Chronic Sinus Headache - Is This a Migraine in Disguise?
By: nikky Howard
Submitted: 2010-06-16 02:28:33 | Word Count: 717
Sinusitis is a condition ensuing from inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. This might be a result of infection from one among the subsequent issues:
Bacterial
Fungal
Viral
[ advertisement ]
Allergic
Impaired immune system
The newest classification of sinusitis refers to it as rhinosinusitis (rhinology is the medical specialty that deals with the nose and its diseases). The logic behind this selection is that inflammation of the sinuses cannot occur without some inflammation of the nose as well.
Sinusitis is a condition ensuing from inflammation of the paranasal sinuses. This might be a result of infection from one among the subsequent issues:
Bacterial
Fungal
Viral
Allergic
Impaired immune system
The newest classification of sinusitis refers to it as rhinosinusitis (rhinology is the medical specialty that deals with the nose and its diseases). The logic behind this selection is that inflammation of the sinuses cannot occur without some inflammation of the nose as well.
What is the Difference Between Acute and Chronic Sinusitis?
Acute sinusitis is a rapid onset and short however severe sinus infection that lasts up to four to eight weeks. Chronic sinusitis is a long-lasting and recurrent sinus infection. An attack that lasts additional than eight weeks or keeps coming back is classed as chronic. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis are sometimes less severe than those of acute sinusitis, but this condition could result in complications requiring prolonged treatment and typically surgery. Sinusitis that lasts between 4 and twelve weeks can be subdivided into the "subacute" classification.
Chronic Sinus headache
Whereas someone suffering from acute sinusitis is sort of guaranteed a sinus headache, this can be not the case with chronic sinusitis. In different words, a chronic sufferer will often develop a chronic sinus headache thanks to internal pressure, however this is not a recognized characteristic of the disease. Sinus headache symptoms, that include facial discomfort and a dull, aching pain over the infected sinus, are common to each acute and chronic sinus infections.
The pain is sort of always localized over the infected sinus and usually starts on one aspect and spreads over to the other. In addition, it's usually in the midst of a thick, yellow/inexperienced purulent nasal discharge, together with a hacking cough and a sore throat. The headache sometimes intensifies when the patient bends forward or lies down. If one or both of the maxillary sinuses are infected, a boring, achy toothache within the higher jaw is common.
Migraine misdiagnosis
It's troublesome to inform the difference between sinus related headaches, pressure headaches and migraine headaches as a result of many of their symptoms overlap. After all, recent studies show that approximately ninety% of so referred to as "sinus headaches" turn out to be migraines. Migraine headache symptoms mimic sinus headaches as a result of:
With a migraine, the trigeminal nerve innervates both the sinuses and also the meninges surrounding the brain. This makes it almost not possible to isolate the origins of the pain.
A migraine typically triggers nasal congestion
Autonomic nerve stimulation causes a runny nose and watery eyes
How to Tell the Distinction
Whereas a migraine headache can respond to triptan medication, decongestants and antibiotics only serve to intensify the pain... and vice versa.
Sinus headaches do not show "auras" or visionary disturbances, which are common in migraines.
Unlike migraines, there's no sensitivity to bright light and loud noises with a chronic sinus headache.
A migraine lasts for each day or two, whereas a sinus headache can drag on for per week or additional
A migraine sometimes produces a throbbing headache versus the boring, constant pain experienced with a sinus headache
Without specialized medical training. it's extraordinarily difficult to accurately diagnose the different classes of headache. Do not try to diagnose your own symptoms... it is unwise to treat yourself while not consulting a physician. Dosing yourself with the wrong medication can only serve to accentuate your headache.
Author Resource:-
Nikky has been writing articles online for nearly 2 years now. Not only does this author specialize in Healing Arts, you can also check out his latest website about:
