Metro Lex News

Sinus problems can cause pain in other parts of your body, such as your teeth and your head, even your eyes, said Dr. Daniel Mongiardo of Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep & Sinus Center.

 "The sinuses sit right on top of the teeth," the physician said. "So any inflammation in the sinuses can cause teeth pain, because the nerve roots of the teeth are right at the floor of the sinuses. Any inflammation there, you can have dental pain, you can have eye pain."

The sphenoid sinus is in the middle of the skull between the ears and behind the eyes, Mongiardo explained.

 "It can cause pain anywhere around the head," Mongiardo said. "Some patients who come in have pain on the backside of the head."

One of the treatments available is baloon sinuplasty. A catheter with a tiny balloon attached is inserted into the sinus cavity. It is slowly inflated to open the blocked sinus, then deflated.

"I'll open it up and the pain disappears if it's coming from the sinuses," said Mongiardo.

Sometimes, what patients believe are sinus headaches are actually migraines, according to WebMD. Both may get worse when you bend  forward, The Mayo Clinic said. Migraines can also be accompanied by nasal symptoms, it said.  

"Because the treatment you need depends on what kind of headache you have, it’s important to figure out if your symptoms are caused by your sinuses," WebMd said. "If a sinus blockage, such as an infection, really is the cause, you'll likely have a fever."

Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep & Sinus Center has an online sinus quiz for those who want to evaluate their symptoms.