Sinus Headaches---help!?

Question

Hey,

My dad gets really, really, really, really bad sinus headaches at night. We're not sure what causes it. But is there anything we can do to help eliminate or lessen the pain?

Thanks!

Answer 1

He could try a humidifier.

He might also want to consider some sort of allergy medication like allegra.

If that doesn't help, he should see his physician, as it may be a sign of something else.

Answer 2

Try a saline nasal RINSE (not a spray) A full warm water saline rinse goes in one nostril and out the other. It draws out all the gunk and shrinks the tissue (like swimming in the ocean). I've been doing it at work too.

The buffered salt doesn't 'sting' as much as plain salt water. You can use a new method like Nasopure, or the vintage, Netipot. The special bottle and salt is about $20.

You can do this a often as you like with no bad side effects.

You don’t need a prescription for this therapy. So if you live in a state like mine, they’ve pretty much “outlawed” sudafed medicine. Drug-free is really the way to go on a frequent-use basis. (I put in a link for “what” and “how” – there’s also some good info on wiki)

Answer 3

Try a neti pot! It rinses your sinuses out (not all of them, but the ones around your nose). It usually helps with my headaches, but only if I get there quick. Sometimes, I take a 4-6 hour Tylenol Severe Allergy and that will help for a few days. Beware of allegra, claritin and the like, because they are addictive it seems like! I'll put an NPR link in the sources, because it explains the disgusting, yet effectiveness of the neti pot. I sympathisize with your dad, I have that too, but have been able to control it more by keeping my sinuses clean. If he's into it, try acupuncture too, I've gotten rid of some of my headaches that way too!

Answer 4

Your dad should keep track of what he eats before these headaches start? Everyone has a different trigger sometimes and needs to avoid it. Checking with a doctor might be helpful but sometimes it is not an infection but just congestion. Sometimes putting a products like Vicks under the nose and breathing deeply will help. Good luck!

Answer 5

Hey.......
Go to the doctor get some medication. May not be sinus headaches. Mine got so bad I had to have surgery for it. The muscles over my eyebrows had collapsed over the years and every single day I had a headache. I used hot packs, pain meds humidifiers, anything. When they did the surgery... which your awake for it was instant relief. I could breath, and the headaches have been gone now for about seven years. Have him checked for that too.

Answer 6

Headache is a pain in the head, scalp or neck.
Headaches can be caused by minor problems
like eyestrain, lack of coffee or more serious reasons
like head injury, brain tumors, encephalitis and
meningitis. Taking painkillers continuously can
have harmful side effects, so it is better to
modify your lifestyle. More information available at

Answer 7

Do whatever you can to make his room as dry as possible. Humidity causes sinuses to flare up. If turning on the heater will dry the room, do it. If it is damp outdoors, close his windows.

You (or he) will need to sign at the pharmacy for a good decongestant such as Sudafed-Sinus (as they've taken the decent decongestant out of most sinus and cold medicines). He should take Tylenol or Advil/Motrin with the Sudafed.

Answer 8

I use Advil cold and sinus it works well and also Excedrin. I couldn't live without them sometimes.

Answer 9

I had the same thing for years, but the I found this over the counter medicine called Claratyne, you only need one tablet every 24 hours but it works a treat, no drowsiness no side effects, just a clear nose and no head aches.

Answer 10

Entex from the Dr...or Benadryl (from the store..)
get some moisture into the room (humidifier), it gets dry in the winter with the furnace on...(he also might want to hold a hot wash cloth agaist his face...)