Maryland State Wire

• If you're dealing with chronic headaches, it may be a result of inflamed sinuses.

• It's important to figure out what type of headaches you are dealing with so you can get the correct treatment.

• Dr. Manish Khanna and his team at Capitol Breathe Free can help to figure out if your headaches are a problem arising from sinus issues.

According to Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, sinus problems may be at the root of a patient's chronic headaches, so it's important to seek treatment from a sinus specialist if you might be struggling with that issue.

"Sinus headaches are a referred pain caused by inflammation and blockage of a sinus cavity, which is causing those nerves to fire and transmit the pain in the patient's facial area,” Khanna told Capitol Breathe Free Newsroom. “Whether it's behind the cheeks, whether it's in the forehead and the temples, or really anywhere in the head, depending on which sinuses are involved, you want to treat the sinus so that headache goes away.”

Khanna added that patients can use medications like nasal steroids and sprays of moisture steam, which will things warm in the sinus cavities.

“That certainly helps,” he said. “Then you get into medications like antibiotics and oral steroids, which at times can be necessary to really get rid of an acute sinus infection that is causing a wicked headache. But as a preventative for patients who get recurring sinus headaches and pressure, balloon sinuplasty is a very reasonable, viable option."

According to Mayo Clinic, if headache pain becomes more severe when you lay down or even bend over, it could be a symptom of sinusitis or migraines. Other symptoms that can set the two apart include nausea or vomiting, sensitivity to bright light or noise, both of which are symptoms of migraines and not sinusitis.

WebMD says that headaches could be caused by inflammation of the sinuses, which are spaces situated in the forehead, cheek and behind the bridge of the nose. They swell when inflamed and produce additional mucus, which can block the pathways that drain the fluids. The pressure in the sinuses can create a pain similar to a headache. It is key to find out what sort of headache you are suffering from to determine an appropriate treatment plan.

While a headache can prove to be an inconvenience, Khanna and his associates can help you determine whether it is the result of sinus issues and provide an appropriate treatment plan.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.