- One of the most common misdiagnoses is chronic sinusitis and migraine
- The primary cause of migraine is still unknown
- 99% of patients were misdiagnosed at primary care or in the emergency room
Migraines are often misdiagnosed because their symptoms are similar to those of other conditions.
Chronic sinusitis, commonly known as nasal inflammation, is one of these disorders, and recent evidence suggests it might actually trigger migraine headaches.
“Being down from work with sinus infections or sinus headaches, those types of things… all those ramifications, if you addressed them earlier, you’d have people that are thriving and living, not suffering,” Dr. Jamie Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Maryland State Wire.
According to one study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain, sinusitis is one of the most prevalent misdiagnoses, particularly if there are associated symptoms such as sinus headache, dry sinus headache or a severe sinus headache.
The study revealed that 106 out of 113 subjects — or 81% — were incorrectly diagnosed. Both migraine attacks and sinus headaches may induce facial discomfort, watery eyes and postnasal drip, according to the American Migraine Foundation.
These overlapping symptoms often lead to misdiagnosis and self-diagnosis of sinus headaches. In addition, the underlying cause of migraine headaches remains unknown.
The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery published a study to identify the relationship between sinusitis and migraines, only to conclude that more research and a clinical trial are required to understand more about the link between the two.
In a study conducted by the University of Michigan, published in the International Forum of Allergy & Rhinology, 99% of 114 participants were incorrectly diagnosed with chronic sinusitis by either the emergency department of a hospital or their primary care physician. This indicates that a sinus inflammation specialist, or otolaryngologist, would provide the most accurate diagnosis.
To learn more about sinusitis or to take a sinus self-assessment quiz, visit Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.
