek Medical Advice
- a severe headache that is not relieved with painkillers or is getting worse
- a headache that feels worse when you lie down or bend over
- a headache that’s unusual for you and occurs with blurred vision, feeling or being sick, problems speaking, weakness, drowsiness or seizures
- eye pain or swelling of one or both eyes
- a rash that looks like small bruises or bleeding under the skin
- shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling or persistent abdominal pain
While it’s highly unlikely to be caused by a cavernous sinus thrombosis, these symptoms need further investigation.
In very rare cases, these symptoms may appear from around 4 days to 4 weeks after being vaccinated with the coronavirus vaccine.
You should also contact a GP if you develop any of the eye symptoms described above.
Page last reviewed: 05 August 2021 Next review due: 05 August 2024
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Can Sinusitis Cause Facial Numbness
You know the stuffy feeling when sinus pressure in your face is so intense that you cant think straight. It could be a sinus infection. But what if you’re unable to feel anything? Can sinusitis cause facial numbness?
Sinusitis is associated with signs and symptoms, including a runny nose, facial pain or pressure, and a change in the sense of taste or smell. Facial numbness is another less common symptom. However, facial numbness could be a sign of other more serious conditions. So it is best to discuss facial numbness with a doctor.
How do you know what is causing facial numbness? And when should you schedule an online doctor appointment? Here is what you need to know when it comes to talking to a doctor about sinusitis.
Sore Throat And Cough
The fluid trickling down your throat can cause irritation and produces a cough. When you lie down at night, you’ll experience more flow of fluid down the back of your throat, making your cough worse. Post-nasal drip could also make your voice sound hoarse and possibly cause a sore throat and bad breath.
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The Signs Of A Sinus Headache
A sinus headache rarely occurs without other signs of congestion. When headache is your only symptom, it’s probably not related to your sinuses.
Other signs or symptoms of a sinus headache are facial pain, teary or reddened eyes, postnasal drip, and head pain that gets worse when you’re leaning forward, says Lauren Doyle Strauss, DO, a headache specialist and an assistant professor at Wake Forest Baptist Health in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The facial pain related to a sinus infection is located in the sinus areas around your eyes, cheeks, and forehead.
Sore throat, cough, and bad breath are also common symptoms of sinusitis, according to the CDC.
A headache can occur as part of an upper respiratory infection or follow a typical cold possibly causing pain over the involved sinus, explains Drexler.
In this case, there is often tenderness over the sinus area, and the pain usually begins an hour or so after the person gets out of bed in the morning. Congestion and mucus production often yellowish or greenish if there is a bacterial infection, or clear discharge if it’s a viral infection are associated signs, as is fever.
How Do You Know If You Have Sinus Headache Or Migraine
Listing all the symptoms separately can be confusing and is perhaps why so many sinus headache sufferers have not been correctly diagnosed.
Instead, below are the key symptoms side by side, Sinus Headache vs Migraine, in an easy to follow checklist so you can quickly find out the truth.
If youre not experiencing fever, swollen lymph nodes, and a persistent green or yellow nasal discharge and you have a headache in the sinus area, then you likely have migraine. It is difficult for doctors of patients with migraine and sinus symptoms to acknowledge that a CT scan of their sinuses looks normal and does not show the inflammation, fluid or swelling they would expect after years of rhinosinusitis. Patients and their doctors often fall into the trap of believing that they are nipping sinus infections in the bud with frequent antibiotics and that is why they never get infected drainage.
Take a moment to digest. Most people from the study who were told this rejected the finding at first. They had been told by on average by 4 doctors that it was their sinus. They had also been wrongly diagnosed for an average of 25 years
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When To Contact A Medical Professional
- Your symptoms last longer than 10 to 14 days or you have a cold that gets worse after 7 days.
- You have a severe headache that is not relieved by over-the-counter pain medicine.
- You have a fever.
- You still have symptoms after taking all of your antibiotics properly.
- You have any changes in your vision during a sinus infection.
A green or yellow discharge does not mean that you definitely have a sinus infection or need antibiotics.
Common Symptoms Of Chronic Sinusitis
Sinus infection is a major health issue. It impacts 31 million individuals in the U.S. alone, with Americans spending over $1 billion on OTC medications each year to treat it. Chronic sinusitis is evaluated and managed in a similar manner as acute sinusitis. Below you’ll learn more about chronic sinusitis and six of its most common symptoms.
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