According to recent research, migraines are found to be fairly common among patients with sinus headache. Symptoms in sinuses are frequently reported during migraine attacks, but are not generally considered in making a diagnosis.
Researchers form the Research Triangle Park, USA, examined the rate of migraine-type headaches in 2991 patients who experienced sinus headaches in the past. Of all the subjects, more than 80 percent met the diagnostic criteria for migraines. The most common sinus symptoms reported by patients at screening were pressure, pain and nasal congestion. It was found that 67 percent were dissatisfied with the medication they used to treat their sinus headaches.
The presence of nasal symptoms often considered to be features of 'sinus' headache should not automatically trigger a sinus diagnosis or exclude a diagnosis of migraine but should prompt assessment of the patients for migraine as well as sinus headache. It was concluded that an accurate diagnosis of headache is essential for patients to receive appropriate therapy and to achieve an optimal treatment outcome.
Archives of Internal
Medicine,
September 2004
September 2004