Your sinuses are holes in your head. Your doctor would probably prefer to describe them as cavities inside your head that are filled with air. Sinuses are found in your forehead, cheekbones and behind the bridge of your nose. A thin mucus that drains out of the nose is produced by the sinuses.
You may not even think that much about your sinuses unless they become inflamed. Inflammation of the sinuses is caused by infections, allergic reactions, or tumors. Inflammation can block up the sinus and prevent the mucus from flowing out of the sinus cavities. The pain that results is difficult to distinguish from headaches of another kind. There certain characteristics of sinus headaches however.
Characteristics
Deep pain that doesn’t go away, that is localized in the cheekbones, forehead or behind the bridge of the nose may point to the sinuses as the source of a headache. Moving the head about in any direction typically causes the pain of the sinus headaches to increase. Although mucus may be having trouble escaping the sinus, symptoms often involve nasal discharges. Full feelings in the ear, facial swelling and fever are also characteristic of sinus headaches.
Diagnosis
Only a doctor can determine whether your headache is caused by trouble in your sinuses. Doctors will look for the symptoms we’ve described above such as fever and a full feeling. In addition they will likely schedule you for a CT scan or an MRI. A thorough physical may also be included in the diagnostic process.
Treatment
Sinus problems are usually addressed by treating the symptoms. If an infection is thought to be the cause of the sinus headaches antibiotics may be prescribed. However, your doctor may be hesitant to battle an infection with antibiotics if he or she suspects that the cause of the infection is a virus, since antibiotics cannot treat viral infections.
Symptoms of sinus trouble, including headaches, are often treated with antihistamines like Benadryl of decongestants like Sudafed. Self medicating, even with over-the-counter medications, is ill-advised. Decongestants might make most headache pain intensify if that headache has nothing to do with the sinuses, for example.
Ordinary pain relievers when carefully monitored by a doctor may be all that’s needed for milder sinus headaches. Vasoconstrictors may also be prescribed by physicians in some instances to alleviate nasal congestion. Corticosteroids may be indicated by your doctor if inflammation is persistent.
The Allergen Factor
Doctors will never admit to the notion that allergies directly cause sinus headaches. What they will acknowledge is that allergies can cause sinus congestion. As we discovered earlier sinus congestion can lead to sinus headaches. Since congestion has caused your headache you will likely be given or prescribed a decongestant. Since allergies can be persistent and decongestants can be addictive you will need to be careful. If decongestants relieve your headaches it’s a safe bet that your sinuses aren’t infected.
If a doctor thinks you have allergies a separate course of treatment for that will probably be initiated by your doctor.