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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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In this Article

• Sinus headache facts
• What are the sinuses?
• What is a sinus headache?
• What causes a sinus headache?
• What are the symptoms of a sinus headache?
• When should I seek medical care for a sinus headache?
• How is a sinus headache diagnosed?
• What is the treatment and remedies for a sinus headache?
• What are the complications of a sinus headache?
• Can a sinus headache be prevented?
• What is the outlook (prognosis) for a sinus headache?
• Patient Comments: Sinus Headache - Complications
• Patient Comments: Sinus Headache - Symptoms
• Patient Comments: Sinus Headache - Experience
• Patient Comments: Sinus Headache - Remedies
• Find a local Ear, Nose, & Throat Doctor in your town
• Sinus Headache Index

Pain is the primary symptom of a sinus headache, usually due to the increased pressure and decreased drainage from the affected sinus cavity. The pain of a sinus headache is often described as an increasing pressure sensation overlying the sinus that is blocked. The part of the face in the area of the affected sinus can be tender to touch. The pain can increase with changing position of the head, or when first getting up out of bed, again because of increased pressure within the sinus cavities.

Symptoms with sinus infection

• If an infection is present, there may be fever, chills, malaise (feeling poorly) or myalgias (achy muscles).
• Greenish-yellow nasal drainage may occur.
• There may be post-nasal drainage in which secretions drip down to the back of the throat. This can cause a cough, and affected individuals sometimes complain about coughing up yellow sputum. They are actually coughing up the drainage that has dripped down from the sinuses.
• Swollen lymph nodes (swollen glands) may occur in the neck if an infection is present, no different than the swelling of lymph nodes that accompanies acute sore throat (pharyngitis) or ear infection (otitis media).

Symptoms with sinus inflammation

• If there is sinus inflammation without infection, the drainage may be clear.
• If the maxillary sinus is inflamed, pain also may be felt in the upper teeth since the sinus is located within the bone that holds those teeth.