Menopause & Sinus

If you are menopausal and swear that your sinuses have suddenly gone haywire, this is not your imagination. Sinus headaches are a frequent complaint of menopausal women.

Estrogen

• Headaches in general, including sinus headaches, can be linked to hormonal changes and fluctuations, according to 34-menopause-symptoms.com. When a woman̵7;s estrogen levels drop this impacts the brain and the onset of headaches.

Headaches in General

• Menopausal women complain of migraine headaches and tension headaches, as well as sinus headaches, the latter being the third most-frequently experienced headache among menopausal women.

Inflammation

• When your sinus cavity becomes inflamed, you can̵7;t get rid of the mucus, which results in pain and pressure in your face, the bridge of your nose, your cheeks, behind your eyes and your forehead. You will experience a congestion or sinus headache because your sinus cavities are blocked.

Expert Insight

• According to Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet, author of "Screaming to be Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect but Doctors Still Ignore," sinus and allergy issues are related to low estrogen levels.

Effectsf

• Lack of estrogen increases problems with mucous-lined passages, which are no longer as healthy and lubricated as they were before menopause. When your passages aren't lubricated, your sinuses get clogged up and you will experience a sinus headache.