Sinus headache and migraine both are common types of headaches that affects millions of people across the world. It is extremely common for one to be mistaken for other. If it is not properly diagnosed, medicines can worsen the situation. There are studies that show that 90% of people who are diagnosed and treated for sinus headaches are experiencing migraine headaches.
However, it’s possible for sinus issues to trigger or exacerbate migraine attacks in some individuals. Here’s how they may be linked:
What is the Connection between Sinusitis and Migraine Headache?
1. Sinus can Trigger Migraine: Identifying if it is a sinus headache or migraine is a challenging task both for the patient and the doctor. Their symptoms are overlapping in many cases. It is also seen that sinusitis can trigger migraine in some people. The congestion due to sinusitis in head may affect the blood flow to the brain which can trigger headache in a patient of migraine. Filled sinuses in the brain can trigger trigeminal nerve which can give rise to migraines and even bad headaches.
2. Misdiagnosis: Sometimes, migraines can be misdiagnosed as sinus headaches, especially if the individual primarily experiences facial pain and pressure without the typical symptoms of a migraine (such as nausea or sensitivity to light and sound). It is true that sinus migraine is often an overlooked diagnosis if we talk of acute and chronic headaches. At Migraine Upkram, one of the best headache clinics in India, we have seen many patients who had sinusitis and migraine. These patients for years were on medicines for migraine but actually it was sinus that was creating and triggering the pain, when medications for sinus migraine were given, their pain intensity came down to 4 from 10.
3. Co-occurrence: It’s also possible for individuals to experience both sinus issues and migraines independently. In such cases, treating sinus symptoms may help alleviate some discomfort but may not necessarily prevent migraine attacks.
There are subtle differences in the symptoms of sinus headache and migraine headache. It’s important to differentiate between them because the treatments for each can differ significantly. Below are listed some signs of a sinus headache and migraine, but it is always advisable to consult the best ayurvedic doctor near you for migraine.
Signs of a Sinus Headache
Sinus headaches are typically associated with inflammation or congestion in the sinuses, which are hollow air-filled spaces in the skull. This inflammation can result from conditions such as sinusitis (sinus infection), allergies, or nasal congestion.
- Feeling of heaviness over forehead and nose
- The pain usually worsens while bending down or looking down
- Facial pain
- Stuffy nose
- Nose blockage
- Recurrent sneezing
- Recurrent allergies during change of season
- The pain worsens if head or forehead is pressed
- The symptoms will last for days to weeks
Signs of a Migraine
Migraine is a neurological condition which is accompanied by many symptoms other than throbbing headache. Triggers for migraines can include stress, hormonal changes, certain foods or drinks, sleep disturbances, and environmental factors.
1. Blurred vision
2. Nausea
3. Vomiting
4. Change in speech
5. Pain over neck
6. Stiffness of neck
7. The symptoms will last from hours to days
Can Migraine with Sinusitis be Treated?
Yes, it is complex to treat migraine and sinusitis in the same patient as both involve complex pathways in the head. It is completely curable with Ayurvedic treatment just the choice of ayurvedic medicines has to be made cautiously otherwise one can worsen the other. With Ayurvedic medicines like Sitopladi churna, Godanti Bhasma, Yashtimadhu, Tankan Bhasma, sinus and migraine can be treated simultaneously in the same person. There are many patients at our migraine clinic who have been on multiple rounds of antibiotics for sinusitis and even underwent surgery still symptoms persisted. So, if you have sinus and migraine headache, it is better to reach out to the best ayurvedic doctor for migraine in Delhi NCR.
