Hernando Reporter

• If you're dealing with chronic headaches, it may be a result of inflamed sinuses.
• It's important to figure out what type of headaches you are dealing with so you can get the correct treatment.
• Dr. Mariah Pate and her team at Tampa Bay Breathe Free can help to figure out if your headaches are a problem resulting from sinus issues. 

Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said there are many different types of headaches, and an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist can help diagnose if the symptoms are the result of sinus inflammation.

"Sinus headaches can be debilitating,” Pate told Hernando Reporter. “There are many different types of headaches -- over 100 different types. So it can be confusing for patients sometimes.”

Pate said sinus headaches are generally headaches located in the areas above and right below the eyes, where the sinus openings are located. These can occur at any time, but are commonly triggered by a flareup in allergies, an infection or a change in weather.

“These can be debilitating because they are reoccurring for a lot of patients,” Pate said. “Obviously, pain relievers can help, but many times it's important to determine what is causing the headache. That's where I come into play. I can help diagnose to see if the sinuses are causing the headaches.”

Distinguishing between migraines and sinus headaches can be difficult because they share similar symptoms, according to WebMD. Mayo Clinic says that both migraine and sinusitis headache pain often get worse when the patient bends forward. Migraines can simulate sinusitis by displaying nasal symptoms that include congestion, facial pressure and a clear, watery nasal discharge.

A significant difference between the two is that sinusitis isn't normally associated with nausea and vomiting or aggravated by noise and bright light, all common symptoms of migraines. Sinus headaches can include a fever and often last days or longer. Migraines normally last for a few hours or a day, possibly two.

Sinusitis usually occurs after a viral upper respiratory infection or cold and can trigger thick, discolored nasal mucus, a decreased sense of smell, a runny nose, a feeling of fullness in the ears and pain in one cheek or upper teeth, according to Mayo Clinic.

The treatment could include a combination of antibiotics, antihistamines or decongestants.

"Daily medications, as well as procedures to open the sinuses so they're less congested, can be really helpful for sinus headaches," Pate said.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.