Sinus headache

Treating a sinus headache

If you have mild symptoms, you may be able to treat them at home by:

Resting and drinking plenty of fluids
Taking over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen
Using over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays or drops to help unblock your nose although these shouldn't be used for more than a week at a time
Holding a warm flannel to your affected sinuses for a few minutes, and repeating this several times a day
Flushing the inside of your nose with a saline nasal spray or solution available from your pharmacist this can help to reduce swelling in the sinuses by cleaning out mucus, bacteria and any allergy-causing particles

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 22 Jan 2018

Articles for sinus headache

Causes of sinus headaches

For some people with sinusitis, the pressure builds up to such an extent that it causes pain, or a sinus headache. You may feel stuffy and congested for a while, but it normally gets better once the cold goes away. Sinusitis and sinus headaches can last much longer. This usually only happens if bacteria infect the trapped mucus, or your sinuses repeatedly swell up because of an allergy .

Symptoms of a sinus headache

A sinus headache is a constant, throbbing pain felt in the face (around the eyes, cheeks and forehead), usually only on one side. It tends to be at its worst first thing in the morning and may get better by the afternoon. The pain may get worse when you move your head, strain or bend down, and when you experience extreme changes in temperature (such as going from a warm room into freezing air outside). It can also spread to your teeth, upper jaw and other parts of your head.

Treating a sinus headache

If you have mild symptoms, you may be able to treat them at home by: resting and drinking plenty of fluids, taking over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, using over-the-counter decongestant nasal sprays or drops to help unblock your nose although these shouldn't be used for more than a week at a time.

When to see a doctor if you have sinus headache?

See a doctor if your headache doesn't improve after a week, gets worse, or keeps coming back. Your GP may recommend: antibiotics if a bacterial infection is thought to be the cause of your symptoms, antihistamines if an allergy is thought to be the cause of your symptoms, corticosteroid sprays or drops to reduce the swelling in your sinuses.

Introduction

Sinus headaches are an uncommon type of headache caused by inflamed sinuses (sinusitis). They are felt as a dull, throbbing pain in the upper face. Many people assume they have a sinus headache, when in fact it's much more likely to be either a migraine or tension-type headache.

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