Distinguishing a sinus headache from a migraine

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Sinus headaches are often misdiagnosed with migraines because the symptoms are similar. Patients need to rely on signal symptoms to accurately diagnose these two diseases.

1. Similarities Between Sinus Headaches and Migraines


Sinus headaches and migraines both cause the following symptoms:
Runny nose Stuffy nose Watery eyes Increased pressure in the forehead and cheeks

2. What's the difference between a sinus headache and a migraine?


A sinus headache has an obvious symptom of a yellow mucus or pus draining from the nasal area. In addition, other symptoms of sinusitis are also described as follows:
Fever Bad breath

Đau đầu do xoang đặc trưng khi có thoát dịch nhầy ra khỏi vùng mũi
Đau đầu do xoang đặc trưng khi có thoát dịch nhầy ra khỏi vùng mũi

Migraine is characterized by the following symptoms:
Nausea Sensitivity to light and sound Appetites Dizziness, blurred vision and fatigue Migraines can also be hereditary, incidence in Women are 3 times taller than men If based on the above information, you still cannot identify the disease, then you need to answer the following questions to solve the problem:
In the past 3 months, the headaches have a great influence to your life? Feeling nauseous when you have a headache? During a headache, are you sensitive to ambient light and sounds? If you answered "yes" to at least two of these answers, it's very likely that you have a migraine.

Cần phân biệt chứng đau nửa đầu và cơn đau đầu do xoang
Cần phân biệt chứng đau nửa đầu và cơn đau đầu do xoang

3. Treatments for Sinus Headaches and Migraines


For sinus headaches, mainly apply treatment by suctioning fluids and mucus in the sinus area to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Usually, you'll use a decongestant, an antihistamine, or a combination of different medications. However, these drugs have almost no effect, and on the contrary, make the pain worse.

Treatment of migraine with over-the-counter and prescription pain relievers is also available. They can help treat seizure disorders, depression, and cardiovascular disease. Several other ways can be used such as pills, injections, and nasal sprays. In addition, headaches can be triggered by certain foods and physical activities. Therefore, to relieve headaches you need to find out the cause of pain from life activities.

4. Are sinus headaches the cause of migraines?


Migraines are often associated with diseases such as allergic rhinitis, runny nose and asthma. Therefore, sinus problems are not the main cause of migraine headaches. However, it somehow still has a certain effect in causing a migraine attack.
If you want to relieve headaches, you need to get the right diagnosis. If there are more than two causes, consider treating each condition separately, even if they occur at the same time.

Đau nửa đầu thường liên quan tới nhiều bệnh khác ngoài xoang
Đau nửa đầu thường liên quan tới nhiều bệnh khác ngoài xoang

5. Headache when to see a doctor?


You should see a doctor right away if you have the following symptoms:
Have a headache that is more frequent and severe Pain that does not improve after taking over-the-counter pain relievers Headaches affecting productivity, sleep, and other physical activity To find the root of your illness, your doctor may ask about your current health and medical history. Do some tests to rule out other possible causes of headaches before coming up with a treatment plan.
Severe headaches can be a symptom of some serious conditions such as stroke, meningitis or encephalitis. You should seek emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following:
Blurry vision Have a fever above 39 degrees Celsius Numbness, weakness or paralysis on one side of the body Because the symptoms are quite similar, Sinus headaches and migraines are often confused with each other. Therefore, patients need to clearly distinguish the symptoms of the disease in order to have timely examination and treatment.
Vinmec International General Hospital is the address for examination, treatment and prevention of diseases, including Neuro-Respiratory specialties. When performing the examination process at Vinmec, customers will be welcomed and used modern facilities and equipment along with perfect medical services under the guidance and advice of experts. Good doctors, well-trained both at home and abroad.
Customers can directly go to Vinmec Health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.
Reference source: webmd.com
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