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A sinus headache — sometimes called a congestion headache — is a side effect of sinusitis, also called a sinus infection. Sinus headaches happen when you have congestion in your sinuses — the air-filled pockets behind your cheeks and in your forehead. This congestion causes pain and pressure around your nose, cheeks, and forehead.
At UPMC, our headache experts offer a full range of treatments for sinus headaches. After diagnosing your condition, they will develop a comprehensive treatment plan, working with allergy, headache, and ear, nose, and throat specialists as needed.
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What Is a Sinus Headache?
A sinus headache — sometimes called a congestion headache — is a rare side effect of sinusitis, also called a sinus infection. Sinus headaches happen when you have congestion in your sinuses — the air-filled pockets behind your cheeks and forehead. This congestion causes pain and pressure around your nose, cheeks, and forehead.
What does a sinus headache feel like?
A sinus or congestion headache is the pain and pressure you feel with a sinus infection, often in your forehead, nose, and cheeks. With your sinus pressure headache, you may:
- Get a fever.
- Have a runny nose.
- Have yellow, green, or even pink (bloody) discharge from your nose. This often means something is blocking your sinuses.
What causes sinus headaches?
Sinus headaches happen because of a sinus infection (sinusitis). Sinus infections are usually caused by viruses but can sometimes be caused by bacteria or allergies.
During a sinus infection, your sinuses may become blocked by mucus or swelling. As a result, fluid can’t drain properly. This fluid build-up can cause germs to grow and lead to sinus headache symptoms of congestion, pressure, and pain in your sinuses.
What can be mistaken for sinus pain?
Sometimes, other types of headaches can be mistaken for sinus headaches since the symptoms are similar. Migraine, cluster, and tension headaches are commonly misdiagnosed as sinus headaches.
What causes a sinus headache without congestion?
Sinus pain without congestion or discolored discharge is usually not a sinus headache caused by a sinus infection. You may have a cluster, migraine, or tension headache.
If light bothers you, your head is pounding, and you feel nauseous, you may have a migraine headache with sinus symptoms.
Tension headaches are another common type of headache. You can get them when you tighten your jaw, face, neck, and scalp muscles.
Sinus headache risk factors
Other health issues can cause ear fullness, blocked sinuses, inflammation, and facial swelling.
Health problems that may put you at risk of getting a sinus infection and related sinus headache pain include:
Complications of sinus headaches
Sinus infections that lead to sinus headaches can become serious if left untreated. In rare cases, a sinus infection can spread to your brain and cause life-threatening complications.
Can I prevent sinus headaches?
You can reduce your risk of sinus headaches by preventing sinus infections. Your doctor may recommend:
- Avoiding secondhand smoke.
- Drinking plenty of water.
- Getting the flu and pneumococcal vaccines.
- Keeping a set sleep schedule.
- Not smoking.
- Using a clean humidifier at home.
- Washing your hands.
How common are sinus headaches?
Sinus infections that cause sinus headaches are very common. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, sinus infections affect 31 million people in the U.S.
What Are the Symptoms of Sinus Headaches?
Sinus headache symptoms may include:
- Bad breath.
- Cough.
- Facial pain or pressure.
- Fever.
- Green or yellow nasal discharge.
- Mucus dripping down the throat.
- Red or teary eyes.
- Runny or stuffy nose.
- Sore throat.
- Swollen eyelids.
When should I see a doctor about my sinus headache symptoms?
If you have sinus headache or sinus infection symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your primary care provider. Your primary care provider can help to diagnose your condition and refer you to other medical specialists, such as allergy, headache, and ear, nose, and throat experts, as needed.
How Do You Diagnose Sinus Headaches?
Sinus headaches can be challenging to self-diagnose because the symptoms may be similar to cluster, migraine, and tension headaches. Your doctor will review your health history, ask about your symptoms, and do a physical exam.
What to expect during your visit
When you arrive at your appointment, your doctor will:
- Ask you about your symptoms.
- Perform a physical exam.
- Order imaging or other tests, if needed, to rule out other causes of your headaches.
- Review your health history and medications.
Tests to diagnose sinus headache
Your doctor may be able to diagnose sinus headaches based on your symptoms alone, including whether you have a sinus infection. You may need imaging scans like a CT or MRI to rule out other causes of your headaches or check for blockages in your sinuses.
Sinus headache prognosis
Sinus headaches caused by sinus infections typically respond well to treatment. Your doctor will determine whether your sinus infection is viral, bacterial, or caused by something else, such as allergies. After your sinus infection is effectively treated, your sinus headache symptoms should go away.
How Do You Treat Sinus Headaches?
The goals of sinus headache treatment are to reduce pain, pressure, and congestion and treat the underlying cause of the sinus infection.
Home care for sinus headache
If you have a sinus headache, home remedies may help relieve the pressure. These include:
- Breathing in steam from your shower or a bowl of hot water.
- Placing a warm washcloth on your forehead.
- Using a decongestant or saline nasal spray.
Medicine to treat sinus headaches
If your headache is because of bacterial sinusitis, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Your primary care provider will make a referral if you need advanced care from an ear, nose, and throat doctor.
You don't always need antibiotics for a sinus infection. Many sinus infections are caused by viruses, such as the common cold or allergies. Your doctor may wait a few days before prescribing antibiotics to see if the infection clears up or improves with other treatments.
For symptom relief, sinus headache treatment may include:
- Allergy medicine.
- Decongestants.
- Local corticosteroid nasal sprays, which may reduce swelling.
- Nasal vasoconstrictors (medicine that narrows blood vessels).
- Pain relievers.
Does ibuprofen help sinus headaches?
Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen can treat sinus pain and inflammation. However, you should check with your doctor before taking any over the counter medication to make sure it is safe for you.
Why Choose UPMC for Sinus Headache Care?
When you choose UPMC for sinus headache care, you will receive:
- Access to world-class neurology expertise —Our world-renowned experts treat the full spectrum of neurological conditions, including headaches, using the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques.
- A full range of treatment options — We offer complete headache care, allowing us to effectively treat all types of headache disorders while reducing your risk of side effects.
- Multidisciplinary care — We partner with allergists, ENTs, and other medical experts to provide complete care that optimizes your recovery and quality of life.
