Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center offers options for sinus headache relief

Sinus problems can be a headache, literally.

"Sinus headaches essentially come from either air or mucus getting  trapped in your sinuses," Dr. Brian Lee of Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center said. "And that drainage pathway, or that drainage hole, can get plugged up. It can get plugged up from inflammation, just from simple allergies or a cold."

One of the best ways to try to quickly alleviate the pain is to take a decongestant, Lee said.

"That helps shrink down some of that inflammation to get those sinuses to ventilate a little bit or relieve the pressure," he explained.

With sinus headaches, you may experience pain in your cheekbones, forehead or the bridge of your nose, according to WebMD. When you move your head suddenly or strain, the pain may grow stronger. You may have other sinus symptoms, such as a runny nose, feeling of fullness in your ears, fever and swelling in your face.

Over-the-counter medicines can help, at least temporarily, in providing sinus headache relief.

"If you take decongestants and pain-relieving medicines too often, you might get medication overuse headaches," WebMD said. "It's important to touch base  with your doctor if you’re  using any medication for a long time to relieve your headaches. Decongestants also can raise your blood pressure, so if you have high blood pressure, talk to your doctor before you take one. In rare cases, they may recommend sinus surgery to remove polyps or open up small or constantly swollen sinuses."

Chronic sinus infections can make you feel miserable in many ways, Lee said.

"I see a lot of patients that come in and complain of almost like a brain fog or just not feeling as sharp," he said. "They're perfectly functional. They're going to work. They go in, but they're really just running at 80%, 85% and just don't feel their full self, and that's because they have these chronic sinus issues."

Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center offers a free Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz to evaluate your sinus symptoms and get some relief.

Scottsdale Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Center is committed to providing the best sinus and allergy relief in the Scottsdale area, using the most advanced, proven patient-friendly techniques available. With 29 million Americans suffering from sinusitis and 242,000 annual chronic sinusitis ER visits, our mission is to provide minimally invasive options for needed, long-lasting relief so that patients can get back to living. We call this mission Breathe Free and Live Well, and it is the North Star that guides us in each unique collaborative patient interaction. To learn more about Scottsdale Breathe Free Sinus and  Allergy Center, please visit our website.