A pressure headache can be caused by sinus infections, allergies, or changes in weather. It is felt in the forehead, cheeks, and around the eyes. Treatment includes antibiotics, allergy medication, and a combination of sinus decongestants and headache medication.
A buildup of pressure in the sinus cavities can sometimes cause what is commonly called a pressure headache. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including sinus infections, allergies, or even just a cold that causes mucus to become trapped in the sinuses, which can also lead to a sinus infection. Some people will also experience a pressure headache if they are sensitive to changes in the weather; for example, impending snowstorms or thunderstorms often cause changes in barometric pressure that can occasionally be felt in the sinuses and lead to headaches.
A pressure headache can be quite painful and is often felt in different areas around the front of the head and face, namely the forehead, cheeks and around the eyes, which is where the sinuses are located. This is what makes it easy to distinguish a pressure headache from a tension headache, which is often felt around the sides of the head and jaw due to tightness and tension in the muscles of the neck and shoulders. The pain from this type of headache is sometimes dull and throbbing, and it’s a relatively constant pain, but it can get worse with movement or if the sinuses become further irritated due to allergens in the air.
If a sinus infection is the cause of your pressure headache, you will need to visit a doctor to receive antibiotics to treat the infection. Allergy medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, can also help prevent sinus headaches. Using a neti pot to cleanse your nasal passages with a warm saline solution can help remove irritants, which can be helpful in preventing colds and treating seasonal or environmental allergies. There’s not much that can be done to prevent pressure headaches from climate change, sadly, but these are relatively rare unless you actually have permanent sinus damage or chronic sinus infections.
In general, one of the best ways to treat a pressure headache is to choose a combination of sinus decongestants and headache medications, which are easy to find at most drugstores. If your headaches are persistent or seem to occur frequently, it might be a good idea to visit a doctor just to be sure nothing else is wrong, as it can sometimes be difficult to tell one type of headache from another. For example, dangerously high blood pressure can lead to headaches that feel like pressure headaches, but may indicate a more serious problem.
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