Prevention And Treatment Of Sinus Headaches
The best way to prevent a sinus headache is to avoid a sinus infection. The CDC recommends washing your hands frequently, getting a flu shot, avoiding close contact with people who are sick, not smoking, and using a clean humidifier to moisten the air.
By humidifying the air, you can decrease sinus pressure, which should translate into decreased incidence of headaches, says Kiran Rajneesh, MBBS, a neurologist and pain medicine specialist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
Dr. Rajneesh also suggests drinking a lot of water. Hydrating is important because it can help keep the mucus thin and loose, which can decrease infection and irritation, he says.
Over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help relieve a sinus headache. A nasal spray either a decongestant or a steroid spray may help as well, according to Michigan Medicine. Keep in mind that overuse of nasal sprays can further irritate the sinuses, leading to what is known as rebound congestion.
If you have a history of high blood pressure or heart problems, talk to your doctor before using oral decongestants .
A neti pot, which looks like a little teapot with a long spout, may be used to flush out nasal passages to improve congested sinuses, says Rajneesh.
There are times when you should seek medical help for possible sinus infection. According to the CDC, you should see a doctor if any of the following is true:
Additional reporting by Becky Upham.
What Are Cluster Headaches
Cluster headaches are very severe headaches, more so even than migraines. Healthcare providers consider both types of headaches primary headaches, rather than secondary headaches. The difference:
- Primary headaches: Start because of a response from the part of the brain that communicates pain. A primary headache is its own health challenge, not part of a larger issue.
- Secondary headaches: Start because of another health condition. Several things can cause these headaches, including ear infections, nasal congestion and dehydration.
Cluster headaches can disrupt your life for weeks or even months at a time. They tend to follow a pattern, often showing up at the same time each day. They can also wake you up an hour or two after going to bed. These nighttime headaches may feel more severe than those during the day.
Are Sinus Headache And Migraine Easily Confused
Yes, they are according to the research. The pattern of migraine pain is different for individual patients. While the most easily recognized migraine headaches are localized to one side of the head, many patients feel pain or pressure on both sides, or in the neck or sinuses. This is because all of these areas are innervated by branches of the nerve that are most involved in migraine. For patients with sinus symptoms the most frequent patterns of pain and pressure are across the forehead and behind the eyes, but any sinus area or combination is possible.
A study called SAMS recruited the first 100 people to respond to their local ad. The ad asked those to come forward who believed they had sinus headache. Each participant was carefully examined in a 90-minute evaluation and imaging tests were conducted.
The findings showed that most of them had been wrongly diagnosed and in fact had a diagnosis of migraine.
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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
How Do I Know If My Teens Headaches Are A Sign Of Something More Serious
If your teen is experiencing severe symptoms such as sudden loss of balance, numbness, paralysis, speech difficulties, or seizures, seek medical attention right away. Call your family doctor he or she may want you to go straight to the emergency room.
Most headaches are easily treatable and are not a sign of a more serious medical problem. Headaches may improve as your teen gets older. However, if your teens headaches are becoming more frequent, the pain and symptoms are getting worse, and/or pain medicines do not seem to be helping, its time to visit your family doctor.
He or she will ask about your teens health history and details about their headaches. Keep a detailed log to track their headache triggers, symptoms, frequency, and treatments. Your doctor will perform a physical exam. He or she will look for problems with your teens temperature, breathing, pulse, and blood pressure. If they suspect a central nervous system problem, they will order or perform a CT scan or MRI test to look for abnormal areas in the brain.
In rare occasions, chronic, progressive headaches can be a sign of a serious underlying medical problem in your teen. These conditions could include:
- Brain infections.
- Ache in your your upper teeth
- Swollen or puffy face
Sinusitis usually occurs after a respiratory viral infection or cold. There is normally a thick discolored mucus, a reduced sense of smell, and in a nutshell, with a sinus headache your whole face hurts.
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Should I See A Specialist For Headaches Caused By Allergies
If over-the-counter medications and lifestyle changes do not fix your allergy headaches, this can lead to additional problems associated with nasal allergies, such as chronic sinus infections. When allergies cause congestion over a significant period of time, this can eventually cause sinus blockages, which can lead to a sinus infection.
