Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Using home remedies
• Method 2 of 4: Using medications
• Method 3 of 4: Using alternative therapies
• Method 4 of 4: Learn about sinus headaches
• Warnings

Many people experience headaches, but if you feel a headache like pressure and tenderness in your forehead, eyes, or jaw, then you probably have a sinus headache. Sinuses are spaces in the bones of your skull, filled with air that they purify and moisturize. Your skull contains four pairs of sinuses that can become inflamed or blocked, causing a throbbing headache. If you've determined that the source of your headache is cavity pressure and not migraines, you can reduce inflammation and clear your sinuses with home remedies, over-the-counter drugs, or professional medical treatments.

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Method 1 of 4: Using home remedies

1. Breathe in moist air. Use a steam vaporizer or humidifier to reduce sinus headaches. You can also create moist air by filling a bowl with hot water, bending over it (being careful not to get too close), and draping a towel over your head. Inhale the steam. Or you can take a hot shower, breathing in the steam. Try to breathe in moist air at 10 to 20 minute intervals two to four times a day.
   • The humidity in your home should be around 45%. Below 30% is too dry, and above 50% is too moist. Use a hygrometer, an instrument to measure the values.
2. Use compresses. Alternating between applying hot and cold compresses. Apply a hot compress to the cavities for three minutes, then a cold compress for 30 seconds. You can repeat this procedure three times per treatment and between two and six times a day.
   • You can also dip a towel in hot or cold water, wring it out, and place it on your face for the same effect as a compress.
3. Keep drinking enough. Get plenty of fluids, which can help thin the mucus in your sinuses. This will make it easier to rinse and can aid in overall hydration. According to studies, men should drink up to 13 glasses of water a day, and women around 9.
   • Some people find that drinking hot drinks can help. Enjoy your favorite cup of hot tea or drink broth to thin the mucus.
4. Use a saline nasal spray. Follow the instructions on the package and use it up to six times a day. Saline nasal sprays can keep the cilia in your nose healthy. This will reduce inflammation in your nose and help treat your sinuses. It also moistens the nostrils to remove dried-up secretions which help the mucus to flow out. Nasal sprays can help get rid of pollen, which can help reduce allergies that can cause sinus headaches.
   • You can make your own saline solution by dissolving 2-3 teaspoons of kosher salt in 250 ml of distilled, sterile, or already boiled water. Mix and add a teaspoon of baking soda. Use a pump or dropper to instill it into your nostrils. You can also use this up to six times a day.
5. Use a neti pot Prepare a saline solution and put it in the neti pot. Stand by a sink and lean your head forward. Lift your head to one side, lean over the sink and pour the solution directly into one nostril, trying to direct the flow to the back of your head. The solution will go into the nasal cavity and down the back of the throat. Blow your nose gently and spit out the rinse. Repeat this with the other nostril. Using a neti pot can reduce sinus inflammation and help flush out mucus. It will also help clear the sinuses of irritants and allergens.
   • Water used in a neti pot must be sterilized, either by boiling or by distillation.

