“Facial pain, pressure and discomfort in all the areas surrounding the sinus anatomy is one of the most common complaints of sinusitis,” Dr. Schalch Lepe told the Patient Daily. “All the nerves that connect all the structures around in or around the sinuses, in our face or behind our eye sockets or in our teeth or in our forehead, are connected. And when you have an inflammatory condition, that's irritating those areas.”
According to WebMD, approximately 90% of adults diagnosed with acute sinusitis in the United States, characterized by a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks, are prescribed antibiotics. A sinus infection lasting longer than 12 weeks is categorized as chronic sinusitis.
With acute sinusitis, it might be difficult to breathe through your nose, according to the Mayo Clinic. The area around your eyes and face might feel swollen, and you might have throbbing facial pain or a headache.
Both migraine attacks and sinus headaches can cause facial pain, watery eyes, and post-nasal drip, according to the American Migraine Foundation. These shared symptoms contribute to the misdiagnosis and self-diagnosis of sinus headaches.
According to NHS Inform, individuals experiencing symptoms lasting for over one week are advised to consult a physician. An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist may suggest using a saline solution, over-the-counter medication, or prescribe antibiotics or a corticosteroid spray. If these treatments fail to alleviate the symptoms of sinusitis, the ENT specialist may also advise sinus surgery.
According to SoCal Breathe Free's website, Dr. Paul Schalch Lepe is an otolaryngologist and ENT doctor in San Diego who specializes in sinus, allergy, and sleep treatments. He completed his residency in otolaryngology at the UC Irvine Medical Center at the UC Irvine School of Medicine and earned his medical degree at the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico School of Medicine in Mexico City.
