Although “sinus migraine” is a commonly used term, it is not a recognized medical diagnosis.

Sinusitis and migraine can share similar symptoms. One can cause head pain (sinus headache) alongside other symptoms, while the other is a recurring neurological condition that can limit your ability to get on with daily life.

There can be a lot of overlap. Because of this, misdiagnosis between the two is common. The term “sinus migraine” is often used by people trying to describe symptoms that seem to fall somewhere between the two conditions. 

When migraine is mistaken for a sinus headache, it can be difficult to understand why symptoms keep returning or why treatment is not helping. This confusion can delay diagnosis and make it harder to access the right support.

We created this guide to help you understand the key differences between sinusitis, sinus headaches, and migraine, including the symptoms they share, the symptoms that set them apart, and why the two conditions are so often confused.

What is a sinus migraine?

Many people use the term “sinus migraine” when they experience symptoms that seem to overlap between a sinus headache and a migraine. They may have facial pressure, congestion, or pain around the eyes and forehead, alongside symptoms that are more commonly associated with migraine.

You may have seen the term “sinus migraine” used online or heard people use it to describe their symptoms.

The challenge is that sinus migraine is not an official medical diagnosis—although this doesn’t make the experience any less real. Instead, it’s a term people often use when they are unsure whether their symptoms are being caused by migraine, sinusitis, or a combination of both.

Migraine vs. sinus headache

Confusion arises because migraine and sinusitis share several symptoms. At a glance, here’s how the two conditions compare:

Migraine is often diagnosed as a sinus headache

Migraine can cause symptoms commonly associated with sinusitis, including facial pain, nasal congestion, a runny nose, and pressure around the eyes and forehead.

Up to 60% of people with migraine experience rhinosinusitis symptoms during an active episode.

Because there is so much overlap between the two conditions, migraine is commonly mistaken for a sinus headache. An estimated 36.5% of people with migraine are incorrectly diagnosed with sinus headache before later receiving the correct diagnosis.

Understanding the differences can help you have more productive conversations with your doctor and reach the correct diagnosis sooner.

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What is a migraine?

To help you understand why these two conditions are so often confused, let’s take a more detailed look at migraine.

Migraine is a complex, recurring neurological condition that causes a variety of symptoms. Like a sinus headache, migraine can present with head pain, nasal congestion, and general discomfort. But unlike sinus headache, migraine commonly causes other neurological symptoms, including:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Light and sound sensitivity
• Aura symptoms (most commonly visual symptoms, but can also include sensory, speech, or language disturbances)

The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but genetic and environmental factors are thought to play a role. 

Many people with migraine have identifiable triggers that increase their risk of having an episode. While triggers differ from person to person, common examples include:

• Stress
• Exercise
• Hormonal changes, including menstruation, ovulation, and pregnancy
• Missing meals
• Bright lights
• Strong smells
• Weather changes
• Poor sleep or changes in sleep patterns
• Caffeine
• Neck pain
• Certain noises, including low- or high-frequency sounds
• Alcohol
• Heat
• Particular foods, including aged cheese, red wine, chocolate, and processed meats

Accurately identifying migraine can be challenging because there is no single “typical” migraine experience. Symptoms, triggers, and attack patterns can vary significantly between people.

Because migraine is a recurring neurological condition, management is more complex than treating a sinus headache.

Most cases of sinus headache resolve once sinusitis clears. In contrast, migraine treatment tends to involve a multifactoral approach: making lifestyle changes to avoid potential triggers, taking preventative medications to reduce episode frequency and severity, and rescue medications to manage active migraine symptoms.

Sinusitis and sinus headache

A sinus headache is a symptom of sinusitis, a condition that causes inflammation and swelling in the sinus cavities. It is often caused by an infection, although other factors can contribute.

The sinuses are small, air-filled spaces behind the cheekbones and forehead that connect to the inside of the nose. When the lining of the sinuses swells, mucus can’t drain properly, leading to pressure, congestion, and pain.

