Sinus Headaches | Causes, Symptoms, and Relief

Many of us have had those days when a throbbing headache hits around the eyes and forehead, making it hard to focus, work, or even relax. While it’s easy to blame stress or lack of sleep for this, sometimes the real culprit might be something else—like a sinus headache.

Let’s take a closer look at sinus headaches, what they’re, how they feel, their causes and triggers, how they’re different from eye strain, and simple ways to find relief.

What Is a Sinus Headache?

Sinus headache happens when your sinuses—air filled spaces within the bones of your face and skull—become inflamed or blocked. The sinuses can get blocked due to infections, allergies, or other triggers, which lead to pressure build up causing pain and discomfort.

You may feel a constant and dull ache behind your eyes, around your forehead, cheeks, or in the bridge of your nose. This pain usually gets worse when you suddenly move your head, strain, or bend over.

What Causes a Sinus Headache?

Sinus headaches usually don’t come out of nowhere. There’s often an underlying condition causing irritation or inflammation of the sinuses.

Some common causes and risk factors include:

  • Sinus infections (Sinusitis)—viral, bacterial, or even fungal infections can inflame the sinuses
  • Allergies—particularly hay fever can trigger sinus swelling
  • Common cold and other respiratory infections—a lingering cold can cause mucus to build up in the sinuses leading to congestion and pain
  • Nasal polyps or deviated (crooked) nasal septum—structural issues in the nose can block proper sinus drainage
  • Air pressure changes—like in an airplane or changes in weather (especially high humidity or cold) can affect sinuses
  • Sometimes you can also get a sinus headache without inflammation. This can happen when you’re exposed to secondhand smoke, perfume, or other chemicals that you may breathe in

What are the Symptoms of a Sinus Headache?

Common signs and symptoms of a sinus headache include:

  • Deep constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, around the eyes, or bridge of the nose
  • Worsening of pain when you bend forward or move your head suddenly
  • Facial swelling or tenderness
  • Feeling of pressure or fullness in your face, head, or ears
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose
  • Fever
  • Feeling of pain in the upper teeth
  • Fatigue

Sinus Headache Vs Eye Strain: Know the Difference

Many people confuse sinus headache with eye strain, especially since both can cause pain around the eyes. But they’re actually quite different.

Here’s a quick look on the differences between sinus headache vs eye strain:

Feature Sinus Headache Eye Strain
Cause Sinus congestion or inflammation Prolonged screen time, poor lighting, uncorrected vision
Pain Location Forehead, cheeks, between or around the eyes Around or behind the eyes
Additional Symptoms Nasal congestion, facial pressure Dry or watery eyes, blurred or double vision, sore neck or shoulders
Triggers Sinus infection, allergies, weather changes Staring at screens for too long, bad posture, incorrect eyewear
Relief Decongestants, nasal rinses, antihistamines Resting the eyes, adjusting screen time, proper lighting

Understanding these differences can help you address the issue correctly. If your headache goes away after resting your eyes or adjusting your lighting, it’s likely eye strain—not sinus related.

How A Sinus Headache is Diagnosed?

Your doctor will ask some questions about your symptoms and physically examine you.

If you have severe or ongoing symptoms, your doctor might also suggest some imaging tests like X-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans. They’ll show if your sinuses are blocked. If not, you may have some different issue like migraine or tension headache.

How to Treat a Sinus Headache?

Treatment of a sinus headache mainly involves treating the underlying cause and symptomatic relief to ease pain and discomfort.

Sinus headache is usually caused by a sinus infection. If it’s bacterial, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics, and if it’s viral, it often clears up on its own.

To relieve your symptoms, your doctor may also prescribe other medicines like:

  • Antihistamines for allergy symptoms
  • Decongestants to reduce swelling in your nose and sinuses
  • Pain relievers like paracetamol or ibuprofen for headache relief 
  • Steroids to reduce inflammation

Other things that you can do to ease your sinus pain and pressure include:

  • Apply warm compresses to the painful areas on your face 
  • Drink plenty of fluids to thin out mucus and promote sinus drainage
  • Use nasal saline drops or spray to thin the mucus
  • Try steam inhalation from a hot shower or a bowl of hot water to help relieve sinus congestion
  • Nasal irrigation—to help clear out mucus and allergens

When to See a Doctor?

Not all sinus headaches need medical attention but you should see your doctor if:

  • Your headache occurs for more than 15 days a month
  • Your pain is severe, persistent, or interferes with your daily life
  • Over-the-counter medications are not helping
  • You have fever, swelling around the eyes, or vision problems

Sometimes what may seem like a sinus headache is actually a migraine, tension headache, eye strain, or another issue.

Getting the proper diagnosis is the key to finding real relief.

Final Thoughts:

Sinus headaches can be annoying and make you feel foggy and uncomfortable all day long. But understanding what’s behind them, spotting the symptoms, and knowing how to treat them can help you feel much better.

And remember, not every pain around the eyes isn’t sinus related. If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to reach out to your doctor.

Having a right diagnosis can save you from unnecessary treatments—and frustration.

Dr. Arsham Najeeb

Written by Dr Arsham Najeeb, MBBS

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