Health & Fitness
When Is a Sinus Headache Really a Nasal Headache?
Pain and pressure in the forehead or near the eyes are often mistaken for a sinus headache. The cause may actually be crowding of structures – the nasal turbinates – in the upper part of the nose.
By Gerard O’Halloran, MD, Ear, Nose and Throat Specialist at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic – Lakeville
Symptoms such as pain and pressure in the forehead or near the eyes are often described as a sinus headache. It’s true that sinus infections can cause pain and pressure in this area, but most people with continual or intermittent (comes and goes) pain and pressure in this location don’t have a sinus infection at all. Rather, the cause of the pain and pressure is crowding of structures – the nasal turbinates – in the upper part of the nose.
Most people have never heard of turbinates. But when you have a cold, it’s swollen turbinates that make you feel congested. Three pairs of nasal turbinates are attached to the inside walls of the nose. Their purpose is to heat, humidify and filter air as it flows through nose. Turbinates swell and get larger from colds, allergies and even from lying down.
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Sometimes one or more of the turbinates is too large or the nasal septum (the middle wall of your nose) is deviated or bent to one side and pushes against one of the turbinates. In that case, whenever the turbinate swells, you feel pain or pressure that resembles a sinus headache. What you have, however, is a nasal headache. Some nasal headaches even progress to cause migraines.
Nasal headaches are more common in women, possibly because they have smaller noses and less room for swelling of the turbinates. Female hormones may also make the turbinates swell.
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Nasal headaches can be treated with either medicine or surgery. Medicine can help prevent swelling in the turbinates, but it doesn’t always work. Sometimes the nose is too crowded to allow the medicine to get to the turbinate. If medicine does not work, surgery usually does.
Symptoms of a Nasal Headache
Chronic or intermittent pain or pressure beneath (most common), in, or above the eyes may indicate a nasal headache, particularly if your symptoms are worse:
• When lying down or in the morning
• During allergy season if you have allergies
• During a cold
• Just before your menstrual cycle
• When you are exposed to smoke or perfume
• When the weather changes
If you have questions about sinus or nasal headaches, contact Gerard O’Halloran, MD, at FamilyHealth Medical Clinic – Lakeville: 952-469-0500.
