Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers provides relief for allergy-induced headaches

When people mention allergy symptoms, thoughts of sneezing and a runny nose come to mind; however, allergy symptoms can often lead to headaches that result in migraines or sinus pain.

In fact, Healthline estimates that 70 to 80% of people experience headaches, with half having at least one headache a month. Allergies can trigger those headaches.  

Dr. Jamie Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said that acute or chronic inflammation of the mucosal lining is often a result of allergens.

“We always test,” he said. “Not everybody who has inflammation has allergies, but you should always exclude that, because if you do, it's easy to treat. And that's typically medically with antihistamines, but also conventional allergy immunotherapy, which includes subcutaneous injections on a weekly or monthly basis with an allergist, which is a little inconvenient for patients' lifestyles. It also requires a shot, and people have needle phobias. That's still an alternative, which we will offer as well, but there's also sublingual immunotherapy, which is providing the allergen to people, so that people develop their passive immunity sublingually with drops.”

Oberman added that despite concerns, there have been no reported cases in literature of anaphylaxis with sublingual immunotherapy, which can be another alternative to conventional immunotherapy and medical management for allergies.

Common allergies that can lead to headaches are allergic rhinitis, food allergies and histamine, which Oberman said they can test for.

Allergies related to sinus disease can cause headaches. Although it’s a good idea to discuss any medication with your doctor, some allergies can be addressed, along with allergy-related symptoms such as headaches, with preventive steps and over-the-counter medications. If the  allergies get to a point where they’re interfering with a patient's day-to-day  activities, they should schedule an appointment with a doctor for a full diagnosis and possibly a referral to an allergist.

Discussing whether your headaches are related to sinus disease is a great first step to find relief. You and your doctor can determine what appropriate course of action to take to mitigate your allergies from flaring up, along with possible medication.

Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers offers a sinus quiz to see if you suffer from chronic sinusitis and could benefit from seeing a doctor.

Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is committed to providing the best sinus and allergy relief in Frederick and the surrounding area, using the most advanced, proven patient-friendly techniques available. With 29 million Americans suffering from sinusitis and 242,000 annual chronic sinusitis ER visits, our mission is to  provide minimally invasive options for needed long-lasting relief so that patients can get back to living. We call this mission Breathe Free and Live Well, and it is the North Star that guides us in each unique, collaborative patient interaction.