Many people suffer headache pain for years believing they are experiencing merely a common sinus headache, when in fact they are migraine sufferers. One research program found that a huge 97% of people surveyed described their headaches as sinus headaches but their symptoms were closely associated with migraines.

The problem is that migraine headache symptoms and sinus headaches often overlap, leading to confusion that can be serious if your migraine goes undiagnosed. One reason for this confusion is the same nerves that transmit migraine pain also connect to the sinuses.

During a migraine attack pain or discomfort in the sinuses, face or around the eyes can be felt on one or both sides of the head. In addition, the nerves that cause stuffy or a runny nose and watery eyes can also be activated during a migraine attack.

Sinus Headache

The root causes of a sinus headache are usually sinus infections, allergies, or possibly a cold or flu. Sinus passages, which are the air cavities located behind and above your nose, become inflamed and the increased pressure that results from the closing of infected sinuses is what causes a sinus headache.

Sinus headaches usually start in the morning after waking and the pain associated with a sinus headache can be quite severe and last for an extended period of time.

Sinus Headache Symptoms

Sinus headache symptoms include pain and pressure around the eyes, fever or chills, aching upper teeth and swelling across the face.

The most frequently prescribed treatment for sinus headaches is antibiotics but physicians are beginning to question the validity of this treatment due to the build up of resistance to the drug when taken repeatedly.

A cool-mist humidifier can be a great help in keeping your sinuses moist. Heat and ice can be used to relieve the facial pain of a sinus headache with many doctors recommending hot compresses, hot drinks such as broth or tea, and even a steam shower.

Migraine Headache -v- Sinus Headache

So what are the differences between migraine headaches and sinus headaches, and how do you determine which one you’ve got?

To explain, there isn’t just one type of migraine headache, but two:

Migraines with aura and Migraines without aura

Typical migraine symptoms include:

visual disturbances

a throbbing pain on just one side of the head that may range from mild to extreme

nausea and vomiting

increased sensitivity to both light and noise

Migraine pains are started by triggers. There are many triggers and very significantly from person to person. It is understood that most migraines seem to be triggered by food

The most common food triggers appear to be aged cheese, wine, chocolate, caffeine, processed meats and chinese food

Other triggers include;

flashing lights
menstruation
stress
weather changes
loud noises
lack of sleep
intense exercise
sex
exposure to smoke
perfumes

In addition, some medications such as birth control pills and estrogen replacement therapy have been proven to be migraine triggers.

So what’s the problem with misdiagnosing a migraine headache as a sinus headache?

Firstly, all that money you’re spending on ‘sinus’ medication will do you no good whatever if you are suffering from migraines.

In addition, if you are under the delusion that you are experiencing a sinus headache you may be unduly extending the life of your migraine by continuing to eat food triggers, or continuing to experience environmental triggers that you could and should avoid.

In practical terms, treating a migraine headache as if it were a sinus headache is really no different from treating a toothache as if it were a sinus headache. The problems are completely different, regardless of how similar they may seem and how much they may have in common physiologically. A sinus headache is a headache; a migraine is a disease and one of its symptoms is excruciating head pain.

Do yourself a favor – if you are absolutely convinced you are suffering from sinus headaches, go and see your doctor who knows the difference.