Berrylin J. Ferguson, M.D. Pittsburgh, PA The patient who has pressure or pain around the nose and sinuses in the absence of nasal congestion or yellow nasal discharge almost never has a sinus infection. However, swelling of structures in the nose or of the narrow outflow tracts of the sinuses can frequently produce facial pain or a pressure "sinus headache" in the absence of infection. Nasal steroid sprays (i.e., Flonase, Nasacort, Rhinocort, Nasonex, Nasarel or Beconase) and topical antihistamine sprays (i.e., Astelin) may relieve these sinus headaches. These treatments are much more likely to relieve the pain and pressure between the eyes and in the cheeks than pressure or pain in the frontal area over the eyes. Frontal headaches and pressure are due to many conditions and rarely to sinusitis.
If you fly while you have a cold, bacterial sinus infection or nasal congestion, you may experience severe pain in your face when the airplane discends. The use of a topical decongestant nasal spray, such as Afrin, an hour before the flight may prevent this.
The patient who has a bacterial sinus infection or cold may also have facial pain or pressure. Because the tooth roots of the upper mouth often go into the maxillary sinuses, patients with infectious causes of sinusitis may complain of upper tooth or gum pain.
faq04-drhwang
Peter Hwang, M.D.
Associate Professor and Director
Stanford Sinus Center Stanford, CA
Headaches are a common symptom associated with sinusitis. However, it is important to remember that headaches in the sinus region can also have non-sinus causes, such as migraine and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) arthritis. Your sinus doctor can help to sort out these various causes.
