SinusAllergy.com
In today’s day and age, when all of us have hectic lifestyles, it happens very often that our concerns about health take a backseat. Be it work pressure or domestic issues, a diverse range of reasons cause us to ignore that slight pain or discomfort that we may often feel while being out and about. Especially during the dry and cold winters, we may often experience a splitting headache. While this could just be an isolated incident, it may also be a sinus headache which requires special attention as it can get chronic and very painful if ignored. Read on below to know more.
Human beings possess a number of paranasal sinuses which, simply put, are air spaces within our skull connected directly to the nasal cavity. When you have a bad cold or allergies, these air spaces may get congested by mucous or may even get infected. People with a natural tendency to catch cold or allergies are at an even greater risk of getting a blocked sinus, as are people whose nasal cavity may be deformed. While a bad cold is often the reason behind sinus headaches, sinus walls may also be infected by bacteria or fungi, a condition known as sinusitis. In cases of acute sinusitis, viral attacks may damage the sinus walls which are then colonized by bacteria.
How do you know if you’ve got sinus headaches? Common symptoms include pressure on the head, face and cheeks, high temperature, running nose, pain when bending over or during severe jarring or even blowing your nose. If these symptoms persist, medical consultation is a must. If you have never had sinus problems before, you may need to undergo a CT scan or an X-ray to determine whether your sinuses are clear or not. Once diagnosed, painkillers such as aspirin or ibuprofen can be prescribed to ease the pain. If sinusitis is detected, antibiotics may be necessary to get rid of the infection. Treatment generally lasts from three to five days. However, persistent symptoms must not be ignored and a follow up visit to your physician is a must if you still have sinus headaches.
A common mistake people make is that of confusing between sinus headaches and migraine. Even though some of the symptoms are same and migraine headaches can also be triggered by cold and nasal congestion, sinus headaches are generally not affected by noise or bright lights and do not cause nausea or vomiting. Since treatment for the two differs considerably, consulting a physician is a must when you have a cold related headache.
Lastly, sinus headaches can be prevented by being careful about allergies and treating mild headaches as soon as they arise. During the dry season, humidifiers in homes may help a lot as well. If you are a frequent flier, swimmer or travel to high altitudes, a nasal decongestant may be particularly handy.
Sinus headaches may cause a lot of discomfort but in general can be treated and prevented quite easily. All you have to do is take time off from the hustle and bustle of daily life and give yourself the care you deserve and you will be fine.