Sinus Headaches - Causes and Treatments

Real sinus pain is rare and for most of us, when we believe we have a sinus headache, it’s usually a migraine or a headache brought on by stress. Normally you get a sinus headache only when your sinuses themselves are inflamed and the inflammation generally is accompanied by a fever. Inflammation can be caused by an allergy, a tumor, or an infection, all of which can be diagnosed and treated by a health care professional.

Many people mistakenly believe that sinuses are limited to nasal passages. However, sinuses are located in the forehead, on each cheekbone, and behind the bridge of your nose. Healthy sinuses are filled with air and their secretions drain freely into the nose. In addition to a sinus headache, when sinuses are blocked you have other symptoms like fever mentioned above and feelings of pressure around your eyes, cheeks and forehead.

Colds and other respiratory viruses leave sinuses vulnerable to infection. Bacteria causes your mucous membranes to swell which effectively blocks your sinuses, which in turn blocks normal drainage. Bending over or standing back up too quickly is excruciating. In addition, sinus infections can actually cause a feeling of toothache in some patients! In any event, because the causes of sinus headaches differ radically from the causes of other headaches, it’s best to consult a medical professional for diagnosis and treatment.

When you do have a sinus headache, there are some steps that you can take at home to relieve your pain.

• Humidify your air with a steam vaporizer or cool-mist humidifier. Even vapor from a steaming basin of water or hot shower can help. Eucalyptus, lavender, rosemary and thyme oils are additives that can be added to hot steam treatments to help relieve the sinus headache in a gentle and enjoyable manner.

• Use a normal pain reliever like Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, or plain aspirin. Many people make the mistake of using a decongestant for sinus headache. Antihistamines in decongestants can further dry out nasal passages and actually make sinus headache worse! Use them only on your physician’s recommendation.

• Herbal tea may help relieve sinus headache. In any event, herbs are a generally safe way to supplement nutrients your body needs. Herbs may also be purchased as capsules, tablets, or tinctures at health food stores and many pharmacies. Some herbs that are taken for sinus headache relief include Wild Indigo, Eyebright, Licorice, Coneflower, Goldenseal, Jamaica Dogwood, and St. John’s Wort.