What you eat affects how you feel -- it may not be as catchy as the saying "you are what you eat," but it is true nonetheless. Making changes in your diet can have physical effects on your body, even when those changes are for the better. Headaches, in particular, are a common manifestation of these effects; however, sinus headaches are not related to your diet.
Sinus Headaches
Developing a sinus headache is unrelated to dietary changes. These aches, which cause considerable facial pain, occur when your sinus cavities are inflamed. The discomfort is typically concentrated around the eyes and cheeks; you may also experience a sore throat and nasal congestion. These headaches are common when you have a sinus infection, which can develop because of allergies, a virus, bacteria or other infectious agent. Chronic sinus infections, or sinusitis, may cause symptoms for several weeks at a time throughout the year.
Diet and Headaches
That doesn't mean changes in your diet can't cause headaches. Suddenly altering your diet affects the body, especially if you are not consuming enough calories or nutrients. Starting a low-calorie diet can trigger a headache. In fact, not eating enough -- either through skipping meals or fasting -- is a known contributor of migraines, according to the National Pain Foundation. Like sinus headaches, migraines sometimes cause pain in the eyes. You may also develop a headache if your new diet doesn't contain enough protein or fiber as these help regulate blood glucose. Consuming too few calories puts you at risk for low blood sugar, which causes headaches as well.
Triggers
Not all diet-related headaches start because of unhealthy changes. If you've been working on cutting back your caffeine intake, you may find yourself experiencing severe headaches. The Food and Drug Administration reports that achy muscles and depression are also common caffeine-withdrawal symptoms; interestingly, severe sinus infections may involve muscle aches as well. Adding a new food to your diet may also trigger headaches if you have an intolerance for it. Making the switch from regular to diet soda, for instance, means you're consuming artificial sweeteners that sometimes trigger headaches. Fermented foods, chocolate, smoked foods and food additives can also cause headaches.
Seeking Treatment
It's wise to seek medical advice if you're concerned that dietary changes are causing your headaches. Your physician can help you determine which foods -- or lack of them -- could be triggering your symptoms. It's also essential to get help if headaches continue to be an ongoing issue. Ruling out other headache causes, such as stress, certain medications or other health conditions, is important. Experiencing headaches and other symptoms associated with sinusitis may require antibiotic therapy.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Headache; October 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Sinusitis; May 2009
- National Pain Foundation; Nutrition and Headaches; Christina Sun-Edelstein, M.D., and Alexander Mauskop, M.D.
- Food and Drug Administration; Medicines in My Home: Caffeine and Your Body; 2007
