Why Do I Have A Sinus Headache

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.

New Daily Persistent Headache

If you suddenly get frequent headaches, you may have NDPH. The symptoms of NDPH can mimic tension headaches or migraines, but NDPH occurs in people who dont have a history of headaches. Often, people with NDPH can remember exactly when the onset happened. Your doctor may need to run tests to make sure these headaches arent secondary that is, a symptom of a serious underlying condition.

Although daily headaches might not be the result of a dangerous problem, they can affect your quality of life and shouldnt be considered normal.

Progressive symptoms of more severe or frequent headaches, or any headache that is also associated with other neurological symptoms, should be evaluated by a physician, says Jonathan J. Russin, MD, a neurosurgeon at Keck Medicine of USC and assistant professor of clinical neurological surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. Even using these criteria, the majority of headaches will not represent an underlying problem. An exception is a thunderclap headache, which refers to the sudden onset of the worst headache of your life. This type of headache should always be evaluated by a physician whether it is associated with other symptoms or not.

Concerned about your headaches? If you are in the Los Angeles area, schedule an appointment with one of our specialists or call USC-CARE .

Is There Really A Sinus Migraine

Technically, the answer is no. There are migraines and there are sinus headaches. They are not the same, but some people have coined the phrase sinus migraine to make the distinction that their migraines seem to have a sinus component. They may be familiar enough with migraines that they know the typical symptoms, so they rule it out because their headaches dont fit that mold. The truth is, there are many different types of migraines and headaches and they often have very similar, if not identical, symptoms.

Dr. Ailani explains, Migraine pain can be located in the temples or back of the head, but often is in or around the eye and can, on occasion, be located under the eye, around the nose, and into the jaw. The reason for this is that the nerve that causes facial sensation and sinus sensation and the one that also causes facial and sinus pain, are one and the same, the trigeminal nerve.

She continues, When this nerve is turned on, you can experience pain- which can be all different types such as pulsating, throbbing, pressure, searing, jabbing, tingling, and burning, anywhere in your head and face. This nerve also connects to other nerves at the back of the neck and in the sinuses. When one nerve decides to be turned on, other connected nerves can follow- where there is a party, all like to join in!

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How Are Sinus Headaches Diagnosed

Most of the time when people diagnose themselves with a sinus headache, its really a migraine. So, its important to see your healthcare provider to get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms. If your symptoms are severe or ongoing, you may also need imaging tests. A magnetic resonance imaging test can rule out serious brain conditions. Multiple imaging tests can reveal sinus blockages and include:

• Computed tomography scan.
• Nasal endoscopy .

What To Do About Sinus Headaches

Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints for both women and men. Like any other medical issue, headaches require a clear understanding of whats causing painful symptoms in order to make sure the treatment is both effective and safe.

Unfortunately, lots of issues can cause headaches and that makes it hard to know how to treat them. In fact, even though sinus headaches are a major cause of painful symptoms, theyre frequently misdiagnosed as tension headaches or migraines.

With practices in Salt Lake City, Murray, Draper, Tooele, and West Jordan, Utah, ENT Specialists makes it easy for women and men to get the treatment they need for sinus headaches and their symptoms. Heres how to tell if your headaches might be related to your sinuses and what we can do to help you feel better.

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Snoring Or Sleep Apnea

Disrupted sleep caused by snoring or sleep apnea may be the source of your early morning headaches. Snoring can be a condition on its own or a symptom of sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing at times throughout the night. Generally, headaches associated with sleep apnea last for about 30 minutes.You can treat sleep apnea with special equipment, such as a continuous positive airway pressure machine.

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In Rare Cases Constant Headaches Could Be A Sign Of A Brain Tumor

Googling your headache symptoms may result in a self-diagnosis of brain tumor. A brain tumor is a growth of abnormal cells on your brain, and they can be either cancerous or benign the Mayo Clinic says. Rest assured: Theyre rare, so chances are you dont have one. But its a possibility, and something you dont want to miss, Dr. Hutchinson says. If a patients had a regular headache pattern and it hasnt changed, its usually not a red flag, she says. But if headaches are a new thing for you, are the most severe youve ever experienced, or are changing or worsening over time, these are signs your doctor may order a brain scan. But if youre ever worried about whats causing your headaches, its worth discussing with your doctor.

