SC Connecticut News

• If you're dealing with chronic headaches, it may be a result of inflamed sinuses.
• It's important to figure out what type of headaches you are dealing with so you can get the correct treatment.
• Dr. Terrance Kwiatkowski and his team at CT ENT Sinus Center can help to figure out if your headaches are a problem arising from sinus issues.

Headaches and sinus issues often go hand-in-hand, according to Dr. Terrance Kwiatkowski of CT ENT Sinus Center, and the sinus problems potentially could be at the root of a patient's chronic headaches, so it's important to seek treatment from a sinus specialist if you might be struggling with that issue.

"Sometimes people have pain that goes across their forehead,” Kwiatkowski told SC Connecticut News. “That could be sinuses or it could be muscle tension. Then you start getting into the area of the temporomandibular joint, which can cause a whole different type of headache and facial pain, because the temporomandibular joint is associated with the temporalis muscle. You can get facial pain all the way through there."

WebMD reported that headaches could be due to inflammation of the sinuses, which are spaces situated in the forehead, cheek and behind the bridge of the nose. The sinuses swell when inflamed and produce additional mucus, which can block the pathways that drain the fluids. The pressure in the sinuses can create a pain similar to a headache.

Mayo Clinic said that if headache pain becomes more severe when you lay down or bend over, it could be a sign of sinusitis or migraines. Other symptoms that can set the two apart include nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to bright light or noise, both symptoms of migraines, not sinusitis. It is important to find out what sort of headache you are suffering from in order to determine an appropriate treatment plan.

While a headache can prove to be an inconvenience, Kwiatkowski and his team can determine whether it is the result of sinus issues and provide an appropriate treatment plan.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.