Sinus & Migraine Headaches

Many people confuse sinus headaches with migraines and it’s important to distinguish the two. If you’re treating your migraines with sinus headache remedies, you’re likely missing out on effective treatment. Our doctor performs sinus and migraine headache evaluations for patients in our region in order to give you the most effective treatment possible.

Symptoms of sinus headaches:

• Pain is pressure-like in a specific area of your head or face

• Deep, dull throbbing pain


• Face is tender


• Sudden movements, bending forward and temperature changes worsen pain


• Often begins after or during a cold

Other related symptoms may include nose discharge that’s yellow or green, nasal passages that are swollen and red, sore throat, postnasal drip, fatigue, fever and generally not feeling well.

Some common symptoms of migraine headaches:

• it interferes with your daily activities

• You miss work or school


• You need to lie down


• You feel sick to your stomach or have nausea


• It’s often one-sided and throbbing


• Sensitivity to sudden movements, noise, strong light or odors

Frequent sinus headache misdiagnosis

The underlying problem is that migraines are more common than most people realize, yet fewer than half of migraine headaches get diagnosed and many get misdiagnosed as tension or sinus headaches. Sinus headaches are caused by an inflammation in your sinuses (air-filled cavities around your nose, eyes, and cheeks). If you have ongoing sinus infections, they may not be linked to recurring headaches, as there’s been no scientific evidence to prove this. Such headaches are most likely migraines.

Treatment for sinus or migraine headaches

Our doctor performs examinations and diagnosis to determine if you have a sinus headache or a migraine headache. Self care, prevention, and treatments depend on the condition. You should also schedule a visit with our doctor to rule out any underlying health problems.