Chronic Sinus Headache
June 7th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
A chronic headache, that is, a headache that won’t go away, is serious, and you need to be examined by a doctor to determine the cause.
Many people believe they suffer from chronic sinus headaches because they frequently suffer from sever pain around their sinus areas in their face and head. It is possible to have chronic sinus headaches however the condition is rare and can only be diagnosed by a doctor.
A chronic sinus headache would not be as painful as the more common acute sinus headache which occurs during a sinus infection. When sinuses are clogged bacteria can grow in the nasal passages creating an infection of the nasal passages commonly known as a sinus infection.
The headache associated with a sinus infection is quite severe and common treatments such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen will not help the pain. Chronic sinus headaches and acute sinus headaches will often require antibiotics to kill the infection as well as medications to alleviate the sinus pain.
Migraine Headaches
Many self-diagnosed chronic sinus headache suffers could actually be suffering from migraine headaches, the pain occurs in much the same places in the face and head. However, the cause of migraine headaches are varied and rarely are related to an illness.
Some people who believe they suffer from chronic sinus headaches believe the change in weather or pollution such as chemical smells or smoke are the cause of their sinus headache. In fact, these are triggers of migraine headaches.
If an allergy does exist it would not cause a sinus headache, because with allergies such as pollen, dander, or dust which cause nasal drainage. The fact that there is drainage omits the possibility of chronic sinus headache occurrences.
Moreover, many people take over the counter medications for sinus headaches such as sinus relief medicines, allergy medicines, or other pain relieving medication. However, these medications often will have no effect on the headache.
Tension Headaches
Tension headaches are also often thought to be pain masquerading as chronic sinus headaches. Tension headaches can cause pain in the temples and across the forehead. Because of this many people do mistake tension headaches for chronic sinus headaches.
Many tension headaches are accompanied by pain in the neck and shoulders. Sometimes the pain is right at the base of the head. Because there are also glands here, this can confuse many people into believing that they are suffering from chronic sinus headaches instead of tension headaches.
A doctor can perform tests to determine if a person has chronic sinus headaches. If someone believes they have chronic sinus headaches they should immediately contact a physician as medial treatment is necessary to relieve the pain and kill the infection.
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What’s a Sinus Headache?
May 11th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
If you suffer from hayfever and allergies, you’re probably familiar with a dull, foggy feeling in your head, and the dull pounding of a sinus headache. Sinus headaches are often confused with other types of pain like migraines and tension headaches. However, the difference between these various causes of discomfort can make the difference in finding the most effective treatment that will bring about the quickest relief.
For this reason, it is important to distinguish between the various types of headache pain, so that your treatment will target the exact cause the best. For example, migraines are often best treated with certain prescription medications, or lying down in a dark room with a cool compress over the forehead.
Tension headaches can usually be relieved with over the counter medications and de-stressing activities like a warm bath or a massage. Sinus headaches need to also be treated at the core of the problem, which, in this case, is congested and possibly infected sinus cavities.
What Characterizes a Sinus Headache?
Sinus headaches are generally accompanied by pain in the face, especially in your cheeks or forehead area. The pain may get more intense when you bend forward or lie down. Keep in mind that some migraines may also include facial pain that gets worse with bending over, so these symptoms are not the only telltale sign of a sinus headache. The pain of these headaches can also come with a discharge from the nose, mild fever, a sore throat and cough, and fatigue. In this case, you may not only be suffering from a sinus headache, but a sinus infection to boot. This problem will require a trip to your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment. If you do not see an indication of any of these symptoms, but you have had a cold or allergy issues, you can try taking an over the counter decongestant to see if it brings relief to your symptoms. If it does, you probably were having a sinus headache without the infection.
Treatment of an Infection
If you decide to visit your doctor for treatment of your sinus headaches, he will first do an exam to determine if your sinus passages are indeed infected. This might include asking you about current illnesses, checking your sinus areas for pain and tenderness, and using an endoscope to look at your nasal passages. If your doctor determines that your sinus headache is indeed caused by an infection, he will probably give you a prescription for an antibiotic to clear it up. It is important that you finish every dose of your medication, even though your sinus headache and other symptoms may clear up within a day or two. To treat the pain until the antibiotics bring relief, you can use over the counter pain medications, decongestants and nasal sprays.
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