Familiar Cold and Flu Symptom Debunked by Doctor—'Misconception'

A common misconception about colds and flu could be masking more serious underlying health conditions.

Many of us experience what is described as a "sinus headache" when we're feeling stuffed up and fluey. But, according to Dr John McGinn, an otolaryngologist—more commonly known as an ears, nose and throat doctor—at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, a "sinus headache" is really a misnomer.

"We acknowledge that some patients do experience a mild degree of head discomfort when they are actively in the midst of a sinus infection, but it is not a predominant symptom," McGinn said in a statement. "However, there is a common perception that when patients are suffering with dominant pain in their face that they see that as a 'sinus problem' as opposed to a headache."

"[But] your face is part of your head, too. So, pain in your face is a headache, just as it is if the pain is in the top of your head or the back of your head."

This issue isn't just about semantics but rather supporting patients in accessing appropriate medical treatment. "With most of the people I talk to who say 'I have sinus headache issues,' they are talking about chronic, recurrent, frequent or even severe headaches, things that are affecting their quality of life and their day-to-day functioning," McGinn said. "And that is almost never actually related to their sinuses. That's the big point of this misconception."

Indeed, studies have shown that around 85 percent of patients who seek treatment for self-diagnosed sinus headaches are actually experiencing chronic migraine headaches. The other 15 percent suffer from a range of other issues, including non-migraine headaches and potential nerve damage, McGinn said.

According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, migraines affect roughly 1 in 10 people worldwide, many of whom may be unaware of the underlying causes of their head pain. However, if patients continue to perceive their pain as a sinus problem, they will likely seek out treatments for sinus infections, such as antibiotics, rather than medications to efficiently treat migraine headaches,

"If everyone keeps thinking this is a sinus problem and if they keep getting put on medications that we use for sinus problems, it's not going to make it better," McGinn said.

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