Headaches
Headaches are a very common condition and are characterized by pain in any region of the head or face. Nearly 75% of adults worldwide have suffered from headaches at least once within the past year.
A headache may appear as a sharp pain, a dull ache or a throbbing sensation that can occur on one or both sides of the head or radiate from a point to the other in the head or be isolated to a particular location. They can develop suddenly or gradually over a period of time and can last for a few hours to few days. Their causes can range from migraine to stress, trauma, infection etc. Sometimes headaches can be migraines with nasal symptoms. Going to an ENT doctor will help determine if the headache is caused by a sinus infection. Common cold, seasonal allergies, nasal polyps are some of the causes that can trigger a headache. A physical exam by an ENT will help determine the cause with an appropriate line of treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlike a normal migraine headache, a sinus headache occurs typically in the face, cheeks and around the eyes when one has a ‘cold’. Sinus headaches last for days or weeks till the sinusitis is treated with medication/antibiotics. Migraine headaches come and go.
Apart from the deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or the bridge of your nose, the pain usually gets stronger when you move your head suddenly or strain. A migraine headache most often occurs only on one side of the head, or the temples or high in the forehead or at the back of the head.