Sinus Headache

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Medical Author:

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Benjamin Wedro, MD, FACEP, FAAEM

Dr. Ben Wedro practices emergency medicine at Gundersen Clinic, a regional trauma center in La Crosse, Wisconsin. His background includes undergraduate and medical studies at the University of Alberta, a Family Practice internship at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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• Sinuses are air spaces that develop from the nasal passages that help with air humidification and mucus secretion.
• Inflammation of the sinuses may decrease the ability for the mucus to drain, increasing pressure within the sinus, leading to the sinus headache. Common causes include allergies or colds.
• Diagnosis is often based on history and physical examination. Blood testing and X-rays are often not required.
• Treatment is directed at decreasing the inflammation within the sinus passages, allowing them to drain, and decreasing the pressure that is the cause of the headache.

Sinuses of the face are cavities or spaces within the bones that help humidify air and secrete mucus to help with air filtration. Additionally, they contribute to the strength of the skull and its ability to resist trauma and allow more resonance in the voice.

The sinuses are often referred to as the paranasal sinuses because of their location and connection to the back of the nose. The sinuses develop as air sacs within the bones of the skull and are named by their location:

• Frontal sinus: located above the eyes within the frontal bone of the skull
• Maxillary sinus: located beneath the eyes under the cheekbones within the maxilla bone of the face
• Ethmoid sinus: located in the ethmoid bone separating the eyes from the nose
• Sphenoid sinus: located in the sphenoid bone at the base of the skull