Ashford Clinic Blog
Are There Different Types of Sinus Pressure?
Sinus pressure is sinus pressure, right? “Sinus pressure” is a fairly broad term when it comes to what’s actually going on in your sinuses. Not all sinus pressure is the same, and that has a lot to do with the sinuses themselves.
Sinuses are essentially air cavities connected to your nasal passages. They are located in four areas near the center of your face.
- Maxillary sinuses are located in your cheekbones, on either side of your nose just below your eyes. They also happen to be the largest sinus cavities.
- Ethmoid sinuses are located at the bridge of your nose between your eyes.
- Sphenoid sinuses are located in the bones behind your nose, closer to your eyebrows.
- Frontal sinuses are located in the lower center of your forehead, right at or above your eyebrows.
You can experience sinus pressure in any of these sinus cavities, but knowing where they are can help diagnose issues. For example, migraines can cause pressure on the frontal sinus cavities. Allergic reactions from pollen often cause issues in your ethmoid, sphenoid, and maxillary sinuses, while sinus infections can often affect any of these cavities. You might notice sinus pressure from colds in the maxillary cavities because those are the largest.
When it comes to acute sinus infections, or sinusitis, identifying which sinus cavity is infected can help your doctor diagnose the source of the infection.
Sinus pressure can also come from nasal polyps. These are growths that occur in inflamed nasal tissue. These polyps are small round growths that are similar to cysts, and they can sometimes be large enough to block nasal passages.
Whatever type of sinus pressure you experience, it’s time to see your doctor if the pressure lasts for more than two weeks or you’re experiencing it along with a fever. Treating sinus pressure early can avoid long-term conditions that could otherwise develop. If you’re experiencing ongoing sinus pressure, we’re here to help.
