Sinus Pain - How 95% Are Misdiagnosed

5 Feb

Are Your Sinus Headaches Actually Migraines?

If you’ve been battling sinus pain and congestion for weeks, trying antibiotics and relying on Flixonase with little relief, it’s time to consider an unexpected culprit: migraines. Surprisingly, research reveals that many people who believe they have sinus headaches are actually experiencing migraine disorders.

The Misdiagnosis Epidemic

If you’re convinced your headaches are sinus-related, you’re not alone. However, studies show:

Over 85% of people who think they have sinus headaches actually have migraines. [1]
A whopping 90% of self-diagnosed sinus headaches are migraines, according to the American Migraine Foundation. [2]
One study found that 95% of sinus headache sufferers were, in fact, experiencing migraines. [3], [4]

So, what causes this confusion? It’s all about overlapping symptoms. Migraines and sinus issues both present with facial pressure, nasal congestion, and sensitivity to weather changes. But here’s the catch: the term “sinus headache” isn’t even a recognized medical diagnosis [5]. This misunderstanding leads many to ineffective treatments, like antibiotics, which won’t address migraines.

Why Proper Diagnosis Matters

Misdiagnosing migraines as sinus headaches can lead to years of unnecessary suffering and ineffective treatment. Migraines are a neurological condition, not an infection, so they won’t improve with antibiotics or nasal sprays. Proper diagnosis is crucial to finding lasting relief.

What Can You Do?

If your sinus pain isn’t improving or matches some of the migraine symptoms above, it’s time to take action:

Consult a Professional: The Headache Clinic excels in diagnosing and treating migraines, ensuring you receive the right care.
Track Your Symptoms: Keep a headache diary to note triggers, pain patterns, and associated symptoms. This information is invaluable for diagnosis.
Explore Holistic Treatment: At the Headache Clinic, we focus on a holistic approach to migraine management. This involves desensitizing the autonomic nervous system and the brainstem which is a common underlying condition for headache and migraine.
Seek Advanced Care: If migraines are confirmed, we offer a range of treatment options tailored to your needs. Our goal is to address the root cause, not just mask symptoms.

Take the First Step

Migraines might not be what you expected, but with the right diagnosis and treatment, you can finally find the relief you’ve been searching for.

Learn more

References

Harvard Health Publishing. Sinus headache or “sign us up” for a migraine consultation. Harvard Health Blog. 2016 Dec 1 [cited 2025 Jan 22]. Available from: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sinus-headache-or-sign-us-up-for-a-migraine-consultation-2016120110758
American Migraine Foundation. Sinus headache. American Migraine Foundation [Internet]. [cited 2025 Jan 22]. Available from: https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/sinus-headache/
Loder E, Burch R, Rizzoli P. The 2016 American Headache Society (AHS) evidence assessment of migraine pharmacotherapies for prevention: A summary. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2016;16(6):1-10. doi:10.1007/s11910-016-0631-z. Available from: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-016-0631-z.
Olesen J. International Classification of Headache Disorders. Lancet Neurol. 2013;12(8):684-94. doi:10.1016/S1474-4422(13)70108-2. Available from: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4028747/
MacGregor EA. Migraine. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150(12):ITC6-1. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-150-12-200906160-01006. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19344297/