“The sphenoid sinus can be affected by an acute bacterial infection, chronic inflammation or a cyst or a polyp,” 

says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology; one of her specialties is sinus surgery.

“An acute infection can cause severe headaches on the top of the head,” continues Dr. Silvers.

“The location of the sinus is located between an intersecting line from the top of the head down and between the ears.

“Located in the back of the nose.  If the infection is bacterial, then the headache will be persistent until the infection is treated.

“Patients with chronic sinus congestion will have fluctuating headache symptoms depending on the barometric pressure, environmental allergens or a mild URI (which cause and increase obstruction swelling around the doors of the sinus and therefore an increase in sinus swelling).

“As we are all exposed to environmental stimuli, it is patients with prior structural narrowing who are at higher risk for sinus symptoms when specific allergens are present.

“Patients are usually asymptomatic from a small polyp or a small cyst in the sphenoid sinus.”

An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.