Headaches & Nasal Sinus Disease

While headaches are common determining the true cause of a headache may be difficult. Even though you may be certain your headache is from the sinuses, the headache may have another cause.

Nasal congestion with facial pressure, pain behind the eyes, cheeks and the upper teeth, may be symptoms of a sinus headache. Migraine headache can also have these same symptoms making the diagnosis difficult and the reasons to see an expert. For some people, there can be a combination of both sinus and migraine headaches. Sinus or nasal problems can trigger migraine.

• National Headache Foundation

Sinus headaches are caused when the nasal turbinates are swollen. The swelling of the turbinates creates excess mucous, often filling and blocking the sinuses. The turbinates may block the outflow of mucus from the sinuses and prevent the inflow into the sinuses. This swelling causes the facial pressure. 

Medical management for turbinate congestion often helps and includes oral decongestants and over the counter decongesting nasal sprays (Afrin™ or neosynephrine). However, caution must be used with these decongesting nasal sprays because they can often make the symptoms worse by causing more congestion after the medication wears off. This is called a “rebound phenomenon”.

Surgical management to relieve the congestion is effective over 95% of the time. This is done either in the office for some patients or the out-patient surgery center using radiofrequency treatment (Coblation™). Following surgery most people are back to nearly every activity the same or next day.

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What is Barosinusitis

Barosinusitis is an obstruction of the sinus drainage and outflow that occurs with pressure change, like in an airplane, going down a mountain or riding in an elevator.  The blockage causes a vacuum in the sinuses and head and there can be moderate to severe pain over the face and sinuses.  If this occurs occasionally, using over the counter decongestants by spray or pill may help.   If this occurs frequently, a sinus and nose examination is needed to see if there is a cause from nasal or sinus blockage.

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Sinus Headache

Headaches are common. Determining the true cause of a headache may be difficult. Sometimes headaches occur with sinusitis and sometimes not.

Nasal congestion with facial pressure, pain behind the eyes, cheeks and the upper teeth are symptoms of a sinus headache.

Sinus headaches are caused when turbinates are swollen. The swelling of the turbinates creates excess mucous, often filling and blocking the sinuses. This swelling causes the facial pressure.

Medical management often helps and includes oral decongestants and nasal sprays. However, caution must be used with nasal sprays because they can often make the symptoms worse.

Surgical managment of obsturcting areas that trigger headache. These include the short, outpatient treatment (Coblation) or VivAer.

National Headache Foundation