While everyone is prone to a headache occasionally, when these become frequent , constant/ chronic it is usually a sign indicative of another condition. Tejas Ear, Nose and Throat often see patients suffering from frequent headaches due to sinus conditions.
Sinus problems are rarely life threatening and can be easy to ignore or pass off as an everyday cold or allergies. However, left undiagnosed or untreated, these conditions can wreak havoc on your wellbeing and quality of life.
Headaches caused by sinus problems are different from tension or migraine headaches, which are often mistaken for pain from sinuses. Visiting your ENT doctor is the best way to determine the cause of your symptoms and get the correct treatment.
Sinusitis and headache
There are many causes for inflammation of the sinuses. Allergies, injury, viruses and bacteria are the most common. When sinuses swell, they put pressure on surrounding tissue, causing both areas in the head and face to consequently ache.
There are usually other symptoms that accompany sinus headache, including:
- Pain and pressure around the eyes, across the cheeks or forehead
- Ache in the upper teeth or jaw area
- Fever and chills
- Facial swelling
- Nasal congestion
- Yellow or green discharge
These and other symptoms are often thought to be “the flu,” or influenza, but the flu is only one specific virus family. When frequently occurring, these symptoms should be examined by an ENT doctor to determine if there is a sinus-related cause behind them.
Once an illness is diagnosed as sinus inflammation, treatments address both the symptoms and the cause:
- Decongestants to allow for better breathing
- Moisture breathing products like atomizers and humidifiers
- Nasal irrigation products
- NSAID pain medications
Treatments for sinus headaches
There are many variations of these treatments. The ENT doctor with Tejas Ear, Nose and Throat will guide you to the best options and can discuss new treatments should your illness persist.
Other procedures that may be recommended:
Adenoidectomy
Balloon Eustachian Tube Dilation
Balloon Sinuplasty
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Allergy Immunotherapy
Sinus and ear infections are very common today. Many food products and supplements tout properties that soothe symptoms, but they are not substitutes for diagnosis by Dr Tamez . Treatment for headaches should be comprehensive and targeted at the specific problem. Call us today for an appointment.