Many people get headaches, but not everyone that has a headache has an actual sinus migraine headache. A sinus migraine headache will have symptoms such as facial pain, nasal congestion and the headache itself. Sinus migraine headaches are not that common.

Most people who think they have a sinus headache do not. A real sinus migraine headache, which is also called rhinosinusitis, is actually quite rare and only after there has been a viral sinus infection. The symptoms of a viral infection are thick nasal mucous, facial pain and sometimes a fever. Antibiotics are usually given and any facial pain should go away. If there is pain after the antibiotics have been finished, then there should be more investigation as to why there is pain.

An actual sinus headache is a migraine with sinus pain. Migraine headaches have symptoms such as nausea, a sensitivity to light, a throbbing headache and a headache that is made worse by moving around. Migraines are disabling and they tend to interfere with the everyday life activities.

Migraines have many causes such as stress, a lack of adequate sleep, weather changes and sometimes foods such as chocolate. Sometimes women get migraines at the time of their menstrual cycle which is caused by a drop in estrogen levels. Another cause for migraines in women is from medications such as oral contraceptives.

In order to diagnose a sinus headache, keeping a diary can often help to keep track of foods or other activities that may have happened before the headache. Sinus headaches also can occur from allergies or a sinus infection after having a cold. The sinus passages will become inflamed along with the cavities around the bones in the eyes and nose.

Other sinus headache symptoms are pain and pressure under the eyes and forehead. The teeth may become very sensitive, there may be a fever and the face can actually swell. An x-ray or a CAT scan can identify blocked sinuses. The patient may be given decongestants to help the sinuses drain and also an antihistamine to help with the allergies.

Most doctors recommend that if a person is absent from work because of a sinus migraine headache, they should seek a professional opinion. However, most people see their family specialist when they should be seen by a headache specialist such as a neurologist. Most health plans, however, require a patient to see their general practitioner first to get a referral to a specialist. It can sometimes be difficult to get the general practitioner to give the referral.

Overall, knowing the difference between a sinus migraine headache and a typical migraine is essential to getting the right treatment and getting back to daily life activities.

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