• Sinus headache symptoms include face swelling, feeling of fullness in the ears, fever and persistent pain.
• Sinus headaches can be mistaken for migraines or tension headaches.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a highly effective solution for chronic sinusitis.
It's very easy to mistake chronic sinusitis and other sinus conditions for something else. If left untreated, sinusitis can even cause those other conditions, a Burbank-based sinus specialist said.
Sinus headaches are triggered when there's a buildup of inflammation and pressure within the sinus cavities, Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers in Burbank told California Business Daily.
"The bacteria then build up in the sinuses, and they often secrete gases that increase the pressure within that closed cavity," Hershcovitch said. "That's going to create a significant, very annoying, very painful headache. I also want to stress that it gets worse than that; sinus pain headaches and pressure can trigger migraines. Migraines, as people know, have multiple triggers -- sometimes food, sometimes stress, sometimes medication -- but sinus problems are also a big trigger of migraines."
And that trigger can be mistaken for the actual cause.
"Now this is not something I always promise to everybody, but many of my migraine sufferers who have chronic sinusitis often see significant improvements in their migraines when their sinus problems are dealt with," Hershcovitch said. "Their migraines become less frequent and less severe, and this all makes sense if you take away one of the major triggers for migraines. So a lot of people who just thought they had migraines are actually having sinus problems that have been triggering it all along."
Hershcovitch specializes in nasal cavity conditions, including nose and sinus infections, sinus obstructions, ruptures, operculum collapse, polyps and sinus cavity reconstruction.
Inflamed sinuses, typically due to allergic reactions or infections, cause sinus swelling and increased mucus production, and could even lead to blockage and poor drainage, according to WebMD. Buildup in the sinuses can cause headache-like pain and sinus headache symptoms such as facial swelling, a feeling of fullness in the ears, fever and persistent pain in the cheekbones, forehead and/or the bridge of the nose.
Sinus headaches often are mistaken for migraines or tension headaches. Sinus headaches and migraines do share some symptoms, but symptoms unique to migraines include nausea, vomiting and sensitivity to light, noise or smells, according to the American Migraine Foundation.
Sinusitis sufferers may be offered surgical treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to WebMD. Balloon sinuplasty, a newer treatment, is often a good option for patients who don't require anything be removed from the sinuses.
During a balloon sinuplasty, the physician inserts a thin tube with a small balloon attached to one end into the nose and then guides the balloon to the blocked area before inflating it. The inflated balloon helps clear the passageway, allowing sinuses to drain properly and alleviate congestion.
If you're experiencing sinus headaches or chronic sinusitis, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz provided by SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.