Sinus Headache: Headaches Migraines

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Sinus headache

The sinuses are air-filled spaces above, between, and beneath your eyes, flanking your nose. Both the nose and sinuses are lined with a thin membrane that swells and produces mucus in response to irritation. Normally, the mucus from the sinuses drains through small openings, known as ostia, which connect the sinuses to the nasal passages.

Sinus headache can occur in three circumstances: when the inner membrane becomes inflamed, when fluid builds up in the sinuses and can't drain out through the nose, or when pressure in the sinuses is lower than environmental air pressure (sometimes called barometric pressure because it is measured by an instrument known as a barometer). Whatever the cause, sinus headache pain is most often felt in the center of the face, the bridge of the nose, and the cheeks (see Figure 3). It may also occur behind the eyes and be accompanied by nasal congestion and clear or opaque postnasal drip.

Figure 3: Sinus headache pain Sinus headache often produces steady pain in the cheeks, the bridge of the nose, or the center of the face. The pain, often described as pressure, can also occur behind the eyes, and it's usually accompanied by nasal congestion, postnasal drip, or both.

Last updated:	September 05, 2008