If your allergy headaches and other allergy symptoms persist, it is important to see an allergy or sinus specialist. This specialist can perform an allergy skin test to evaluate your allergies, and even conduct a sinus CAT scan to evaluate your sinuses. An allergist can also recommend stronger, prescription treatments that may be more effective than over-the-counter medications for relieving your symptoms.
If you are struggling to stay on top of your headaches and other allergy symptoms, the experts at Aspire Allergy & Sinus are ready to help. Contact us to make your first appointment and start feeling better faster!
How Do You Diagnose Sinus Headaches Caused By Migraines
Sinus headaches are most likely due to migraines or tension headaches. Migraines are diagnosed by symptoms, including the frequency and severity of symptoms, family history, and by physical exam. Migraines can also include nausea and vomiting. These episodes may be triggered by hormonal changes, lack of sleep, certain foods or alcohol or caffeine, stress, or environmental changes like weather, altitude changes, or allergens. Many patients with migraines have family members who also experience migraine headaches.
If you have unusual or severe symptoms, additional tests such as an MRI of the brain may be ordered to rule out more serious conditions that can cause headache pain, such as tumors or bleeding around the brain. If you have repeated episodes of sinus pain and pressure, a nasal endoscopy or imaging such as an MRI or CT scan can determine if sinus pain or pressure is due to a sinus infection or other sinus pathology. A normal sinus CT scan while you have symptoms could help rule out sinusitis, and determine if migraines, headaches, or other causes of facial pain and pressure are causing the sinus symptoms.
Other causes of facial pain and pressure can include temporomandibular joint syndrome, clenching or grinding your teeth, trigeminal nerve pain, temporal arteritis , dental infection, or other neurologic causes of facial pain.
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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.
What Are Cluster Headache Symptoms
Cluster headaches tend to have very recognizable symptoms. When symptoms set in, it usually only takes 5 to 10 minutes for them to reach their worst. Common symptoms include one sided head pain and other symptoms involving the eye, nose and skin on the same side as the pain.
Pain from cluster headaches
Pain from cluster headaches has a few notable features:
- Often described as a burning or piercing feeling.
- Lasts 15 minutes to 3 hours at a time.
- Typically felt on the same side of the head in the current cycle rarely may switch in the future.
- Always centered behind one eye but can spread over the affected sides forehead, temple, nose and gums.
- Can make you feel like you cant sit still and need to pace, unlike the relief lying down provides for migraines.
Other cluster headache symptoms
Cluster headaches may also cause:
- Congestion: Your nose may run or become stuffy only on the side of the headache
- Eye problems: You may experience a drooping eyelid, eye pain or a watering eye. Your pupil may also look smaller. These symptoms appear on the same side of the head as headache pain.
- Face changes: You may start sweating and your face may become flushed on the side of the headache.
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Serious Morning Headache Symptoms
There are two concerning exceptions of morning headaches that dont fit neatly into the categories I mentioned above. While rare, they are still worth considering, as they may be overlooked:
- Infections: Any infection involving the lining of the brain causes extreme pain and usually a stiff neck. Because the lining of the brain is called the meninges, we call those infections meningitis.
- Carbon monoxide poisoning: Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that is lethal when inhaled in large quantities. Unvented, fuel-burning space heaters can release carbon monoxide and this might cause you to wake up feeling light-headed and nauseous. If you have these symptoms and you have a space heater at home, and if anyone else in the house has the same symptoms, step outside immediately and consider seeing a doctor.
Waking Up With Headaches: 15 Possible Causes Prevention And Treatments
Do you often suffer from Waking up with headaches? If it only happens occasionally and the cause is known, then there is nothing to worry about. Read this article to know when to see a doctor right away if you get a headache after sleeping?
Its not uncommon to wake up every morning with a headache. Millions of people struggle with morning headaches or any other time of day. It could be a form of migraine. It could also be something else.
About 1 out 13 people suffer from morning headaches. These headaches usually affect women more than men and occur most often in those aged 45-64.
