It’s that time of year again, when the trees have opened and the flowers are in bloom. Everything is green and colorful and the weather is just the right temperature to make people want to be outside. This also means that it’s time for seasonal allergies. We all know those miserable symptoms: itchy eyes, a runny nose, congestion, and a sore throat, to name a few. And don’t even get me started on sinus infections!

Speaking of sinus infections, as it turns out, there is one symptom that overlaps with both an infection and seasonal allergies: the headache. Sinus surgeon Dr. Alan D. Workman frequently sees patients come in to be treated for a sinus infection when their unrelenting headache is actually an overlooked allergy symptom. HuffPo spoke with Workman and other specialists in the field to get the lowdown on allergy headaches and help spread the word so people can identify the difference.

Allergy headaches are common “It’s more common than people think,” said Dr. Alan D. Workman, a sinus surgeon at Massachusetts Eye and Ear and assistant professor of rhinology and skull base surgery at Harvard Medical School. “Many patients with ‘sinus headaches’ don’t have active sinus infections but rather allergy-related inflammation.”

You can get an allergy headache without other symptoms: Allergens like pollen, mold and pet dander can cause your immune system to react with a sinus headache, even if you have no other allergy symptoms, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. “Allergies cause sinus and nasal inflammation, which can cause headaches if severe,” said Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network in New York. That inflammation can lead to a range of issues, including a thickening of the mucous membrane lining the sinuses, nerve irritation or pressure changes in the sinus cavities, especially in the forehead and cheeks, Workman said. That can lead to a headache.

How to tell seasonal allergy headaches from other headaches: The best way to tell seasonal allergy headaches from other headaches is to look for a pattern, said Dr. Catherine Monteleone, an allergist-immunologist at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. If you experience headaches in the spring and fall — times when most people have seasonal allergies — but not during other times of year, she said, allergies could be to blame.

The location of your headaches matters, too, Workman said. Allergy headaches are usually felt in your face, around your cheeks, eyes or forehead, he explained. “They are typically more of a pressure sensation than frank pain,” he said. But migraine or tension headaches usually come with other symptoms, like nausea, light sensitivity or more general pain. One more thing to keep in mind: Allergy headaches may come on or get worse when you’re exposed to allergens such as pollen, mold or dust.

Treatment: Workman suggests using oral antihistamines like cetirizine (Zyrtec) or diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Nasal steroid sprays can also be helpful, he said. “For some, a daily nasal spray during peak seasons can make a big difference,” Workman said. Allergen immunotherapy, which is usually given in the form of allergy shots, may also help lower the risk of symptoms long-term, he said. Monteleone also suggests using warm compresses on your face, drinking plenty of fluids and using a nasal rinse like a neti pot to clear out your sinuses. “If you can, don’t go out on high-pollen days,” she said.

When to see a doctor for seasonal allergy headaches: The cause of any kind of headaches can be tricky to pin down, given how many different things can trigger head pain. That’s why Workman recommends tracking when your headaches happen and if they follow any pattern. If you suspect that allergies are behind your headaches, he suggests trying over-the-counter antihistamines or a nasal steroid spray to see if you get any relief. If that doesn’t help or you feel like it’s not helping enough, Monteleone said, it’s time to see a doctor.

“It’s worth seeing an ear, nose and throat physician or allergist who can help determine whether allergies, sinus issues or another type of headache is the main driver, and get you on the right treatment plan,” Workman said. If allergies are behind your headaches, Monteleone recommends focusing on lifestyle remedies, like keeping your windows shut and doing regular nasal irrigation. “All of that is useful,” she said. “It’s not just about taking medicine.”

[From HuffPo]

This is really helpful to know! The South hit pollen season in late March, and my poor younger son has been a ball of congestion for the past few weeks. We assumed that he was having allergies. My older son is one of those people who only gets the allergy headache. We figured it out last year, when he was complaining nonstop. Once we ruled out other causes, like dehydration and even scarier things, we realized that he must be allergic to something. I thought it was just dust, but now I’m thinking that it’s seasonal allergies. For years, I’ve gotten migraine-level headaches that present in my left cheek and go up to the top of my head. They’re much worse in the summer, and just big annoyances the rest of the year. I always assumed they were hormonal, but now I’m wondering if maybe allergies are playing a role in amplifying them. I’m going to try some of the things they recommend the next time it happens and see if I get any relief.

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