Many people dread having sinusitis, as its symptoms can make your life miserable. One of the most dreaded symptoms is sinus headache – a deep and throbbing pain felt in the head and face. Headache brought about by sinusitis is often mistaken to be tension headaches or migraine. To know more about the differences, and on the best ways to get rid of this symptom, here are some basic information that you need to know about sinus headache.

Sinus Headache: Signs, Symptoms and Causes

Headaches brought about by sinusitis are usually caused by nasal congestion and inflammation. If your sinuses are healthy, mucus drains properly and air is able to circulate normally throughout the nasal cavities. But when your sinuses are infected or inflamed, mucus is unable to drain as blockages occur inside the nasal passages. This makes the sinuses a perfect breeding ground for bacteria, viruses and fungi to live and grow rapidly.

Sinus headache manifests through the following symptoms:

• pain and pressure in any area of the face and head

• pain that is worse with sudden movement of the head

• head and face is tender to touch

• pain that is worse in the morning or during sudden temperature changes

• headache that usually starts after bouts of common colds

Since sinus headache is a symptom of sinusitis, there are also other symptoms that should be expected:

• nasal congestion with green or yellow discharge

• post nasal drip

• fever and fatigue

• sore throat

There are also some people who have a higher risk of experiencing sinus headaches, including those with frequent allergies or asthma. A person who has nasal abnormalities such as a deviated septum, polyps, or cleft palate also has a higher risk. Another risk factor is one’s activities – swimming, diving or climbing/flying to high altitudes.

Getting Rid of Sinus Headache Permanently

If you are suffering from sinus headache, the best way to get rid of it is by treating the underlying condition – sinusitis. Here are some common treatments that you might want to try out:

1. Medications

Pain relievers are often enough to get rid of headaches temporarily. For more permanent relief, specialized medications are needed. Antibiotics are prescribed for bacterial infection. Corticosteroids are helpful in reducing inflammation. Antihistamines are primarily used to treat allergies. Often used along with antihistamines are decongestants, which are effective against nasal congestion.

2. Herbal Remedies

Herbs that are traditionally used to treat headaches include Chinese skullcap, devil’s claw, feverfew and willow bark. Many prefer herbs over drug medications as these do not have adverse side effects to the body.

3. Advanced Treatment Methods

Nebulized therapy is a treatment method making use of a nasal nebulizer in administering sinus medications. Immediate relief is guaranteed as the medications inhaled through the nose travels deep into the nasal passages and directly into the inflamed areas.

Medicated irrigation is also another option to consider. This entails irrigating the nasal passages with a saline medicated solution, which saturates the nasal membranes and clears out excess mucus and other unwanted particles trapped inside the sinuses.

4. Surgery

Sinus surgery is another option when all other treatments fail. Endoscopic surgery can be done to remove the blockages inside the sinuses. Rhinoplasty, a newer procedure, can also be done wherein a balloon is inserted inside the nasal cavity and inflated.