Anderson Reporter

• People suffering from sinusitis should see an ENT specialist to help improve their quality of life.
• Untreated sinusitis can lead to the patient's personal and work life being affected.
• There are minimally invasive treatment options available, such as a balloon sinuplasty procedure.

An early intervention for sinus patients not only increases their immediate quality of life but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs.

Many patients who undergo a minimally invasive surgery to treat their chronic sinusitis also find that after the surgery, their quality of sleep drastically improves, according to Atlanta ENT Sinus & Allergy Associates. A study of more than 500 patients who underwent sinus surgery found significant improvement in the patients' sleep quality and overall quality of life.

Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp of Indianapolis Sinus Center said that sinusitis doesn't only affect your breathing, but can also affect your daily activities, and that's why it's important to get it treated by an ENT specialist.

"You only get so many days in this world, and you'd like them to be enjoyable as much as you can. Obviously, being able to breathe is important, and not being in pain all the time is important," Hollenkamp told Anderson Reporter. "I think getting that stuff treated can help in a lot of ways. The better you breathe, the better you sleep, and the better a lot of things tend to work. When you can't breathe and you have sinus pressure all the time, it's hard to think, it's hard to concentrate and it's hard to do the things in life you want to do."

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, and it can have a negative effect on a person's quality of life, according to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. They conducted a study comparing patients who underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) with patients who opted for a balloon sinuplasty to treat chronic sinusitis and found that, although both procedures are effective, balloon sinuplasty patients needed fewer antibiotic treatments after their procedures. FESS involves removing sinus tissue, while balloon sinuplasty procedures are "less traumatic" because they don't include removing any tissue, instead relying on dilation to improve sinus function.

A balloon sinuplasty procedure takes only 10 to 15 minutes, and patients typically recover within one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities during that time period, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center.

For more information about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.