Method 2 of 4: Using medications

1. Take antihistamines. This medication blocks histamine, a substance your body makes in response to allergens. Histamine is responsible for the symptoms of allergic rhinitis (sneezing, itchy eyes, and runny itchy noses). Over the counter sale you can buy various antihistamines and take them once a day. Second-generation antihistamines such as loratadine, fexofenadine, and cetirizine are all designed to minimize vertigo, a problem with first-generation antihistamines (such as diphenhydramine or chlorpheniramine).
   • If seasonal allergies are the cause of your sinus headache, try corticosteroids administered into the nose. This medication is available over the counter and is most effective in treating the allergies. Take fluticasone or triamcinolone spray daily, spraying once or twice per nostril.
2. Use a nasal spray with a decongestant. You can take these medications topically (as nasal sprays such as oxymetazoline) or take them (as pseudoephedrine) to relieve nasal congestion. Topical decongestants can be used every 12 hours, but no longer than three to five days, otherwise you will get a backlash of nasal congestion from overuse of decongestants. Decongestants you take can be taken once or twice a day. These can be combined with antihistamines such as loratadine, fexofenadine and cetirizine.
   • Being a key ingredient of methamphetamine, or speed, pseudoephedrine, on its own and in combination with antihistamines, is heavily regulated and kept behind the counter at the pharmacy to prevent methamphetamine manufacturers from stocking up.
3. Take painkillers. For short-term relief from sinus headaches, you can take aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen or naproxen. While over the counter painkillers will not treat the underlying cause of a sinus headache, they can reduce or eliminate the headache associated with it.
   • Make sure to take them according to the directions on the package or from your doctor.
4. Take prescription medication. Your doctor can prescribe antibiotics to treat bacterial infections that can cause or accompany sinus headaches. Symptoms of a sinus bacterial infection include a sore throat, yellow or green discharge from your nose, nasal congestion, fever, and fatigue. Acute bacterial sinusitis is treated with a course of antibiotics for 10 to 14 days, while chronic bacterial sinusitis requires three to four weeks of antibiotic treatment.
   • Your doctor may also prescribe triptans, medications used to treat migraines. Research has shown that the majority of symptoms in patients with sinus headaches improved markedly with triptans. Examples of triptans are sumatriptan, rizatriptan, zolmitriptan, almotriptan, naratriptan, rizatriptan and eletriptan.
5. Consider getting allergy injections (immunotherapy). Your doctor may recommend allergy injections if you don't respond well to medication, have obvious side effects from medication, or are inevitably exposed to allergens. An allergy specialist (allergist) will generally administer the injections.
6. Explore surgical options. You will need to see an ENT specialist who can determine if you need surgery to prevent sinus headaches. Nasal polyps or bone hooks that can cause sinus infections can be surgically removed or your sinuses can be opened.
   • For example, balloon correction involves inserting a balloon into the nasal cavity and inflating it to enlarge the sinus.

Method 3 of 4: Using alternative therapies

1. Take a dietary supplement. Research is underway to determine the scope of the impact of dietary supplements on sinus headaches. The following supplements can treat or prevent sinus headaches:
   • Bromelian is an enzyme produced by pineapple that can help reduce sinus inflammation. Do not take Bromelian with blood thinners as the supplement can increase your risk of bleeding. You should also avoid bromelian if you are taking angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, a class of medications commonly used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). In these cases, bromelian may increase the chances of a sudden drop in blood pressure (hypotension).
   • Quercetin is a plant pigment responsible for the production of vibrant colors in fruits and vegetables. It is thought to act as a natural antihistamine, but more studies in humans are needed to see if it behaves like an antihistamine.
   • Lactobacillus is a probiotic bacteria that your body needs for a healthy digestive system and an effective immune system. The supplement reduces the chances of developing allergies as well as gastrointestinal side effects such as diarrhea, gas and stomach pain related to antibiotic use.
2. Use herbal remedies. There are many herbs that can lower the chances of getting sinus headaches.They do this by preventing or treating a cold, improving the immune system, or reducing sinus infections. Studies have shown that the herbal supplement Sinupret can reduce the symptoms of sinus infections. It is thought to work in thinning mucus, allowing the sinuses to flow better. Other herbs traditionally used to treat sinus headaches include:
   • Blue skullcap. Make a tea by pouring 250 ml of boiled water over 1 to 2 teaspoons of dried leaves. Cover it and let the mixture steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink two to three cups a day to feel relief in your sinuses.
   • Feverfew. Make a tea by pouring 250 ml of boiled water over 2 to 3 teaspoons of freshly cut feverfew leaves. Let the mixture steep for 10 to 15 minutes, strain it and drink it up to three times a day.
   • Willow bark. Make a tea by placing a teaspoon of chopped or powdered willow bark in 250-300 ml of water. Let the mixture boil and let it simmer for five minutes. Drink the tea three to four times a day.
3. Apply essential oils to your temples. Studies have shown that certain essential oils applied to your temples (next to your eyes on the side of your face) can relieve sinus and tension headaches. Make a solution of 10% peppermint oil or eucalyptus oil in alcohol and pat it on your temples with a sponge. To make the solution, mix three tablespoons of alcohol with one teaspoon of eucalyptus or peppermint oil.
   • This mixture can relax your muscles and reduce your sensitivity to sinus headaches, according to research.
4. Consider homeopathy. Homeopathy is a belief and alternative therapy that uses small amounts of natural substances with the intention of the body to heal itself. Chronic sinus headache sufferers commonly use homeopathy, with studies showing that the majority of patients report improved symptoms after two weeks. Homeopathy has a wide variety of treatments targeting sinus congestion and headaches, including:
   • Arsenic album, Belladonna, hepar sulphuricum, iris versicolor, kali bichromicum, mercurius, natrum muriaticum, pulsatilla, silicea and spigelia.
5. Try acupuncture. This is an ancient Chinese discipline of applying thin needles to acupuncture points. It is believed that these points can correct imbalance in the energies of your body. To treat your sinus headache, an acupuncture practitioner will treat the sinus infection (or dampness) by strengthening points along your spleen and stomach.
   • You should not try acupuncture if you are pregnant, have a blood disorder, or have a pacemaker.
6. Go to a chiropractor. Your chiropractor may be able to help your sinus headaches by manipulating and adjusting imbalances in your body, although there are no studies to support this claim. When adjusting your sinuses, the practitioner focuses on the bones and mucus membranes that line the cavities.
   • Manipulation adjusts connections to correct imbalances that stimulate the nervous system. This can restore the functioning of the affected parts of your body.