A variety of health conditions and sleep patterns can lead to headaches upon waking up. The most common causes are sleep apnea or migraine and a lack of sleep. A headache can also be caused by alcohol, teeth grinding, or certain medications. Sometimes, your headaches are caused by a combination of disorders.
It is not a good way to begin the day. If this happens enough often, it will likely be a top priority to find the root cause. Is it a sleep problem or a headache? Do you have a headache or sleep problem?
You might think that you may have a history of chronic headaches. You might be suffering from poor sleep.
Sleep deprivation could be causing headaches if you have a hard time sleeping. You might be unable to get the rest you need because of your aching head.
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Diagnosis Is Key As Sinus Pain May Actually Be Part Of A Migraine Attack
Sometimes that dull, throbbing pain in your face is a sign that youve caught the dreaded common cold, and your sinuses are now inflamed. Its tricky though to differentiate between sinus pain and a migraine or tension headache, since all three can produce similar types of pain.
Lets learn more about sinus headaches and what you can do to ease your pain and accompanying symptoms.
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Snoring And Sleep Apnea
Your headaches may be caused by disturbed sleep due to snoring, or sleep apnea. Snoring can either be an individual condition or a sign of sleep apnea.
You may experience sleep apnea, which can cause you to have difficulty breathing during the night. Sleep apnea is a condition that causes headaches for approximately 30 min.
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Morning Headache: Why Youre Waking Up With Headaches
We all go to bed at night with intentions of waking up feeling rested, refreshed, and ready for the day. But for many people, waking up with a headache interferes with that.
Headaches are not uncommon and neither is waking up with them. There are several causes for waking up with headaches, and discovering the cause is the first step to putting a stop to them.
Common Types Of Morning Headaches
While headaches are a pain, they’re not all created equal. In general, these are the most common types of morning headaches you might have, according to doctors:
- Tension headache. These are the most common type of headaches and usually feel like a band is squeezing your head, according to the National Library of Medicine . They’re usually caused by muscle tension in your head, scalp, or neck.
- Sinus headache. A sinus headache usually feels like pain behind your browbone orcheekbones. They’re usually caused by inflammation or an infection in your sinuses, says Kathryn Boling, M.D., a primary care physician at Baltimore’s Mercy Medical Center.
- Migraine headache. Migraines are intense headaches that usually impact one side of your head. They can cause symptoms, such as pain, nausea, and vision changes, according to the NLM.
- Cluster headache. A cluster headache leads to pain in and around one eye or side of the head. It tends to happen in “cluster periods” and can last for weeks to months, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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Headache Vs Migraine Symptoms
Headaches occur for a variety of reasons and range in location, severity, and duration. Aside from migraine, there are several other headache types, including:
- Sinus headache: This type arises from pressure in your sinuses, often due to congestion or illnesses like influenza or the common cold. It usually affects the face, nose, and cheeks.
- Tension headache: The most common kind of headache, tension headaches usually affect the forehead or back of the head. Stress, eye strain, and hunger are all causes of this type.
- Cluster headaches: These are very painful and occur dailyor even multiple times a dayfor prolonged periods of time. These often arise when blood vessels serving the brain dilate. Common triggers include physical exertion, bright lights, and altitude.
Though headaches are the principal sign of migraines, they cause a range of other symptoms. Theres a good deal of variation between cases as well. Migraine attacks progress in stages, each with distinct characteristics:
Why Am I Waking Up With Headaches Morning Headache Causes
You may be waking up with headaches in the morning because of various health conditions, such as sleep problems, poor posture, or even a tumor. In this article, we help you understand the common causes of morning headaches.
Morning headaches affect 1 in 13 people, according to an article published in The Archives of Internal Medicine.
But just because its common doesnt mean you have to wake up every morning with head pain and live with it.
At Denver Upper Cervical Chiropractic, we believe in treating the root causes of your morning headaches. to contact us to set up an appointment right away.
Why do I wake up with headaches every morning? You may wake up with headaches every morning because of sleep disorders, migraines, depression, certain medications, alcohol consumption, or bruxism.
Read on to find out more about these morning headache causes.
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