That annoying post nasal drip can ruin your day. As well as all those other symptoms, tired, run down, sore throat, stuffed up, even feverish. It can be difficult to figure out what you have, a sinus infection, allergies, COVID-19, tension headache, or even a migraine.
Unfortunately, the symptoms of all of these can overlap
Sinus Headaches
Sinus pain located in the forehead, cheekbones, and across the bridge of the nose can be caused by inflammation that blocks the natural drainage of mucus from these hollow cavities. This inflammation can be caused by allergies or an infection and can cause pain and pressure that feels similar to a headache.
If the headache is sinus-related other symptoms will often be present such as nasal discharge, facial sensitivity, sore throat, and mild fever.
Allergies
As the leaves turn golden and fall, as the air turns crisp and cool, new triggers can cause allergy symptoms to appear. When substances like pollen get into your nose and down your throat they can cause a chain reaction in your body. If your immune system mistakenly identifies them as foreign invaders and sends out antibodies to combat them, that releases releases histamines, which causes the runny nose, sore throat, watery eye symptoms we’re all familiar with.
Coronavirus
The CDC reports a wide variety of symptoms for COVID-19, ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms may appear 2 -14 days after exposure to the virus. The symptoms include: Fever or chills, cough, soreness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, headache, muscle and body aches, soar throat, congestion or runny nose, and nausea.
Tension Headache
With everything going on, tension headaches are pretty common. They are caused by muscle tightness in the head and neck. This tightness can be a result of stress, anxiety, or injury and present as a dull, all-over type of pain that localizes around the temples, scalp, neck, and shoulders
Migraines
The exact cause of migraines isn’t known, but symptoms include severe headache, eye pain, sensitivity to light and sound, among others. As opposed to a sinus headache, migraines often present as a throbbing pain on one side of the head more than the other.
If you’re experiencing a severe sinus headache or other symptoms, it’s best to see your ENT specialist. He or she will be able to tell you if you have an infection, allergic reaction, or another type of inflammation and recommend a course of treatment to help you feel more comfortable.
