Headaches are very common, and lots of Americans get them every year. Headaches happen for many reasons and can feel different. Most headaches are not because of sinus problems. Some people with sinusitis might have headaches because of them, but not everyone with sinusitis gets headaches. It can be tricky to figure out which headaches come from sinus issues, but your doctor can help make the right diagnosis.
Headaches Due to Sinus Problems
Sinus problems can cause headaches when the inside of the sinuses gets swollen. This swelling traps mucus and fluid, causing pressure and congestion. This usually happens during a sinus infection or when chronic sinus problems get worse. The headache comes at the same time as other sinus symptoms and gets better when the sinus problem is treated.
The International Headache Society created criteria for “headache attributed to sinusitis:”
- Frontal headache (forehead) with pain or pressure in the face, teeth, or ears.
- Evidence of rhinosinusitis through clinical evidence, radiology imaging (CT or MRI), nasal endoscopy, or by laboratory data
- Headache and face pain start when sinus symptoms start
- Headache goes away within a week with the right sinus treatment
Headache Disorders vs Sinus Headaches
Some people use “sinus headache” to talk about a face pressure or pain headache. However, studies show that most of the time, migraines are wrongly called “sinus headaches.” Up to 88% of people who think they have a “sinus headache” actually have a migraine. The confusion comes because both migraines and sinus headaches can make the forehead and other areas on the face hurt. People with migraines might also have a runny nose and congestion, making it seem like sinus problems. Some of the triggers of sinusitis can also trigger migraines.
Besides migraines, there are other headaches that people confuse with “sinus headaches.” These headaches can happen because of stress, body chemical changes, or muscle and jaw problems.
- One kind is a tension headache, which is the most common primary headache. It might feel like a sinus headache because pain can spread from tight muscles to the sinuses and neck. These headaches can be rare or happen a lot, lasting from 30 minutes to several days. The pain is usually mild to moderate, and while there’s no nausea, sensitivity to light or noise might happen.
- Another kind is a cluster headache, causing strong one-sided pain near the eye, above the eye, temple, and forehead. The pain lasts for 15 minutes to 3 hours and comes with watery eyes, red eyes, clear nose dripping, congestion, eyelid swelling or drooping, sweating, and restlessness.
In Summary
Finding out why a headache happens can be hard. Sometimes, different headaches can be present at the same time. If your headaches aren’t from sinus problems, talk to your regular doctor or a neurologist. If your headaches are from sinus problems, see a rhinologist for more help.