Texas Tech Physicians Headache Clinic Offers Ways To Cope with Seasonal Allergy-Induced Headaches
While the spring’s temperature warm-up is often a welcome respite from the harsh seasonal conditions of the winter, the often maligned side effect that comes with the defrost, are seasonal allergies. More than 50 million Americans experience various types of allergies each year; which means, symptoms like sneezing, congestion, runny nose and headaches are all around.
“Symptoms can be treated fairly easily with oral antihistamines, decongestants, nasal steroids or a combination of the above,” Nichole Campbell, APRN, NP-C, a nurse practitioner with Texas Tech Physicians Headache Clinic in Amarillo, said. “Avoiding known allergens is often the best form of treatment but is not always possible-- hello, West Texas wind.”
Campbell said the sinus headaches that frequently impact people during this season might be more than seasonal allergy-induced, though, because one of the most misdiagnosed headaches is the sinus headache.
“Chronically recurring headaches attributed to sinus disease are often migraines. In a study, evaluation of 100 adults with self-diagnosed sinus headaches determined that 85% of them had migraines; while only 3% had headache associated with rhino sinusitis,” Campbell said. “Among patients with definite migraine, several headache features including pain over sinuses, nasal congestion, eyelid edema, rhinorrhea, conjunctival injection, lacrimation and ptosis were reported to result in an inaccurate diagnosis of sinus headache.”
Campbell said triggers like weather changes, seasonal variation, exposure to allergens, and change in altitude are equally common in both sinus and migraine headache patients. Sinus headaches are infrequent and associated with pain and pressure in the face and sinuses and can cause nasal symptoms. Most headaches are not caused by sinus infections and should not be treated with antibiotics. Treating the inflammation with nasal steroids and avoiding allergens is key in treating these headaches.
So how do you know the difference?
“A headache that is not disabling, and has other features of a sinus headache due to seasonal allergies, is more than likely a sinus headache,” Campbell said. “Migraine may be confused with sinus headaches due to satisfactory response to antihistamines. If you are experiencing debilitating headaches that include sensitivity to light or sound, and that have a pattern to them like they occur with weather changes, seasonal variations, change in altitude, etc., you may be experiencing migraines.”
Migraines are a very common condition, with 15.3% of Americans aged 18 years or older reporting a migraine or severe headache in the previous three months, according to the CDC. Migraines can be severely debilitating and are considered one of the main causes of disability worldwide.
“At the Texas Tech Physicians Headache Clinic, we are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of common headache conditions. Our comprehensive, innovative, clinical care aims to provide personalized treatment plans for patients,” Campbell said. “Our multidisciplinary approach allows our staff to use physical therapy, nutrition, pain psychologists, interventional pain specialists and integrative medicine providers to improve your headaches.”
Related Stories
Noise-Induced Hearing Loss in Rural Adolescents
Leigh Ann Reel, Au.D., Ph.D., CCC-A, discussed the causes and prevention strategies for noise-induced hearing loss, particularly for adolescents in rural areas.
Willed Body Memorial Service Honors Those Who Donated
On Memorial Day each May, a service is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Institute of Anatomical Sciences to pay respect to the Willed Body Program donors and their families.
Molecular Pathology Preceptorship: Unmatched Value and Experience
Ericka Hendrix, PhD, MB(ASCP)CM, Program Director and Associate Professor in the Master of Science in Molecular Pathology program in the School of Health Professions spoke about the program’s preceptorship.
Recent Stories
Historic collaboration brings shipping container-based health care clinic to Jeff Davis County
Texas A&M Health and TTUHSC joined with the student-led organization, Texas A&M BUILD—along with local leadership and other collaborators—to unveil a new, innovative medical care facility for a Trans-Pecos region rural community: a 40-foot, retro-fitted shipping container.
Improving Health Care Access, Education Through Research
The service area for TTUHSC, a recognized leader in academic health and biomedical research training, encompasses 121 Texas counties.
Alumni Spotlight: Forrest Summers, MHA, BSN, R.N.
Forrest Summers, MHA, BSN, R.N., is the CEO of Perimeter Behavioral Health of Jackson.