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Published on: 7/4/2025

Why might I experience sinus headaches at night and how can I prevent them?

Sinus headaches at night can happen because of blocked sinuses, and these symptoms can worsen when lying down. There are medications available to prevent and reduce sinus headache symptoms. Keep in mind that the symptoms of a sinus headache can be similar to symptoms of other health conditions, so if your symptoms are severe or worsening, you should consult with a healthcare provider for a personalized medical assessment and treatment plan.

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Explanation

Sinus headaches at night can be caused by sinus and/or nasal obstruction, which means your sinus and/or nose is full of mucus. These symptoms can get worse when you lie down because it affects how your sinuses can drain mucus properly. As more mucus builds up in your sinuses, you can feel more sinus pressure or pain.

Some Steps That Can Prevent Or Reduce Sinus Headache Symptoms:

  1. Elevate Your Head When Lying Down: You can try using an extra pillow to keep your head raised while sleeping.
  2. Sinus Irrigation: A common over-the-counter treatment is called sinus irrigation or nasal flushing, which uses clean saline solution to flush out sinus and nasal passages. It's important to use clean saline solution during this treatment. More information is available at https://www.cdc.gov/naegleria/prevention/sinus-rinsing.html.
  3. Medications: A decongestant and/or allergy medication might be helpful, but a healthcare provider who knows about your health is the best person to give you a recommendation about whether these medications or other medications would be appropriate for your symptoms.

If your symptoms are severe, worsening, and/or frequent, it's important to seek medical advice. Also, because the symptoms of a sinus headache can resemble symptoms of other health conditions, a healthcare provider can provide a personalized medical assessment, accurate diagnosis, and appropriate treatment plan for you.

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