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Sinus headaches cause a dull, deep, throbbing pain in the front of your head and face. They are caused by an inflammation in your sinuses (air-filled cavities around your nose, eyes, and cheeks). Bending down or leaning over generally makes the pain worse, as does cold and damp weather. Sinus headaches often begin as soon as you get up in the morning, and may be better by afternoon. They can be difficult to diagnose, however, because symptoms are similar to tension headaches and migraines. Symptoms Typically, sinus headaches cause pain and pressure around the sinuses in the face, in the forehead, behind the eyes, and around the cheeks and upper teeth. These areas may be tender to the touch. It is usually accompanied by other sinusitis symptoms as well. Sinusitis symptoms include: • Nasal stuffiness • Thick yellow or green nasal discharge • Fever • Cough and sore throat • Fatigue Treatments To relieve the pain and pressure of sinus headaches, here are some things you can try: • Use an over-the-counter pain reliever. Follow the directions and don’t use them for more than 10 days at a time. • Try a decongestant. These OTC medicines can help reduce the swelling in your nasal passages and reduce the amount of mucus. Don’t use nasal decongestant sprays for more than three consecutive days, and don’t use oral decongestants for more than seven. • Try other medicines. In some cases, inhaled steroids and other drugs might help reduce your congestion and sinus headache pain. • Keep your nasal passages moist. Dry air will further irritate your sinuses. So use a humidifier or vaporizer. Rest a warm wet towel over your face for a few minutes. Try a saline solution nasal spray. • Use nasal irrigation (or lavage). Get a bulb syringe or neti pot and flush out your sinuses with salt water. It moistens the nasal passages and can clear out your sinuses, reducing the pressure. If you’ve never tried the approach before, get some pointers from your doctor. • Avoid irritants. Too much perfume, cigarette smoke, and certain chemicals can worsen your sinus symptoms by irritating and inflaming the nasal passageways. If your symptoms do not ease over a few days, more aggressive treatments for the underlying sinusitis may be needed. These include: • Antibiotics - If your sinusitis has led to a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. Make sure to take the full course, exactly as prescribed. Many cases of acute bacterial sinusitis are treated with 10-14 days of antibiotics. Chronic sinusitis might require antibiotics for a longer time. • Surgery - If you’re having chronic sinusitis and sinus headaches, surgery can sometimes help. Some sinus problems are caused by defects in the nasal passages that make you prone to developing sinusitis. Other times, growths like polyps block the sinuses. Surgery can be an effective way to resolve these issues. Sinus headaches and sinusitis can be uncomfortable and frustrating. So don’t suffer with them unnecessarily. If home treatments aren’t working or if you have a fever, pain or swelling of your face or eyes, redness around your eyes or cheeks, severe headaches, confusion, or a stiff neck, see your doctor right away. For more information, please visit http://www.sinusdynamics.com/
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