Treatment of Sinus Headaches

Sinus headaches are associated with swelling of the membranes lining the sinus spaces or at times due to turbulent airflow through the nasal cavities due to anatomical abnormalities.  The discomfort often occurs under the eye and in the upper teeth (disguised as a headache or toothache). Sinus headaches tend to worsen as you bend forward or lie down. The key to relieving the symptoms is to reduce sinus swelling and inflammation and facilitate mucous drainage from the sinuses.

There are several at-home steps that help prevent sinus headache or alleviate its pain. They include:

• Breathe moist air: Relief for a sinus headache can be achieved by humidifying the dry air environment. This can be done by using a steam vaporizer or cool-mist humidifier, steam from a basin of hot water, or steam from a hot shower.
• Nasal irrigation: When nasal irrigation or rinse is performed, mucus, allergy creating particles and irritants such as pollens, dust particles, pollutants and bacteria are washed away, reducing the inflammation of the mucous membranes. Normal mucosa will fight infections and allergies better and will reduce the symptoms. Nasal irrigation helps shrink the sinus membranes and thus increases drainage. There are several over-the-counter nasal rinse products available.
• Over-the-counter medications: Some over-the-counter (OTC) drugs are highly effective in reducing sinus headache pain. The primary ingredient in most OTC pain relievers is aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen, or a combination of them. The best way to choose a pain reliever is by determining which of these ingredients works best for you.  One must avoid any OTC nasal sprays (i.e. Afrin) as they have addictive properties with significant side-effects.
• Decongestants: Sinus pressure headaches caused by allergies are usually treated with decongestants, antihistamines and/or nasal steroids.
• Alternative medicine: Chinese herbalists use Magnolia Flower as a remedy for clogged sinus and nasal passages. In conjunction with other herbs, such as angelica, mint, and chrysanthemum, it is often recommended for upper respiratory tract infections and sinus headaches, although its effectiveness for these problems has not been scientifically confirmed.

If none of these preventive measures or treatments are effective, a visit with one of our ENT surgeons, Dr. Jerome Vener or Dr. Alen Cohen, is warranted to determine if you have chronic sinusitis or nasal obstruction as the cause of your headaches and if surgical therapy or allergy testing and desensitization would be warranted. For further details in regards to treatment options please refer to the sinus surgery section.