Does Sinusitis Cause Dizziness Jun 2026

While dizziness from sinusitis is annoying, it usually resolves as the infection clears. However, you should see a doctor immediately if:

A critical confounder: patients with sinusitis often have a history of migraine. Migraineurs frequently report “sinus pressure” and dizziness without true sinus pathology. Studies show that over 80% of patients with “sinus headache” actually have migraine (Schreiber et al., 2004). Thus, dizziness in a sinusitis patient may be coincidental migraine. does sinusitis cause dizziness

To understand why your sinuses make you dizzy, you first have to understand the anatomy of your ear. Your body’s balance system (the vestibular system) is located deep within your inner ear. This system relies on air and fluid pressure to function correctly. While dizziness from sinusitis is annoying, it usually

| Study | Design | Key Finding | |-------|--------|--------------| | Krouse et al. (2008) | Cross-sectional (n=300 CRS) | 28% reported dizziness; but on exam, 80% of those had abnormal tympanometry (ETD) | | Takeda et al. (2014) | Prospective cohort | Treating sinusitis with antibiotics/steroids reduced dizziness scores by 70% in patients with ETD, but had no effect on true rotatory vertigo | | Lal et al. (2016) | Systematic review | No high-quality evidence that sinusitis causes peripheral vertigo (nystagmus or canal paresis). | Studies show that over 80% of patients with