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What Are Sinus Headache Treatment Options

When wanting to know how to treat a sinus headache, youre likely to begin by seeing your family physician, particularly if youre experiencing chronic sinus headaches. They might refer you to a neurologist who specializes in migraines and headaches. Your physician might suggest treating the pain as well as the underlying causes of your sinus headache at the same time.

Some sinus headache treatment options include:

When To Worry About Morning Headaches: Symptoms Causes & Treatments

Morning headaches are common, and most of the time, theres no reason for concern. However, if you find yourself frequently waking up with headaches, its important to pay attention to the type of pain you feel and if youre experiencing any accompanying neurological symptoms. With this knowledge, you can take the right steps to treat your pain.

I have a quick procedure I follow to assess headaches and determine whether they are a sign of something more serious. I categorize the headache, look for the cause, and then determine the right course of treatment.

In this article, Ill teach you how to categorize your morning headaches. Ill describe some specific symptoms to watch for, possible causes of morning headaches, and neurological symptoms to be aware of. Ill also provide some general guidelines for when to see your doctor, information about the treatments they might recommend, and some other key takeaways. If youre wondering why you wake up in the morning with a headache, this may help you narrow down the potential cause, actions you should take, and treatments to consider.

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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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What Is A Natural Cure For Sinus Headache

Saline flush A common treatment for sinus pressure and congestion is a saline wash. Saline spray contains salt that helps to increase moisture in your nose and reduce sinus pressure. You can buy saline spray in drugstores, or you can make your own with baking soda, distilled water, and iodine-free salt.

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How Do I Know If My Headache Is Migraine Or Sinus Headache

So, how do you know if your headache is migraine and not sinus? Go beyond the nasal and sinus congestion and the facial pain and pressure look for a headache associated with the inability to function normally at work, school, home or social functions, nausea, sensitivity to light and triggers such as weather change, menstrual cycle, and stress . Significantly, it is commonly thought that weather change often causes sinus headache when weather change is a common trigger for migraine.

You can also ask yourself the following questions from the ID Migraine Questionnaire developed by Dr. Richard Lipton of Albert Einstein College of Medicine:

• In the past three months, how disabling are your headaches? Do they interfere with your ability to function?
• Do you ever feel nausea when you have a headache?
• Do you become sensitive to light while you have a headache?

If you answer yes to two of the above three criteria, migraine is likely 93% of the time. If you answer yes to all three, a migraine diagnosis is 98% likely.

The American Migraine Foundation is committed to improving the lives of those living with this debilitating disease. For more of the latest news and information on migraine, visit the AMF Resource Library. For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool. Together, we are as relentless as migraine.

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Avoid Sinus Pain Triggers

One of the most important things to avoid is over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays. They may give some fast relief, but after a few days they make sinus pressure and nasal congestion much worse, warns Das. Some other things you can do to prevent sinus pain include avoiding alcohol, which can aggravate sinus pain and congestion cleaning your humidifier to avoid fungal allergies washing your bedding in hot water to decrease allergy exposure and avoiding swimming, diving, or flying when you have sinusitis, a common cold, or nasal allergy.

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What Is Sinus Headache

A true sinus headache, called rhinosinusitis, is rare. The cause is a viral or bacterial sinus infection characterized by thick, discolored nasal discharge. Youll get symptoms like possibly weaker smell or no smell, facial pain or pressure and commonly, fever. Facial pain and headache should resolve within seven days after viral symptoms improve or after successful treatment with antibiotics . If pain continues, then your diagnosis should be reconsidered.

