Sinus Headache Explained: Causes, Symptoms, And Treatments

Nothing can ruin your day like a sinus headache — that achy, heavy pain behind your nose, cheeks, and forehead, caused by the pressure of excessive mucus buildup in your sinuses, the series of interconnected spaces behind the middle and top of your face (per the Cleveland Clinic). Even worse, some people have found sinus headaches (and sinus problems in general) frustratingly persistent and difficult to treat, per Mass Eye and Ear.

A big reason for this, according to the Mayo Clinic, is that the term "sinus headache" is a blanket term for a cluster of symptoms, not a single condition. And as Mass Eye and Ear notes, these symptoms can have a number of different root causes. This means that not all treatments work for all sinus headaches, so freeing yourself from frequent sinus headaches will require a bit of detective work to determine exactly what's causing your headaches. Fortunately, there are proven treatments for the different types of sinus pain — so with some work and medical support, you can take control of your sinus headaches once and for all.

Sinus headaches have a number of telltale features, according to Mount Sinai. First, your face may feel tender, or your headache pain may be localized to just a small area of your face, such as behind your eyes. Second, your pain may be more severe in the morning, since mucus has been collecting in your sinuses overnight, resulting in extra pressure against your sinuses. Moving your head sharply or leaning forward can also trigger additional pain, as can moving quickly from one temperature to another, such as leaving a heated house on a cold day. In addition, while migraine headaches last a few hours or days (per the Mayo Clinic), headaches caused by sinus infections tend to last longer.

Because true sinus headaches are caused by sinus infections, they can be triggered by respiratory conditions such as a cold, flu, or allergies, and may be accompanied by symptoms typical of other respiratory infections, such as a sore throat, nasal congestion, a fever, and fatigue (per the Orlando Health). So if you catch a bug and your head starts throbbing a few days later, chances are it's a sinus headache.

Sinus headaches resulting from sinus infections may be frustrating and painful, but there are proven strategies you can use to reduce your chances of getting one. Many of these involve keeping your nasal passages moist to prevent inflammation that can lead to blocked sinuses and headaches. Harvard Health Publishing recommends daily nasal irrigation with a solution of boiled and cooled distilled water, non-iodized salt, and baking soda; inhaling steam; and avoiding dry environments.

In addition, you should drink plenty of water (this facilitates the production of thinner, better-draining mucus) and sleep with your head elevated to facilitate faster drainage of the sinuses. And while over-the-counter medications can be helpful, don't overdo it: For instance, while nasal sprays can shrink membranes and increase drainage, overdependence on them can lead to a rebound effect in which the membranes become swollen when the medication wears off — making your congestion even worse.

If you find yourself with a sinus headache and want to forgo the drugs — or find a safe way to get additional relief — there are a number of easy non-medical techniques you can try. For instance, Downriver ENT recommends applying a warm compress to the areas on your face where you feel pain and using a saline nasal spray to thin and loosen mucus for better drainage. Inhaling steam from a vaporizer or pot of just-boiled water can also help ease sinus congestion. 

Some sinus headache sufferers have found relief from stretches involving the head and neck, or relaxation techniques such as yoga, biofeedback, or meditation, according to Mount Sinai. Pristyn Care notes that yoga eases sinus pain by reducing pressure to various points in the sinuses, and according to Harvard Health Publishing, relaxation techniques promote other healthy living habits — such as getting adequate sleep — that facilitate healing. In addition, Mount Sinai notes that acupuncture and chiropractic are also used by some for sinus headache relief, though little research has been done to show their effectiveness.

Sinus headaches are a major bummer, but fortunately, you can treat most of them at home. Over-the-counter medications can ease the worst of your symptoms (per Mount Sinai), as can non-medical strategies such as applying a warm compress to painful areas, according to the Cleveland Clinic. However, since sinus headaches are themselves a symptom of one or more other underlying conditions, which can include sinus infections, allergies, or physical deformities in the nasal cavity, severe or persistent sinus headaches could indicate a worsening of your underlying condition and require medical attention (per Cedars-Sinai).

So how can you know when it's time to call your doctor? If you have a fever or your headache lasts more than 10 days and over-the-counter medication doesn't seem to be helping, it's a sign of a more serious condition requiring medical help. Your doctor can conduct a physical examination and run tests to determine the root cause of your headaches and the best way to address it.

In some cases, the root cause of your sinus headaches might be your anatomy — the pressure and blockage you're experiencing in your sinuses may be due to constriction in your sinuses and nasal passages that prevents proper drainage, per the Cleveland Clinic. For instance, a deviated septum –an abnormality in which the ridge of bone and cartilage along the length of your nose is displaced — can impede drainage and make breathing through the nose difficult, as can nasal polyps and other structural issues.

While many people with chronic sinus conditions caused by structural factors successfully manage their symptoms with medication, in some cases surgery is a needed to correct the problem. A range of surgical procedures can be used to treat sinus issues, according to Mass Eye and Ear, and the right one for you depends on the exact nature of your condition. Deviated septum surgery is a common procedure for sinus relief and involves repositioning the septum so it runs straight down the center of your nose. Another procedure reduces the size of swollen turbinates, structures in the nose that humidify inhaled air. Endoscopic surgery can also be used to widen the passages connecting the nasal tract to the sinuses to facilitate better drainage.