Symptom 11. Nasal Congestion and Runny Nose: Migraine’s Impact on Sinuses
Migraines have a sneaky way of affecting more than just your head. Sometimes, it can even lead to symptoms like a runny or congested nose, making it seem like you’re dealing with a common cold or allergy. However, these symptoms are just another way that migraines can make their presence felt.
Consider this scenario: your nose suddenly starts to run, or it feels stuffed, making it difficult to breathe. You might even experience a post-nasal drip, a sensation of mucus flowing down the back of your throat. On top of the pounding headache, you now have to deal with these additional, seemingly unrelated symptoms.
These symptoms occur due to the trigeminal nerve, which plays a key role in migraines and also carries sensation from the face, including the nasal passages. When a migraine hits, the activation of this nerve can lead to the release of certain chemicals that cause inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages, leading to congestion or a runny nose.
Although these symptoms might seem odd or confusing, they are just another part of the complex puzzle that is a migraine. It’s another sign of how migraines can impact various parts of the body, causing a range of symptoms that can add to the overall discomfort and disruption caused by the attacks. (11)
