LAX Leader

• 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 frequently misdiagnosed and are notorious for presenting with symptoms to other similar conditions.

One similar condition is chronic sinusitis, which is also referred to as nose inflammation, and some research has supported the idea that chronic sinusitis can trigger migraines.

According to WebMD, one study published in The Journal of Headache and Pain uncovers that one of the most common misdiagnoses is sinusitis and migraine headaches, especially if affiliated symptoms are present, such as a sinus headache, dry sinus headache or a severe sinus headache. The study concluded that out of 113 participants, 106 of them -- or roughly 81% -- were misdiagnosed.

“Sinus headaches are essentially caused from a buildup of inflammation and pressure within the sinus cavities themselves, and this is because the openings are extremely narrow, so you have structural deficits causing things to build up in the sinuses,” Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told LAX Leader. “And in addition to the narrow openings, you have a lot of inflammation in the sinus cavity themselves and around the openings, causing them to stay shut. The bacteria then builds up in the sinuses, and they often secrete gasses that increase the pressure within that closed cavity that's going to create a significant, very annoying, very painful headache. I also want to stress that it gets worse than that. Sinus pain headaches and pressure can trigger migraines. Migraines, as people know, have multiple triggers -- sometimes food, sometimes stress, sometimes medication, etc. -- but sinus problems are also a big trigger of migraines."

The American Migraine Foundation reports that both migraine attacks and sinus headaches can create facial pain, watery eyes and postnasal drip. These similar symptoms play a role in the misdiagnosis and self-diagnosis of sinus headaches.

The main cause of migraine headaches is still unknown. One study from The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery was conducted to determine the correlation between sinusitis and migraines, only to report that further investigation and a clinic trial is necessary.

A study completed by University of Michigan discovered that 99% of 114 participants were misdiagnosed as having chronic sinusitis when their diagnosis came from the emergency department of a hospital or their primary care physician. This reveals that the best diagnosis comes from an inflammation specialist, or an otolaryngologist.

To learn more about sinusitis or to take a sinus self-assessment quiz, visit SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.