Can tension headaches feel like sinus headaches?

Patients with migraines or tension headaches commonly have sinus and nasal symptoms during their headaches, including sinus pressure, sinus pain, nasal congestion or runny nose.

What is the difference between a headache and a sinus headache?

The difference is that sinus headaches are a specific reaction to inflammation of the sinuses, which are the air-filled cavities in your forehead and cheeks and around your nose and eyes. Because of this, a sinus headache may start off feeling like congestion, and then turn into something more painful.

How do you rule out a tension headache?

These are common symptoms of a tension headache:

1. Slow onset of the headache.
2. Head usually hurts on both sides.
3. Pain is dull or feels like a band or vice around the head.
4. Pain may involve the back part of the head or neck.
5. Pain is usually mild to moderate, but not severe.

Where does your head hurt with a sinus headache?

You’ll feel a deep and constant pain in your cheekbones, forehead, or the bridge of your nose. The pain usually gets stronger when you move your head suddenly or strain. At the same time, you might have other sinus symptoms, such as: A runny nose.

How can you tell the difference between sinus pressure and sinus infection?

A sinus infection can stick around longer, though. If you have a runny nose, stuffy nose or sinus pressure that lasts for more than 10 days, suspect an infection. Do you have sinus pressure? If you have persistent facial pain, pressure or tenderness, you may have a sinus infection.

What is the fastest way to relieve a tension headache?

In this Article

1. Try a Cold Pack.
2. Use a Heating Pad or Hot Compress.
3. Ease Pressure on Your Scalp or Head.
4. Dim the Lights.
5. Try Not to Chew.
6. Hydrate.
7. Get Some Caffeine.
8. Practice Relaxation.

What part of the head is a Covid headache?

It is presenting mostly as a whole-head, severe-pressure pain. It’s different than migraine, which by definition is unilateral throbbing with sensitivity to light or sound, or nausea. This is more of a whole-head pressure presentation.

What is the fastest way to get rid of a sinus headache?

How do I get rid of a sinus headache?

1. Apply a warm compress to painful areas of the face.
2. Use a decongestant to reduce sinus swelling and allow mucus to drain.
3. Try a saline nasal spray or drops to thin mucus.
4. Use a vaporizer or inhale steam from a pan of boiled water. Warm, moist air may help relieve sinus congestion.

How do you relieve sinus pressure in your head?

Home Treatments

1. Use a humidifier or vaporizer.
2. Take long showers or breathe in steam from a pot of warm (but not too hot) water.
3. Drink lots of fluids.
4. Use a nasal saline spray.
5. Try a Neti pot, nasal irrigator, or bulb syringe.
6. Place a warm, wet towel on your face.
7. Prop yourself up.
8. Avoid chlorinated pools.

What is the best home remedy for a sinus headache?

One of the best home remedies for sinus headache is an alternate hot and cold compress. When moist moderate heat is applied on the sinus region it eases the pressure and loosens the thick mucus. Whereas when cold compress is applied, it provides relief from the pain by constricting the blood vessels in the sinus region.

Is it normal to have a sinus headache every day?

In sinus and allergy patients, a notable trigger can be a sinus infection or an allergy attack. This is why these sinus headaches are more common when you are sick with a sinus problem. Daily or frequent headaches, whether in your head or face, can be a sign of an ongoing sinus problem. But be warned!

What is the difference between migraine and tension headaches?

The differences between the pain of migraine and headache are that migraine pain has a throbbing quality, and many people report even slight physical exertion (such as walking up a flight of stairs) may worsen their pain. In contrast, the pain associated with tension-type headaches tends to be more chronic and steady.