A Nasal congestion Itchy and watery eyes are the cornerstones of spring allergies — but they’re not the only symptoms that signal a pollen influx in some people. You may not immediately suspect the existence of a Throbbing headache It’s due to allergies, but experts say it’s common.
In fact, the same immune response that fills your nose with mucus or leaves you sneezing quickly can make your head pound. This is especially true “if you have many seasonal allergies, for example to grass and tree pollens, live near farms, or spend a lot of time outside during allergy season and are bombarded by pollen.” Beth Ohler, MD,” a family medicine doctor in Stockton, Kansas, tells SELF. Keep reading to learn why allergies can trigger headaches, plus how to tell if your head pain is allergy-related and find relief.
Why can allergies cause headaches?
If you have Spring allergy Inhaling pollen, “your immune system sees it as a foreign invader,” Dr. Oller says, and releases a host of inflammatory chemicals like histamine. Resulting ignition It leads to swelling in the nasal cavities associated with the sinuses, Rekha Raveendran, MD.says an allergist and immunologist at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. She explains that the sinuses extend behind the cheekbones, eyes, bridge of the nose and even the forehead, so when they swell, you can end up with a sensation of pressure in the face as well as headaches.
Meanwhile, you may suffer the effects of spring allergies Triggering migraine attacks In people with migraines. Inflammation and congestion may be increased Irritation of a nearby nerve Which plays a role in migraines, and fatigue and insomnia resulting from allergies can occur Migraine triggers In themselves. Research indicates Among people with migraines, those who also suffer from allergies tend to have worse and more frequent attacks than those who do not have them.
How do you know if a headache is due to an allergy or another type?
Allergy headaches usually feel like a dull throbbing in the temples, cheeks, or forehead, and make your face feel heavy. It comes with congestion, and lying down or tilting your head can increase the pressure, Dr. Oller says. (FYI: This is the same type of pain you feel with a sinus headache, which is caused by a viral or bacterial infection in the sinuses — both of which lead to mucus buildup and swelling inside the sinuses.)
In contrast, Migraine attacks (Whether caused by allergies or not) leads to severe pain on one side of the head. Dr. Raveendran says these symptoms are often accompanied by nausea and sensitivity to light and sound, which you don’t usually find with allergy headaches. Meanwhile, tension headaches tend to feel like a band pressing around the head, and cluster headaches elicit a wave of pain in or around one eye.
