Could Your Sinus Headache Be a Migraine? Understanding the Difference

Headaches can disrupt your day in an instant. They can take away your concentration and leave you with facial pain for hours, and they are often symptoms of an underlying condition.

Sinus headaches are commonly the cause, but could it be something else?

Many people assume they have a sinus headache when they are actually experiencing a migraine. Understanding the differences between a sinus headache and a migraine can help you get the right treatment and lasting relief.

What are sinus headaches?

Sinus headaches are caused by swelling and inflammation in the sinus cavities. This type of headache is associated with pain around the eyes, cheekbones, and forehead, where the sinus cavities are located.

Additional symptoms may include:

• Yellowish-green nasal discharge
• Reduced ability to smell
• Tenderness in the face
• Nasal congestion

Sinus headaches can result from seasonal allergies, sinus infection, or less commonly, a deviated septum.

How do you treat sinus headaches?

Home remedies can often relieve sinus headaches. These include:

• Inhaling steam
• Using a warm compress
• Rinsing your nasal cavities
• Taking over-the-counter pain relievers

If your sinus headaches are recurrent, your physician may recommend treating the underlying cause, such as allergy immunotherapy or sinus surgery to open blocked sinus drainage pathways.

What’s the difference between a sinus headache and migraine?

If these treatment options do not relieve your headache symptoms, you may actually be experiencing a migraine. Although migraines can cause symptoms similar to sinus headaches, such as congestion and facial pain, they may also cause nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Migraine headaches are often one sided, severe, throbbing and last greater than three hours.

In fact, many patients who believe they have recurring sinus headaches are ultimately diagnosed with migraines after a thorough evaluation.

Dr. Adam Campbell, an otolaryngologist who practices at our Winston-Salem and Kernersville offices, shares his insights about diagnosing the two conditions.

“Patients routinely come to our office with complaints of sinus headaches and are sure they have chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis. But we know that 80% of patients with sinus headaches actually suffer from migraine headaches! By taking a thorough history and possibly obtaining additional studies, we can appropriately diagnose these patients and start them on treatment to help relieve their headaches and improve their quality of life.”

How do you treat migraines?

Your first course of action is to take over-the-counter pain medications at the first sign of pain. Resting in a dark, quiet room can also help prevent symptoms from worsening. It is also important to stay hydrated.

Should I see an ENT for migraines?

ENT physicians can be a helpful part of the team for determining the cause of headaches. ENT physicians may prescribe migraine escape medications and, in some cases, have treated migraines using an intranasal migraine block. By numbing specific nerves inside the nose during a quick in-office procedure, some patients experience migraine relief that lasts for weeks.

If you’re not sure whether your facial pain is from allergies, a sinus infection, or a migraine, CEENTA can help you find the answer and relief you need. With physicians in more than twenty offices across the Carolinas and treatment options including the intranasal migraine block, you can enjoy your days with peace of mind.

Schedule your same-day ENT appointment with Dr. Campbell in Winston-Salem or Kernersville online or through myCEENTAchart.

This blog is for informational purposes only. For specific medical questions, please consult your physician.