Inflammation of the sinuses leads to congestion and increased secretions in the nasal cavity, resulting in irritation of the nerve endings in the head, which in turn causes headaches. In general, acute sinusitis patients have more severe headaches than chronic patients.
1. Inflammation of the anterior group of sinuses. This area is close to the head. Therefore, the pain is concentrated in the frontal area, the area between the eyes, and the area of the cheeks. When the anterior group of sinuses is chronic, it is also concentrated in these areas, but the headache is less severe and not so unbearable.
2. Inflammation of the posterior group of sinuses. Since this area is deep in the head, the pain is mainly located at the top of the head, at the back of the head. When the inflammation of the posterior group of sinuses is chronic, the headache locations are these as well. The pain in patients with chronic sinusitis is mostly dull and rarely appears as sharp pain.
3. Inflammation in other areas. When the maxillary sinus is inflamed, pain will appear in the forehead area and the face, and the pain is lightest when you get up in the morning and heaviest in the afternoon. When the frontal sinus is inflamed, pain appears in the frontal area, and it is the most painful when you get up in the morning, and it slowly decreases in the midday, and disappears at night.
If you feel that the headache is affecting your normal life and work, you can ask your doctor to prescribe medication to relieve the symptoms of the headache.