Imagine living most days with a constant sniffle, watery eyes, an irritated throat, and a headache that refuses to leave. Before you know it, your work and everyday activities get affected. Even enjoying something as simple as a cold glass of water after a hot day yields no joy.
Sinus headaches are more common than you think, often not taken seriously. Most people simply wait it out and go with the flow, with the thought that “this too shall pass”. However, that doesn’t mean you should put up with it and let the bacteria breed another day.
What are sinus headaches?
To understand sinus headaches, you need to first familiarize yourself with where your sinuses are located. Sinuses on your face comprise of frontal sinuses (located on the forehead), maxillary sinuses (located inside your cheekbones), and ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses (located behind the nose). Essentially, sinuses are airy spaces in your skull and facial region, forming the passageway from your nose into your throat.
A sinus attack is treatable and can be self-diagnosed. Inflammation in your nasal passages and sinuses owing to a bacterial infection is called sinusitis. This growth in bacteria and inflammation leads to pressure on your face, resulting in facial swelling, dizziness, fatigue, toothaches, sore throat, among other symptoms. But perhaps the worst symptom of a sinus attack is sinus headaches. They make your head feel stuffy and derail you from performing your daily functions. The headache can make a person irritable and instantly tired.
Causes of a Sinus Headache:
More often, sinus headaches are triggered by an allergic reaction or change in weather, resulting in symptoms that resemble a common cold. Hay Fever – an allergy caused by pollen or dust – affects the mucous membranes thus leaving your eyes watery and nose runny.
Another reason that triggers a sinus headache is bacterial infections. Interestingly, viral infections can trigger a sinus headache, too, with symptoms that are too similar. Viral infections last for a few days whereas bacterial infections can last for 7 days and beyond.
Causes of a Sinus headache are not that easy to conclude but certain factors can be taken into account. Lung irritants like smoking can cause a sinus attack and its repeated use will just make them worse, sometimes resulting in worse repercussions.
Another reason that can result in a bad sinus headache is a fungal presence. They are usually rare to catch but one cannot eliminate the possibility. Allergic Fungal Sinusitis may affect those with lung and respiratory issues such as asthma or nasal polyps. Fungal Sinusitis requires surgery and therapies such as immunotherapy and anti-inflammatory therapy.
Sinus Attack – Serious signs to watch out for:
With viral and bacterial infections, the sinuses swell up, produce more mucus (either yellow or green), make your breath smell bad, and generally leave you with a headache that exhausts you.
Here are some signs that would require a doctor’s attention:
But it should be noted that while sinus attacks and migraines show similar signs and symptoms, they are completely different, caused by completely different reasons. However, what sets them apart is the duration. Migraines last for a few hours or maximum an entire day. Sinus headaches go on for days, sometimes even weeks. Moreover, migraines also lead to nausea, vomiting, and intolerance towards bright lights and loud noises.
Sinus Headache Treatment & Prevention:
Ultimately, it all boils down to how well you maintain your health and lifestyle, while also taking action when something feels amiss in your body. As the adage goes, health is wealth. Head out to Neuberg Diagnostics and get preventive check-ups to identify underlying issues that could bring your body down.
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