Are You Treating Your Sinus Headache All Wrong?

MedEvidence Articles

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:
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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/

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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

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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