• One of the most common misdiagnoses is chronic sinusitis and migraine
• The primary cause of migraine is still unknown
• 99% of patients were misdiagnosed at primary care or in the emergency room

Researchers are sharing evidence that chronic sinusitis and migraines can have similar symptoms and are often misdiagnosed.

Migraine headaches have similar symptoms to other conditions. One of those conditions, chronic sinusitis, which is also referred to as nose inflammation, is now thought to potentially trigger migraines.

"Facial pain is a common complaint I get a lot, and not all facial pain is sinus disease," Dr. Matthew Blair of Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Florida Business Daily. "I mean, there's other things that can cause facial pain, but it's my job as an otolaryngologist to really rule out the sinuses as a problem."

According to WebMD, one particular study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain reveals one of the most common misdiagnoses is sinusitis and migraines, especially if they are linked to symptoms such as sinus headache, dry sinus headache or a severe sinus headache. The study concluded that out of 113 participants, 106 of them -- or roughly 81% -- were misdiagnosed.

According to the American Migraine Foundation, both migraine attacks and sinus headaches can cause facial pain, watery eyes and postnasal drip. These shared symptoms contribute to the misdiagnosis and self-diagnosis of sinus headache.

The primary cause of migraine headaches is still unknown. One study published in The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery was conducted to determine the correlation between sinusitis and migraines, only to report that further investigation and a clinic trial is necessary.

A study completed by University of Michigan found 99% of 114 participants were misdiagnosed as having chronic sinusitis when their diagnosis came from the emergency department of a hospital or their primary care physician. This indicates that the best diagnosis comes from an inflammation specialist, or otolaryngologist.

To learn more about sinusitis or to take a sinus self-assessment quiz, visit Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.