In short
Most headaches people call “sinus headaches” are actually migraine. In one study of 100 people who believed they had sinus headaches, 86 met the criteria for migraine. True sinus headache comes with a sinus infection: thick, discoloured mucus, a blocked nose, facial pain and sometimes fever, usually after a cold.
On this page
Is it really your sinuses?
Pain in the forehead, cheeks and around the eyes, with a stuffy or runny nose, feels like a sinus problem. But migraine can cause all of these. Migraine affects the nerves that supply the face and sinuses, and can cause a runny nose, watery eyes and facial pressure.
In the Sinus, Allergy and Migraine Study, published in 2007, 86 of 100 people who believed they had sinus headaches met the criteria for migraine-type headache. Many had been treating sinuses for years without success.
Signs it may be migraine
- Headaches keep coming back, without a cold
- Moderate to severe, throbbing pain
- Nausea, or sensitivity to light and sound
- Headaches that interfere with daily activities
- Triggers such as weather changes, stress, sleep changes or periods
- A family history of migraine
See migraine vs headache.
Headaches taking whole days away?
Talk it through with an Australian doctor online. No referral needed.
Signs of true sinusitis
Headache from sinusitis usually comes with an actual sinus infection:
- a blocked nose
- thick, yellow or green mucus
- facial pain or pressure, often worse bending forward
- reduced sense of smell
- sometimes fever
It usually follows a cold. Most cases of acute sinusitis are caused by viruses and get better within two to four weeks.
How to get rid of a sinus headache
If it really is sinusitis:
- saltwater (saline) nasal sprays or rinses
- steam inhalation
- rest and fluids
- pain relief from a pharmacy. Ask your pharmacist what suits you.
If your headaches keep coming back without a cold, consider migraine and see a GP. Migraine treatments are different from sinus treatments.
When to see a doctor
See a GP if symptoms last more than 10 days, get worse after improving, or keep coming back. Get urgent care for swelling or redness around the eye, double vision, a severe headache, confusion, a stiff neck or high fever.
Next step: talk to a doctor
Answer a few quick questions and you’ll get an email about your eligibility. A consultation doesn’t guarantee any particular treatment.
References
- Eross E, Dodick D, Eross M. The Sinus, Allergy and Migraine Study (SAMS). Headache. 2007;47(2):213-24.
- . Headache Classification Committee of the International Headache Society (IHS) The International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition. Cephalalgia. 2018;38(1):1-211.
- Ferrari MD, Goadsby PJ, Burstein R, et al. Migraine. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2022;8(1):2.
- healthdirect. Sinusitis.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t replace a consultation with a doctor who knows your history. In an emergency, call 000.