Sinus infection, or sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses and nasal passages. A sinus infection can cause a headache or pressure in the eyes, nose, cheek area, or on one side of the head. A person with a sinus infection may also have a cough, sore throat, fever, bad breath, and nasal congestion with thick nasal secretions. Sinusitis is categorized as acute (sudden onset) or chronic (long term, the most common type).

Infection in nasal passages and pharynx spread into the sinus easily because it is all connected. The sinus and the nasal cavities are there to warm and filter the air you breathe.

Bacteria, fungus and other allergens, particles and organisms can easily travel up into your sinus cavities from your nose. Believe it or not studies have shown that just blowing your nose will cause them to enter the sinus cavities. Normally these would be eliminated in the sinus drainage that typically goes down into throat. But if the organisms or matter cause swelling of the lining of the sinus cavities then the area gets blocked because of narrowed sinus passages and the sinus drainage hardens and backs up not allowing the quart of mucous to move through that needs to every day. Then an infection can start in the sinus cavities called sinusitis (sinus infection- same thing), because of this back up. So an infection would not likely start in the nasal passages – I’m assuming you mean nose. Irrigation with saline solution (salt water) is your best treatment.No other chemicals, herbs,irritants etc. should ever be put up into your sinuses according to my GP.

It’s the first time in my life I encounter such problem so I had to make a research to understand everything. Now it’s clear to me and now I’m feeling a lot better and still using saline solution.

A 1995 National Health Survey conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 13 percent of Australians have visited a doctor about headaches, but 50 percent of those affected by migraine do not consult a GP. It’s wise to see your regular doctor if you frequently suffer from migraines or tension headaches because effective treatment often begins with the compilation of a daily diary to eliminate many of the most well-known triggers.
Most people with a moderate migraine take over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin, paracetamol and ibuprofen. These should be taken quickly because digestion can be disrupted during a migraine attack and medication may not be absorbed. If symptoms are severe, prescription medication such as trip tans, ergotamine and anti-nausea drugs can help.
One of the biggest dangers of continued self-medication is the rebound effect. According to Dr. David Williams, director of neurology at the John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle, “Medication overuse is estimated to be responsible for 30 percent of chronic headaches and accounts for 60 percent of patients attending specialist medicine clinics.”
This is not regarded as drugs dependency, says Dr. Williams, but withdrawal from any medication should be supervised by a doctor. In the UK, Dr Anne McGregor, director of clinical research at the City of London Migraine Clinic, even called for a national campaign last year to warn people about the risks or overusing certain painkillers; more than 20 percent of the patients attending the clinic were suffering from rebound headaches.
Another surprising weapon against headaches and migraine is Botox. The same serum that relaxes wrinkles also stops the muscle contractions of migraine, says Dr Nasser, who uses the remedy herself and recommends it to an increasing number of clients. “The injections go wherever you feel the pain–typically the forehead, temples and neck. Following treatment, many patients are migraine-free or the pain is considerably lessened for three to four months. Nearly all the patients that have been treated with Botox say that $300-$600, two or three times a year, is a small price to pay for such effective relief.
In addition to Botox, other therapies which look very promising are occipital nerve stimulation (ONS) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). ONS involves surgically implanting a small device under the skin which delivers electrical impulses to the occipital nerves at the base of the skull. These connect to the top of the spine with key nerves that can trigger migraine pains. The electrical impulses block the pain signals. TMS is a non-invasive method which involves holding an electromagnet against the back of the skull. The painless magnetic impulses are transmitted through the skin to the brain and help to naturally reduce the electrical stimulation in the brain that leads to migraine attacks.
Natural therapies are also popular; Aromatherapy is one option, with lavender being a preferred essential oil to ease headaches. Feverfew is also basking in the spotlight: its active ingredient, parthenolide, reduces pain and inflammation and prevents mast cells (in the immune system) from releasing histamine. Feverfew is taken in dried or tablet form, but it is not recommended for pregnant of lactating women. Vitamin B6 and calcium, magnesium and iron are also prescribes by doctors.
With the World Health Organization defining migraine as among the world’s 20 leading causes of disability, the search for new treatments continue. But in the meantime, you can reduce pain using old methods that have stood the test of time. A cold compress to the forehead while lying quietly, applying pressure oil to the temples and – believe it or not – visualising a peaceful scene, are simple remedies still recommended by many doctors.

Many migraines and headaches can also be triggered by diet. “In one study of headache sufferers, reported in the British medical journal The Lancet, more than 90 percent of patients showed relief of from symptoms by eliminating allergenic substances from their diet. Maybe We should always stop eating trigger foods for at least two weeks.
But there’s no use eliminating one set of triggers (such as dietary ones) while continuing to expose yourself to stress and noise. Overtiredness, dehydration, skipping meals, caffeine, loud noise and bright flickering lights can also spark a headache or migraine. It is recommended to eat small meals and snacking on fruits such as cherries and pineapple, vegetables and herbs such as parsley. This is said to help stabilise blood sugar levels, which can trigger migraines if they fluctuate too much.

Cluster headaches, tension headaches, meditation overuse…it’s enough to give you a migraine!

What is the common neurological condition in the developed world? There’s no need to rack down your brains or you could be in danger of developing one. The answer is, of course, migraine. The incidence in the US, UK and here in Australia is estimated at 10 percent of the population–that’s two million Australians, of which 1.5 million are women. Hormonal factors are partly responsible for this imbalance, with more than 50 percent of women identifying menstruation as a key trigger.
Another major culprit is genetics. “If one parent suffers from migraines,” says Dr Alia Nasser of the Clinic in Sydney, “there’s a 50-percent chance their children will also suffer too. If both parents get regular migraines, the odds climb to 75 percent.” In fact, since the 90′s Australian researchers at Griffith University’s Genomics Research Centre on the Gold Coast have discovered the first three genes specifically linked to the disorder – a world breakthrough.

Many people use the terms “migraine” and “headache” interchangeably buy they are very different problems. Migraine is a chronic disorder which occurs when the brain stem becomes hyperactive, triggering a drop in the chemical serotonin in the brain. The blood vessels surrounding the brain swell up and cause pain lasting anywhere from four to 72 hours. Migraines affect only one side of the head and accompanying symptoms include nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy and an aversion to food.

The term “cluster headache” is often bandied around but the condition is much rarer than migraine, affecting only one percent of the population. Five times more men than women are affected. Attacks build up rapidly and last from 15 minutes to three hours, and sufferers can experience several attacks over a 24-hour period. The pain is severe and affects one side of the head, starting near the eye. Other symptoms include reddened eyes, a blocked nose, sweating and skin sensitivity.

Tension headaches are the most common category: it is estimated that up to 90 percent of adults have experienced one. Affecting the whole of the head, a tension headache can be an ache or a sensation of tightness which varies in duration and intensity. Some people develop tension headaches on a daily basis while others succumb only at times of high stress.