Sinus headaches can cause pain in various facial regions, such as behind the eyes, cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, and the forehead. Nobody likes to experience a sinus headache, especially if it’s frequent. In this blog, we’ll discuss causes and treatments of sinus headaches.
What Is a Sinus Headache?
A sinus headache occurs when your sinus passages become inflamed or congested, often due to allergies, infection, or sinusitis.
Unfortunately, this inflammation causes pressure and pain in the forehead, cheeks, and around the eyes.
If you experience symptoms like throbbing pain, nasal congestion, facial tenderness, and sometimes fever, it could indicate a sinus headache.
Although sinus headaches can be debilitating, they are usually treatable with short- and long-term treatment options.
Read more: Get Rid of Sinus Pressure Fast
What Causes Sinus Headaches?
There are several causes of a sinus headache besides sinusitis, including:
- Viral Infection: A viral infection is reported to be one of the leading and most common causes of sinus headaches and sinusitis.
- Deviated Septum: This is usually caused when the nasal septum is displaced on one side, making one air passage in the nose smaller than the other.
- Bacterial Infection: This usually follows after getting a viral infection, and prolonged symptoms cause sinus headaches.
- Seasonal Allergies: Extended symptoms caused by allergies can cause your sinus to be inflamed and, in turn, cause further infections and sinus headaches.
- Fungal Infections: These are usually found in immunocompromised patients. They can lead to multiple other infections and side effects like sinus headaches.
Is There a Way to Get Rid of a Sinus Headache Instantly?
While you may be looking for instant sinus headache treatment, unfortunately, there is no quick fix. However, you can do things to reduce the pain and pressure while you seek treatment. Try the following:
- Apply a warm compress to the inflicted areas will reduce inflammation.
- Reduce swelling and allow drainage by taking a decongestant.
- Regularly using saline nasal spray can help thin the mucus and ease pressure.
- Use a vaporizer or steam to relieve sinus congestion.
Read more: Sinus Surgery: What You Need to Know
What Are the Best Sinus Headache Treatments?
The best way to relieve your symptoms in the short-term is to take antihistamines, antibiotics, and decongestions. Just remember to take them the recommended amount as per your doctor or pharmacist. If you take them for a prolonged period, you may experience worse symptoms.
Pain relievers, corticosteroids, and allergy medicine may also help reduce inflammation and sinus flare-ups. Taking these medications while using at-home remedies, such as salt water in a nasal spray, will help treat your sinus headaches faster.
However, another option is septoplasty, which is a surgery that can be done under general anesthesia. This procedure involves making a small incision by the septum, removing all the crooked parts of the bone and cartilage. Then, small plastic sheets, packing, and splints are used to straighten the septum. This procedure drastically reduces the likelihood of regular sinus infections and breathing problems, making it an excellent long-term solution to sinus headaches.
Read more: Sinus infections: When to see a doctor
Wrap-Up on Sinus Headache Causes and Treatments
Sinus headaches can be brutal and unforgiving regardless of the season or time of day. That is why at-home remedies, medications, and surgeries like septoplasty are the best ways to avoid them. For those with a deviated septum, septoplasty is a life-changing surgery that is easily done by a qualified plastic surgeon like Dr. Edmund Fisher.
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