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ENSometimes it’s not really your sinuses 🤨
And I know that can feel frustrating to hear after years of being told you have “sinus infections” or being given repeated antibiotics.
But here’s what we know from the research:
🧠 Over 80% of people diagnosed with sinus headaches actually have migraine or tension headache.
🤯 Only about 3–5% truly have chronic sinusitis.
“Sinus headache” isn’t even a formal diagnosis. It’s a description of where the pain is felt, not the cause.
So why does it feel like your sinuses are inflamed?
💡 Because migraine involves the trigeminal nerve — the nerve that supplies the face, nose, sinuses, and even the ears. When it is hypersensitized it can trigger:
• facial pressure
• nasal congestion
• runny nose
• ear fullness
• dizziness
Which makes it very easy to mistake for sinus disease.
⚠️ One clue I look for in clinic:
If the facial pressure happens without thick discolored nasal drainage or complete nasal blockage, it’s much less likely to be a sinus infection.
And if your “sinus headache” also includes:
• vertigo
• neck pain
• sensitivity to sound
…it’s far more likely to be migraine.
👇🏻Another important piece most people don’t talk about:
This pattern becomes more common in women during perimenopause.
Hormonal fluctuations can lower the migraine threshold, so many women in their 40s and 50s suddenly start experiencing:
• sinus pressure
• ear symptoms
• dizziness
• headaches
that are actually migraine variants.
When we recognize this, treatment changes completely.
Instead of repeated antibiotics, we focus on:
• stabilizing sleep
• preventing blood sugar swings
• hydration
• magnesium and other migraine-supportive nutrients
• identifying triggers
and using medications when appropriate.
How many times have you been given antibiotics for sinus headache? Tell me below 👇🏻
#sinusheadache #sinuspressure #sinusitis #migraine #sinusrelief
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