Method 4 of 4: Learn about sinus headaches

1. Differentiate between migraines and sinus headaches. Various studies have shown that the majority of people diagnosed with sinus headaches had an undiagnosed migraine. Fortunately, there are several symptoms that can help distinguish between sinus headaches and migraines. For instance:
   • Migraines usually worsen with loud noises or bright light.
   • Migraines are accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
   • Migraines can be felt all over your head and neck.
   • With a migraine, you don't have a thick discharge from your nose or a loss of sense of smell.
2. Recognize the symptoms and causes. The main cause of a sinus headache is inflammation of the mucous membranes that line your sinuses. The inflammation keeps your sinuses from secreting mucus. This builds up pressure and causes pain. Sinus infections can be caused by an infection, allergies, infections in the upper jaw, or, rarely, tumors (benign or malignant). Symptoms of sinus headaches include:
   • Pressure and sensitivity behind the forehead, cheeks or around the eyes.
   • Pain worsens when bending over.
   • Pain in the upper jaw.
   • Pain that is more intense in the early morning.
   • Pain that ranges from mild to severe and can occur unilaterally (on one side) or bilateral (on both sides).
3. Check yourself for risk factors. Several factors can make you more prone to sinus headaches. These factors can include:
   • A history of allergies or asthma.
   • Stubborn colds, also known as upper respiratory infections.
   • Ear infections.
   • Enlarged tonsils or glands.
   • Nasal polyps.
   • Nose deformities such as a deviated septum.
   • Cleft palate.
   • Weakened immune system.
   • Previous sinus surgery.
   • Climbing or flying to great heights.
   • Traveling on an airplane with an upper respiratory infection.
   • Abscess or infection of a tooth.
   • Swim or dive regularly.
4. Know when to seek medical attention. If your headaches occur for more than 15 days a month, or if you regularly use over-the-counter painkillers, you should see a doctor. You should also consider seeing your doctor if the pain medication does not help with a severe headache, or if the headaches get in the way of your daily life (for example, if you often miss school or work because of the headache). Seek emergency care if you have a sinus headache and the following symptoms:
   • Sudden and severe headache that lasts or gets worse for more than 24 hours.
   • A sudden severe headache described as “the worst headache ever” even if you are prone to a headache.
   • Chronic or severe headaches that come on after your 50th birthday.
   • Fever, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting (these symptoms may include suspicion of meningitis, a life-threatening bacterial infection).
   • Memory loss, confusion, loss of balance, change in speech or vision, or loss of strength or numbness or tingling in one of your limbs (these symptoms may be suspicions of a stroke).
   • Various inflammations in one eye accompanied by eye redness (these symptoms may be suspected acute angle-closure glaucoma).
   • A new headache pattern or a change in it.
   • If you have recently had a head trauma.
5. Get examined. Your doctor will collect a complete medical history and perform a physical exam to diagnose sinus headaches. During the exam, your doctor will touch your face to look for tenderness or swelling. Your nose will be examined for signs of inflammation, blockage or nasal discharge. Your doctor may also order an examination such as an X-ray, a CT (computed tomography) scan, or an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan. If your doctor thinks allergies may be contributing to your symptoms, you may be referred to an allergist for more testing.
   • In some cases, a referral to an ENT specialist is necessary. The ENT specialist will use a fiberscope to visualize and diagnose the sinuses.

Warnings

• Headaches during pregnancy can be caused by sinusitis, migraines or tension headaches, but be aware that headaches can also be a result of pre-eclampsia or cerebral venous thrombosis.
• Elderly patients are at higher risk for minor types of headaches such as trigeminal neuralgia and temporal arteritis.