Sinusitis symptoms differ from person to person, but commonly include:

• Facial pain or pressure, particularly around the eyes, cheeks, forehead, or nose
• A blocked or congested nose
• Thick nasal discharge
• Reduced sense of smell
• Pain that worsens when bending forward
• A sinus headache

Because sinusitis can cause facial pain, pressure, congestion, and headache, it is easy to see why it is sometimes mistaken for migraine.

Most cases of sinusitis improve on their own within a few weeks. Self-care measures such as rest, staying hydrated, and using pain relief can help manage symptoms while the inflammation settles.

If symptoms are severe, persistent, or keep returning, speak to your doctor.

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Diagnosing sinus headaches vs. migraines

Sinusitis and migraines are separate medical conditions with distinct diagnostic criteria.

To help you figure out which condition you may be experiencing, you can ask yourself the following simple questions:

• In the past three months, have you experienced debilitating headaches? If so, do they interfere with your normal daily routines (like missing school, work, activities, etc.)?
• Do you ever feel nauseous when you have a headache?
• Do you ever experience light sensitivity with your headaches?

If you answered “yes” to two out of three questions, there is a high chance you have been experiencing migraine. It’s even higher if you answered “yes” to all three.

Important note: This questionnaire does not mean you definitely have migraine. It’s just a simple check to determine whether your symptoms may align. If you suspect that you or someone you love may have migraine, see your doctor to get a diagnosis and support.

Sinus headache and migraine misdiagnosis is common

Sinusitis and migraines have a lot of overlapping symptoms, including head pain. That’s one reason the term “sinus migraine” is so commonly used, even when it’s not a recognized health condition.

And it’s not just head pain that overlaps. When symptoms such as facial pain, pressure, and congestion occur alongside head pain, it can be difficult to tell whether you’re dealing with sinusitis, migraine, or something else entirely. As a result, it is easy to misdiagnose one for the other.

If you’ve been treated for sinus headaches that keep coming back, it may not be the right diagnosis.

Logging your headaches and other symptoms can help you better understand your condition and speed up the diagnosis process.

Using the Human Health app, you can track what your headaches feel like, when they happen, and what does and doesn’t help. The app turns this information into detailed insights you can share with your doctor to improve your quality of care.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a sinus headache?

A sinus headache is a common symptom of sinusitis, which is an infection of the sinuses. It commonly feels like a dull, aching pain behind the eyes or around the cheekbones. In most cases, sinus headaches clear up when the sinus infection passes.

Is sinus migraine a real medical condition?

No, a sinus migraine is not a diagnosable condition. Instead, it is a commonly self-reported experience, as there is overlap between migraine and sinusitis symptoms.

If you or someone you love has been experiencing recurring sinus headaches, speak to your doctor about getting assessed for migraine.

How do you get rid of a sinus headache?

To get rid of a sinus headache, you must first get rid of the sinus infection causing the symptoms. The most common treatment for sinusitis is antibiotics, but other treatment options, including antihistamines, decongestants, pain medications, and corticosteroids, may also be prescribed to manage the condition.

Applying a warm compress to the face and using a saline nasal spray may also help reduce symptoms.

Disclaimer: Human Health is a health tracking platform and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information in this guide is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical care. Always consult your doctor or healthcare provider with questions about your health.

Sources:

1. Facial/sinus pain or pressure and migraine: exploratory findings from the HEADS registry (2025)
2. Etiology of ‘Sinus Headache’—Moving the Focus from Rhinology to Neurology. A Systematic Review (2021)
3. Migraine, The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
4. Migraine Triggers: An Overview of the Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Atmospherics, and Their Effects on Neural Networks (2021)
5. Sinus infection basics, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
6. Sinusitis (sinus infection), NHS 
7. How to know if you have migraine or sinus headache, The American Migraine Foundation
8. Sinus headaches, Cleveland Clinic