Cold & Flu Symptoms Why Do Colds Cause Headaches? By Kristina Duda, RN Kristina Duda, RN Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Kristina Duda, BSN, RN, CPN, has been working in healthcare since 2002. She specializes in pediatrics and disease and infection prevention. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 19, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Huma Sheikh, MD Medically reviewed by Huma Sheikh, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Huma Sheikh, MD, is a board-certified neurologist, specializing in migraine and stroke, and affiliated with Mount Sinai of New York. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents How Colds Affect Your Sinuses Is It a Sinus Headache? Is It a Migraine? Treating Cold-related Headaches When to See a Doctor Adults get an average of two to four colds per year. Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, congestion, and fatigue. You may not immediately think of a headache as a cold symptom, but many people get a headache at some point during the week or so that it takes for a cold to run its course. This symptom has received very little attention from researchers. But often, headaches that occur with colds result from swelling in the sinuses. This article explains the common causes of cold-related headaches and what you can do about them. Blake Sinclair/Photolibrary/Getty Images How Colds Affect Your Sinuses Your sinuses are a collection of cavities behind your cheeks, nose, and eyes. They produce mucus to keep your nasal passages moist and to help rid the area of dust, micro-organisms, and other substances that shouldn't be there. When you get a cold, the virus enters your sinuses, and your body starts producing mucus in an attempt to wash it out. As mucus builds up, the sinuses get irritated and inflamed. Is It a Sinus Headache? The nasal passage swelling and inflammation accompanying colds can sometimes cause very painful headaches. Often, these sinus headaches are worse when you lean over or when you wake up in the morning. Sinus headache symptoms include: Pressure and pain in the foreheadPressure and pain behind the cheeks and eyesPain that is worse on bending or lying down In some cases, the inflamed sinuses pressure the trigeminal nerve (the fifth cranial nerve). This pressure causes pain behind the face. It can also cause nasal congestion. In addition to colds, allergies, and any illness that causes sinus congestion, can cause a sinus headache. What to Do About an Allergy Headache Is It a Migraine? Some research suggests that a more significant percentage of headaches that show up without acute inflammation are not sinus headaches at all but migraines. However, it's easy to confuse the two. That's because the location of the pain is often similar, as a migraine can also irritate the trigeminal nerve. Migraine vs. Sinus Headache One way to distinguish a migraine from a sinus headache is to look at other symptoms. For example, noise and bright light often aggravate migraines. In addition, migraines might cause nausea or vomiting. On the other hand, sinus headaches do not typically produce these additional symptoms. Research also suggests that chronic sinus problems and migraines may have a complex relationship. These are sometimes comorbid conditions (when a person has two or more health conditions at once), with ongoing sinus pressure leading to migraines through trigeminal nerve irritation. If you frequently get what you think are sinus headaches (with or without a cold), ask a healthcare provider if they could be migraines. Knowing which kind of headache you have can help you find better relief. Sinus Headaches vs. Migraines Treating Cold-related Headaches Most of the time, when colds cause headaches, they will go away once you've recovered from the cold. In the meantime, you may find relief from over-the-counter (OTC) medications or other treatments to relieve sinus pressure. Fluids Drinking a lot of fluids is essential when you have a headache. Staying hydrated and drinking even more water than you typically do will help thin the mucus, so it drains out of your sinuses. In addition, some people find relief using sinus rinses. For example, try using a Neti pot or squeeze bottle to rinse the nose. Or maybe you prefer saline nasal sprays. These products work by clearing out your nasal passages, so the mucus drains more easily. OTC Pain Medication OTC pain medications are good options for relieving headache pain. Headache pain relievers include: Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)Acetaminophen (Tylenol)Naproxen (Aleve)Aspirin Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and aspirin are often more effective than acetaminophen because they are anti-inflammatories and help reduce swelling. Expectorant and Decongestants Another option is to take an expectorant or decongestant to help the mucus drain and relieve the pressure in your sinuses. For some people, this can make a big difference with the headache. Decongestant vs. Expectorant These medications work differently to relieve congestion. For example, a decongestant narrows blood vessels, making mucus easier to drain. On the other hand, an expectorant breaks up and thins mucus to drain more quickly. Steam Running a humidifier—especially when you are sleeping at night—helps moisten your airways, thin the mucus, and allows you to breathe more easily. If you don't have a humidifier, you can inhale steam by running a hot shower and sitting in a steamy bathroom, Alternately, you can lean over a steaming pot of water. With the latter, be very careful not to burn yourself. In addition, putting a warm compress on your face can be soothing and help loosen congestion. Recap If you have a cold-related headache, treatment options include fluids, OTC pain relievers and decongestants, and steam. When to See a Doctor As always, if you are concerned about your headache or feel like it may not be related to your cold, contact a healthcare provider. Headaches that are severe or come on suddenly can be an emergency. In these cases, you should seek medical attention right away. Also, see a healthcare provider for a headache if it is accompanied by: A stiff neckVomitingNumbness or tingling in the arms When to See a Doctor About Cold and Flu Symptoms Summary Headaches commonly occur with colds. That's because sinuses often become inflamed, irritated, and congested, leading to head and facial pain. Treating cold-related headaches involves providing pain relief and treating congestion. Usually, OTC pain medications, decongestants, and expectorants do the trick. Other methods for relief include fluids, nasal rinses, steam, and warm compresses. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Looking to avoid getting the flu? Our free guide has everything you need to stay healthy this season. Sign up and get yours today. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Aydemir L, Doruk C, Çaytemel B, et al. Paranasal sinus volumes and headache: is there a relation? Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2019;276(8):2267-2271. doi:10.1007/s00405-019-05461-1 MedlinePlus. Headache. Patel ZM, Kennedy DW, Setzen M, Poetker DM, DelGaudio JM. "Sinus headache": rhinogenic headache or migraine? An evidence-based guide to diagnosis and treatment. Int Forum Allergy Rhinol. 2013;3(3):221-230. doi:10.1002/alr.21095 American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. Sinus headaches. Cedars-Sinai. Sinus headaches. De Corso E, Kar M, Cantone E, et al. Facial pain: sinus or not? Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2018;38(6):485-496. doi:10.14639/0392-100X-1721 Harvard Medical School, Harvard Health Publishing. What to do about sinusitis. Additional Reading American Lung Association. Facts about the common cold. National Institutes of Health, U.S. National Library of Medicine. Cold and cough medicines.