Common Sinus Headache Symptoms

• Fever: You wonât always run a temperature when you have a headache caused by sinusitis, but itâs a distinct possibility, especially if the infection is caused by a bacteria rather than a virus. In that case, an antibiotic actually may be in order to knock out the bacteria.
• Purulent nasal discharge: A thick, yellowish or greenish discharge is a sign of infection.
• Ear or upper tooth pain: Ear and upper tooth pain are common complaints in those suffering from a sinus infection.

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How You Can Treat Sinusitis Yourself

You can often treat mild sinusitis without seeing a GP by:

• getting plenty of rest
• taking painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
• avoiding allergic triggers and not smoking
• cleaning your nose with a salt water solution to ease congestion

If you have a high temperature or you do not feel well enough to do your normal activities, try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people until you feel better.

You do not need to use all of the solution, but make a fresh solution each time you clean your nose.

Relieve Your Sinus Headaches

While some headaches respond well to rest and stress management, sinus headaches are caused by a medical problem affecting your sinus cavities. That means that in order to relieve those painful symptoms, you need to see an ENT doctor like the team at ENT Specialists.

If youre having sinus headaches or headaches associated with facial pain or allergies, we here at ENT Specialists can help. Call the office or book an appointment online to learn about the techniques and treatment we use to help our patients find relief.

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How Do You Stop Sinus Headaches

Some other things you can do to prevent sinus pain include avoiding alcohol, which can aggravate sinus pain and congestion cleaning your humidifier to avoid fungal allergies washing your bedding in hot water to decrease allergy exposure and avoiding swimming, diving, or flying when you have sinusitis, a common cold, â¦

What Are The Sinus Headache Symptoms

Sinus headaches might give you pressure and pain around your sinuses â in your forehead, particularly between and behind your eyes and above your nose. These areas might feel a bit tender to the touch. Pain may become worse with movement, such as lying down or bending over. If pain is the only symptom you experience, you likely arenât experiencing a sinus headache. Sinus headaches typically present other symptoms too, such as:

• Nasal discharge

Headaches and migraines from sinusitis are simple to confuse because the symptoms and signs of both could overlap.

Both sinusitis and migraine headache pain frequently becomes worse when bending forward. Migraine could also be accompanied by a variety of nasal symptoms and signs, including:

• Facial pressure
• Water, clear nasal discharge

This is because when youâre experiencing a migraine attack, it involves the autonomic nervous system. In fact, research has shown that around 90% of individuals who see a physician for sinus headaches, actually are experiencing migraines instead.

However, sinusitis typically isnât linked with nausea or vomiting and isnât usually aggravated by bright light or noise which are all common migraine features.

Sinusitis typically occurs after a cold or upper respiratory infection and includes:

• Discolored, thick nasal mucus
• Pain in upper teeth or one cheek

Headaches related to sinus disease frequently last for days, maybe longer and migraines typically last for hours sometimes a day or two.

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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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Sinus Headache And Nausea

When suffering from sinus infections one of the symptoms is sinus headache. Nausea when accompanied with headache is actually a symptom of migraine. Read on, to distinguish between these two conditions.

When suffering from sinus infections one of the symptoms is sinus headache. Nausea when accompanied with headache is actually a symptom of migraine. Read on, to distinguish between these two conditions.

The symptoms of sinus headache and nausea-related headache are similar. However, the headache that causes nausea, and the headache experienced during sinus infection is due to different causes and need different treatment. During sinus infection a person will experience a stuffy nose and headache in the facial region like behind the eyes and teeth pain. Another type of sinus headache occurs when one is on the airplane and is landing and has a cold allergy. This is called vacuum headache and causes the frontal sinuses to close up leading a vacuum effect throughout the sinus cavity, that causes a lot of pain.

These were the different sinus-related headaches. The headache that is accompanied by nausea is migraine. Migraine headache gives severe pain and causes visual disturbances and nausea. It can also cause vomiting and many people experience a throbbing pain on one side of the head, when suffering from migraines. Many tension type of headaches, apart from causing headache can also give a slight stuffy or runny nose.

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