Sinus headaches are annoying, bothersome, and might not really be sinus-related for most people! We look at research that explains why sinus inflammation is rarely the cause headaches above the sinuses and how accurate diagnosis is essential for effective treatment. Learn about the role of sinuses, why facial pain isn’t always what it seems, and how evidence-based approaches like antimigraine medications can bring lasting relief.

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References:
Eross, E., Dodick, D., & Eross, M. (2007). The sinus, allergy and migraine study (SAMS) CME. Headache: The Journal of Head and Face Pain https://headachejournal.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1526-4610.2006.00688.x

Foroughipour, M., et al. (2011). Causes of headache in patients with a primary diagnosis of sinus headache. European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00405-011-1643-6

Daudia, A. T., & Jones, N. S. (2002). Facial migraine in a rhinological setting. Clinical Otolaryngology & Allied Sciences https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1046/j.1365-2273.2002.00628.x

Cappello, Z. J., Minutello, K., & Dublin, A. B. (2023). Anatomy, head and neck, nose paranasal sinuses. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499826/

Ceriani, C. E., & Silberstein, S. D. (2021). Headache and rhinosinusitis: A review. Cephalalgia https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0333102420959790

International Headache Society. (2018). 11.5 Headache attributed to disorder of the nose or paranasal sinuses. IHS Classification ICHD-3. https://ichd-3.org/11-headache-or-facial-pain-attributed-to-disorder-of-the-cranium-neck-eyes-ears-nose-sinuses-teeth-mouth-or-other-facial-or-cervical-structure/11-5-headache-attributed-to-disorder-of-the-nose-or-paranasal-sinuses/

Koren, M.J. & Toenjes, S. (Hosts). (2024). Two docs talk: Migraines. [Podcast Episode]. In MedEvidence! Truth Behind the Data. MedEvidence. https://medevidence.com/two-docs-talk-migraines

Schreiber, C. P., Hutchinson, S., Webster, C. J., Ames, M., Richardson, M. S., & Powers, C. (2004). Prevalence of migraine in patients with a history of self-reported or physician-diagnosed sinus headache. Archives of internal medicine https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/217302

Straburzyński, M., et al. (2021). Etiology of ‘sinus headache’—moving the focus from rhinology to neurology. A systematic review. Brain Sciences https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/1/79

Patel, Z. M., Kennedy, D. W., Setzen, M., Poetker, D. M., & DelGaudio, J. M. (2013, March). “Sinus headache”: rhinogenic headache or migraine? An evidence‐based guide to diagnosis and treatment. In International forum of allergy & rhinology  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/alr.21095

Ishkanian, G., et al. (2007). Efficacy of sumatriptan tablets in migraineurs self-described or physician-diagnosed as having sinus headache: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Clinical therapeutics https://www.clinicaltherapeutics.com/article/S0149-2918(07)00026-4/abstract