If You Get More Headaches In The Spring, This Could Be Why

It tin consciousness similar you’ve won the lottery erstwhile you skate done allergy season without the changeless stuffiness and itchy eyes that everyone other seems to conflict with. But allergists accidental it’s imaginable to woody with the consequences of seasonal allergies without adjacent realizing it. Some radical with seasonal allergies lone person 1 vague grounds — a headache.

Those headaches that support flaring up during the outpouring could really beryllium owed to allergies, adjacent if you person nary different symptoms. “It’s much communal than radical think,” said Dr. Alan D. Workman, a sinus surgeon astatine Massachusetts Eye and Ear and adjunct prof of rhinology and skull basal country astatine Harvard Medical School. “Many patients with ‘sinus headaches’ don’t person progressive sinus infections but alternatively allergy-related inflammation.”

While treating these allergy headaches with the accustomed remedies whitethorn springiness you immoderate relief, allergists accidental it’s not the champion solution for your caput pain. Here’s however to archer if your headaches are really owed to seasonal allergies, positive what to bash next. 

Why bash immoderate radical conscionable get headaches from seasonal allergies?

Classic seasonal allergy symptoms see a runny nose, sneezing, watery eyes, a stuffy nose, headaches, fatigue and coughing, according to the National Library of Medicine. But it’s besides imaginable to conscionable person a headache. Allergens similar pollen, mold and favored dander tin origin your immune strategy to respond with a sinus headache, adjacent if you person nary different allergy symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology.  

“Allergies origin sinus and nasal inflammation, which tin origin headaches if severe,” said Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network successful New York.

That inflammation tin pb to a scope of issues, including a thickening of the mucous membrane lining the sinuses, nervus irritation oregon unit changes successful the sinus cavities, particularly successful the forehead and cheeks, Workman said. That tin pb to a headache. 

How to archer seasonal allergy headaches from different headaches.

The champion mode to archer seasonal allergy headaches from different headaches is to look for a pattern, said Dr. Catherine Monteleone, an allergist-immunologist astatine Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. If you acquisition headaches successful the outpouring and autumn — times erstwhile astir radical person seasonal allergies — but not during different times of year, she said, allergies could beryllium to blame. 

The determination of your headaches matters, too, Workman said. Allergy headaches are usually felt successful your face, astir your cheeks, eyes oregon forehead, helium explained. “They are typically much of a unit sensation than frank pain,” helium said. But migraine oregon hostility headaches usually travel with different symptoms, similar nausea, airy sensitivity oregon much wide pain, Workman said. 

One much happening to support successful mind, per Workman: Allergy headaches whitethorn travel connected oregon get worse erstwhile you’re exposed to allergens specified arsenic pollen, mold oregon dust.

How are these headaches treated?

Treating these headaches with the accustomed over-the-counter medicine tin assistance you to consciousness amended successful the moment, Monteleone said. “Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs similar ibuprofen tin beryllium helpful,” she said. “It usually takes the inflammation and symptom down.”

But the occupation with this attack is it doesn’t people the origin of your headaches, and the symptom whitethorn flare up again erstwhile the medicine wears off. That’s wherefore Workman suggests utilizing oral antihistamines similar cetirizine (Zyrtec) oregon diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Nasal steroid sprays tin besides beryllium helpful, helium said.

“For some, a regular nasal spray during highest seasons tin marque a large difference,” Workman said. Allergen immunotherapy, which is usually fixed successful the signifier of allergy shots, whitethorn besides assistance little the hazard of symptoms long-term, helium said.

Monteleone besides suggests utilizing lukewarm compresses connected your face, drinking plentifulness of fluids and utilizing a nasal rinse similar a neti cookware to wide retired your sinuses. “If you can, don’t spell retired connected high-pollen days,” she said. 

When to spot a doc for seasonal allergy headaches.

The origin of immoderate benignant of headaches tin beryllium tricky to pin down, fixed however galore antithetic things tin trigger caput pain. That’s wherefore Workman recommends tracking erstwhile your headaches hap and if they travel immoderate pattern. 

If you fishy that allergies are down your headaches, helium suggests trying over-the-counter antihistamines oregon a nasal steroid spray to spot if you get immoderate relief. If that doesn’t assistance oregon you consciousness similar it’s not helping enough, Monteleone said, it’s clip to spot a doctor.