Chronic sinus problems can be a headache for patients -- literally.
The sinuses are air-filled spaces inside the forehead, cheekbones and behind the bridge of the nose. When they get inflamed -- usually because of an allergic reaction or an infection -- they swell, make more mucus and the draining channels can get blocked. The buildup of pressure in the sinuses causes pain that feels like a headache.
"A sinus headache is due to inflammation in your nose and sinuses," Dr. Anthony Sanders of Indianapolis Sinus Center told Indiana Business Daily. "It's a difficult problem that tends to be chronic."
With sinus headaches, the patient might feel pressure around the eyes, cheeks and forehead, and the head may be throbbing, according to Mayo Clinic.
Initial treatments are antibiotics, saline irrigations, intranasal steroid sprays, decongestants and mucus-thinning agents like Mucinex, according to Sanders.
"For people who do not respond to that, then surgical treatments are the treatment of choice," Sanders said.
With chronic sinus infections, also called sinusitis, the teeth can also be affected, the doctor explained.
"Sinusitis is typically associated with headaches, facial pain and pressure, sometimes pain and pressure in the teeth," he said. "The reason you feel that in your teeth is, where the teeth are, the maxillary sinuses are right above it. Sometimes the dental routine can extend into the maxillary sinus, and the nerves to those teeth come right through that region as well. So that's very common."
However, sometimes what patients believe are sinus headaches are actually migraines, according to WebMD.
"Because the treatment you need depends on what kind of headache you have, it’s important to figure out if your symptoms are caused by your sinuses," WebMD suggests. "If a sinus blockage, such as an infection, really is the cause, you'll likely have a fever."
Indianapolis Sinus Center offers a free online sinus quiz to help patients learn more about their symptoms and find out if they could benefit from seeing a doctor.