Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Sinus Headache Symptoms
Sinus headaches usually produce many symptoms. They come on fairly quickly and can be relieved quickly, too.
With a sinus headache, you may feel slight tenderness when you gently press on your cheeks. The symptoms typically worsen when you lower your head or lie down.
What Causes a Sinus Headache Without Congestion
When to See a Healthcare Provider
When symptoms of a sinus infection do not quickly resolve or recur, it’s important to see your healthcare provider.
Notably, you should not delay in seeing your healthcare provider if you have any of the following signs, which could indicate a superimposed bacterial infection:
Normally, sinuses provide space for mucus drainage. When your sinuses become fuller, due to a buildup of mucus or inflammatory cells, the pressure can cause sinus headache pain.
Sinus headaches generally develop due to sinusitis, which isinflammation of the sinuses. And structural variations in your sinus cavities can make you more prone to sinus headaches as well.
Risk Factors
Sinus headaches can develop for a variety of reasons and are common among healthy people of all ages.
A simplecold or flucan cause sinusitis, giving way to a sinus headache. Most people experience this type of sinus headache a few times per year.
If you are prone toallergiesfrom pollen, mold, dust, or smoke, you can develop sinus headaches when your allergies are triggered.
Medical conditions that impair breathing, includingasthmaandcystic fibrosis, can also make your sinuses congested, causing sinus headaches.
Mildanatomical alterations in your facial bonescan lead to a fullness in your sinuses, which causes sinus headaches. Structural abnormalities can alter the flow of mucus and inflammation, trapping it and making you more prone to sinus headaches.
The most common structural abnormality that causes sinus headaches is a narrowing of the nasal cavity, such as anasal valve collapseor adeviated septum. Structural narrowing of the nasal passage can cause you to feel pressure and fullness from just slight inflammation and mucus build up, resulting in a sinus headache.
A sinus headache is diagnosed based on a clinical examination. While a sinus headache can be treated fairly easily and is not dangerous, your healthcare provider may also want to rule out serious illnesses, such asmeningitis.
Physical Examination
Your healthcare provider may check your ears with an otoscope and your nasal passages with an endoscope. This may show narrowing of these passageways due to swelling, as well as the presence of nasal discharges. Polyps or septal deviation may be notes and can be a predisposing factor for recurrent sinus headaches.
Tests
Most of the time, specialized diagnostic examinations are not necessary for evaluation of sinus headaches. If there is a concern that the cause is serious or that you could have another condition entirely, however, some tests may be ordered depending on the suspected diagnosis.
For example, your healthcare provider may send mucus samples to the lab to test for bacteria, or order an X-ray, ultrasound,computerized tomography (CT)scan, ormagnetic resonance imaging (MRI)to look for a mass or other obstruction.
Differential Diagnoses
Usually, there is nothing more to a sinus headache thansinusitis. But sometimes there can be other concerning illnesses that need to be ruled out. It’s also possible that you indeed have a headache, but a different type.
Mimicking Conditions
A few conditions can mimic sinus headaches:
Like sinus headaches, these conditions may cause head pressure, but there are often symptoms and signs that can help with the diagnosis. Imaging can be used to differentiate some of these conditions.
Other Headache Types
Sinus headaches can have some features that are similar to those oftension headaches, medication overuse headaches, andmigraine headaches, but there are some differences as well.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
Your healthcare provider will consider these when determining if you, indeed, have a sinus headache or another type.
For example, tension headaches—which are very common—tend to improve with sleep, worsen with emotional stress and muscle strain, and are not associated with congestion.
Migraines are also very common and at times can feel similar to sinus headaches. However, in migraines, the pain is often throbbing, involves one side of the head, and is associated with nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, sounds, and odors.
At-home treatments and over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers can usually help relieve sinus headache symptoms. Be sure to use them as directed and call your healthcare provider if you don’t experience an improvement of your symptoms within a few days.
You may need further treatment for the underlying cause. In some cases, prescription medications or surgery may be recommended.
Home Remedies
These strategies don’t work for everyone. But if they do for you, they are worth incorporating into your treatment plan. The following home remedies are simple, safe, and can reduce sinus inflammation and congestion:
8 Sinus Pressure Points All Over the Body
Medications
OTC pain relievers—aspirin, Tylenol (acetaminophen), or Motrin or Advil (ibuprofen)—can help you manage the discomfort associated with sinus headaches.
OTC nasal sprays anddecongestantscan help relieve the sinus pressure that often leads to sinusitis. Some people are prone to sinus headaches and may benefit from taking such medication for prevention, especially if allergies frequently act up and are triggers.
In some cases, your healthcare provider may give you aprescriptionantihistaminefor short-term use to reduce inflammation.
The most effective treatment for bacterial sinus infections isantibiotics, which need to be taken for the full duration to ensure that all the bacteria is eradicated. Eliminating the bacterial infection should also put an end to the sinus headaches.
CautionUnderstandably, there may be times when you want to take medication at the first sign of a sinus headache. However, if you are prone to sinus headaches and do this often, you can eventually developmedication overuse headaches. These worsen when the medication wears off, prompting you to take more, and then a cycle of pain continues.Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you experience recurrent sinus headaches so that you can work to avoid this problem.
Caution
Understandably, there may be times when you want to take medication at the first sign of a sinus headache. However, if you are prone to sinus headaches and do this often, you can eventually developmedication overuse headaches. These worsen when the medication wears off, prompting you to take more, and then a cycle of pain continues.Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you experience recurrent sinus headaches so that you can work to avoid this problem.
Understandably, there may be times when you want to take medication at the first sign of a sinus headache. However, if you are prone to sinus headaches and do this often, you can eventually developmedication overuse headaches. These worsen when the medication wears off, prompting you to take more, and then a cycle of pain continues.
Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider if you experience recurrent sinus headaches so that you can work to avoid this problem.
Surgery
When sinus headaches keep recurring due to an anatomical variation, corrective surgery can help prevent the headaches.
Different procedures are used, including:
Sinus headaches may mimic other headaches and some medical illnesses. Once you get a diagnosis of sinus headache, you can rest assured that the treatment is generally successful. If you continue to experience recurrent discomfort, however, you may need to see an allergist or an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist so that you can confirm the cause of your sinus headaches and begin a preventative treatment plan.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Headache.Cedars-Sinai.Sinus headaches.Aydemir L, Doruk C, Çaytemel B, Şahin B, Şahin E, Çelik M, et al.Paranasal sinus volumes and headache: is there a relation?Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;276(8):2267-2271. doi:10.1007/s00405-019-05461-1.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Headache.Cedars-Sinai.Sinus headaches.Aydemir L, Doruk C, Çaytemel B, Şahin B, Şahin E, Çelik M, et al.Paranasal sinus volumes and headache: is there a relation?Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;276(8):2267-2271. doi:10.1007/s00405-019-05461-1.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Headache.Cedars-Sinai.Sinus headaches.Aydemir L, Doruk C, Çaytemel B, Şahin B, Şahin E, Çelik M, et al.Paranasal sinus volumes and headache: is there a relation?Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;276(8):2267-2271. doi:10.1007/s00405-019-05461-1.
MedlinePlus.Headache.
Cedars-Sinai.Sinus headaches.
Aydemir L, Doruk C, Çaytemel B, Şahin B, Şahin E, Çelik M, et al.Paranasal sinus volumes and headache: is there a relation?Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;276(8):2267-2271. doi:10.1007/s00405-019-05461-1.
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