What should you know about puffy face and headache?

Blocked or inflamed sinuses can cause pressure around the cheeks, eyes, or forehead, often with a stuffy nose or thick mucus. Allergies may add sneezing, itching, and watery eyes. Dehydration or heat can bring headache, thirst, dark urine, weakness, or dizziness. A cold or COVID-19 may cause facial congestion with cough, sore throat, or fever. One-sided swelling, dental pain, or skin redness suggests a local problem needing examination.

Rest in a cool place, drink fluids regularly, and use a cool compress for comfort. Saline nasal rinsing may ease congestion when done with safe water and clean equipment. Avoid a known allergen and follow the label for any usual medicine. Note when the swelling and headache started, whether they are one-sided, and whether heat, food, a new product, or an injury preceded them.

Call emergency services for sudden severe headache, confusion, fainting, weakness, vision loss, stiff neck, or trouble breathing. Get urgent help for swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, rapidly spreading facial swelling, severe eye pain, or difficulty opening the eye. Arrange medical review if symptoms persist, recur, or come with fever, significant facial pain, or reduced vision.

Explain whether the swelling is around the eyes, cheeks, or jaw, and mention nasal, dental, skin, or whole-body symptoms. Ask whether you need examination, allergy advice, sinus treatment, or tests, and which changes should prompt urgent reassessment.