Mark Kline, a Physician Assistant at Frederick Breathe Free, said that sinus headaches and migraines are closely linked, and opening the sinuses often reduces headache severity. This statement was made in an Instagram post.
"Whats the correlation between Headaches and sinusits. Well, I think a lot of people will misiagnose themselves with migraines because they think it's a common name, but, you know, swollen frontal, swollen ethmoid, all those frontal sinuses, they actually cause or trigger headaches," said Kline, according to Instagram. "And when people come in, sometimes they say, I have a frontal headache, I have a sinus headache, they're really linked, and even if you do have migraines, the sinus headaches are known to trigger your migraines. So oftentimes, when we have patients and we open their sinuses, their headaches are reduced and not as severe, so it's pretty closely related."
According to WebMD, sinus headaches can cause deep, constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead, or bridge of the nose. This pain often worsens with sudden head movement or straining and is typically accompanied by other sinus symptoms such as a runny nose, ear fullness, and facial swelling. Accurate identification of sinus headaches versus migraines is important for determining appropriate treatment.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that chronic sinusitis affects approximately 28.9 million adults in the United States, accounting for about 11% of the adult population. The CDC highlights that chronic sinusitis is a common and persistent health concern contributing significantly to the overall burden of respiratory disease in the country.
A University of Michigan study found that 99% of 114 participants diagnosed with chronic sinusitis by emergency departments or primary care physicians were later found to have different conditions, such as migraines. The study emphasizes the frequent misdiagnosis between sinus-related headaches and migraines. Researchers recommend evaluation by a specialist for accurate diagnosis.
Kline earned a Master’s degree in health science and physician assistant certification from George Washington University after completing his Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Maryland. He has over 17 years of experience practicing emergency medicine and trauma and served as a medical provider for U.S. service members during deployments in Iraq. His background also includes work in urgent care, occupational medicine, and medical documentation standards for federal agencies.
Frederick Breathe Free is an ENT practice affiliated with National Breathe Free that offers treatments tailored for allergies, sinus complications, and various ear, nose, and throat ailments. Their services include innovative sinus treatments such as balloon sinuplasty and comprehensive allergy management.
