Many people suffer from chronic sinus headaches. Chronic sinus headaches can cause pain, pressure, congestion, and irritation of the eyes. Constant pressure and congestion in the sinuses can be very uncomfortable. This is especially true when over-the-counter pain relief and decongestants do not seem to help.
Chronic Infection
What happens when the obvious solutions fail? Most people who think they have chronic sinus infections are suffering from migraines actually have them. Migraine attacks can cause irritation to nerves in the facial areas and swelling in the underlying blood vessels. The blood vessels surrounding your sinuses can become swollen or enlarged, causing pain and tenderness in the surrounding tissues.
Congestion can also occur as the sinuses become narrower due to inflammation. How can you tell the differences? Sinus infections should be accompanied with fever, swelling of lymph nodes, and yellow or green nasal discharge. Consider the migraine alternative if you only experience pain and stuffiness. Sinus swelling and migraines can also lead to an environment that allows normal bacteria to thrive. Sinus infection can result from this.
Treatments
What are your treatment options? You need to address the root cause of migraines, not just the symptoms. The symptoms of pain and stuffiness are not addressed by over-the-counter painkillers and decongestants. These treatments lose effectiveness over time and can cause rebound headaches.
Migraine attacks can be caused by an increase in blood vessel inflammation due to the stimulation of neurons in the brain. For anyone who experiences more than four migraines per year, it is a good idea to take preventative medication. If this sounds like you, please talk to your doctor to discuss your options. Abortive medication, which stops migraines from beginning, is particularly helpful for people who have less frequent migraines. For proper diagnosis and treatment, a visit to your physician is essential.
Natural Ways
Many people have great success using home humidifiers to keep the sinuses moist. Some people have great success with using a saline solution to irrigate their sinuses. This can be done with either a netipot or a specially designed squeeze bottle. Both of these products can be found at most pharmacies.
