{"id":58662,"date":"2023-06-01T12:42:22","date_gmt":"2023-06-01T16:42:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=58662"},"modified":"2024-10-25T10:41:42","modified_gmt":"2024-10-25T14:41:42","slug":"allergy-headache","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/allergy-headache\/","title":{"rendered":"What does an allergy headache feel like?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seasonal allergies can slow you down and leave you feeling under the weather. In fact, you may be “under the pollen.” Seasonal allergies are a group of symptoms that occur due to your body’s response to airborne allergens. These can include pollen, mold, pet dander, and dust mites. Your immune system stimulates a response that manifests as sneezing, runny nose, and itching eyes. Unfortunately, allergies can also be a pain in your head, leading to an allergy headache.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The terms<\/span> allergy headache<\/span><\/a> and sinus headache are sometimes used interchangeably. Allergy symptoms can lead to both sinus headaches and migraine headaches. Sinus headaches start when the sinus cavities become blocked and can not drain. This is known as nasal congestion.  <\/span>Allergy headaches<\/span><\/a> don’t just happen to a few people, either. It is estimated that approximately 40% of adults suffer from allergies, and 10-30% of children do. This is a significant number of patients who could suffer from a subsequent allergy headache if not treated. <\/span><\/p>\n

If you have ever suffered from any type of headache, then you are aware of how much they can affect your daily living, especially if they persist for a long time. We’ll discuss more about allergy headaches here, as well as your treatment and prevention options.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is an allergy headache?<\/span><\/h2>\n

An allergy headache is a headache that results from allergy symptoms. This is often referred to as a sinus headache. As your immune system is responding to allergens, one of the symptoms that occurs is the production of phlegm or mucus. For many of us, this leads to a persistently runny nose. Unfortunately though, the nasal passages can also swell at the same time this mucus is produced, which causes a blockage of the sinus cavity and traps phlegm inside. The increase of fluid in the sinus cavity causes a pressure buildup. This may lead you to experience your pain, or headache, in the cheekbone where the sinus cavity is, behind the eyes, and into the forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

You may be wondering how you would know the difference from another type of headache you may get. Allergies can cause a migraine headache. Migraines may cause light sensitivity or nausea, and some of them are accompanied by an “aura.” Tension headaches or cluster headaches are not related to allergies. The pain is typically felt in a different region of the head, and there is no presence of sinus congestion and pressure. It’s important to be able to differentiate other <\/span>types of headaches<\/span><\/a> because different headaches have different preferred treatment options, and you want to make sure you are choosing an effective therapy.<\/span><\/p>\n

RELATED: <\/b>Is it allergies or a sinus infection?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n

What does an allergy headache feel like?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The pain from an allergy or sinus headache is typically concentrated around the blocked sinus cavity. It is often dull, but can be intense for some patients depending on the blockage and duration. Typically the area above the sinuses, near the cheekbone, is tender to the touch. You may even notice that your teeth or gums are tender as well, as all of these systems are so closely connected in the center of your face. You could have visible redness over your cheekbones. The pain can extend behind your eyeballs and up to your forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allergy headaches tend to be worse in the morning after you have been laying flat. Once you have been upright and the sinus cavity can at least partially drain, you typically will experience some relief. Allergy headaches can last as long as your allergy symptoms go inadequately treated. Taking steps to decrease phlegm production and other allergy symptoms can shorten the allergy headache duration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Allergy headache triggers<\/span><\/h2>\n

Allergens come in many shapes and types. No matter which allergen is your trigger, they all lead to a similar end result: swelling of the nasal passage which prevents the sinus cavity from draining. This leads to a pressure build up and a typically dull, persistent pain in the center of your face and moving up to your forehead. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some common allergy headache triggers include:<\/span><\/p>\n