Anderson Reporter

• One of the main triggers of sinusitis is allergies, and summer allergies are right around the corner.

• There are minimally invasive treatment options available to sinusitis sufferers.

• Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp of Indianapolis Sinus Center can help to nip your sinusitis and allergy issues in the bud before they cancel your summer plans.

Summer is here and it's time for traveling, backyard barbecues and spending time in the warm weather. Unfortunately, sinusitis and allergies can put a damper on your summer plans.

Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp of Indianapolis Sinus Center said patients who struggle with allergies can end up having to deal with chronic sinusitis, which is why it's important to get treatment before it starts to affect your everyday life.

"Sinusitis occurs when the linings of your nose, sinuses and throat become inflamed, possibly from a preexisting cold or allergies," Hollenkamp told the Anderson Reporter. "Chronic sinusitis is when this inflammation lasts three months or more. We offer on-site diagnostic testing, including low-dose CT scan, to get a better look inside your sinus cavity and identify inflammation and signs of infection."

Although spring allergies might be minimal as trees and flowers are finished blooming, summer allergies caused by weeds and grasses are the next thing to worry about. One of the most common allergy triggers in the summer is ragweed, which doesn't only affect the areas it grows in, as it can travel hundreds of miles on the wind, according to WebMD.

There are minimally invasive treatment options that can help your sinusitis and summer allergies, one of which is called balloon sinuplasty. A balloon sinuplasty is an in-office procedure that's simple and only takes about an hour, according to sinussurgeryoptions.com. The prep takes about 30 minutes and involves a local anesthetic being applied to the nose for comfort. A thin instrument with a balloon attached is then guided through your sinus, the balloon is gently inflated for five seconds with saline and, when your sinuses open, the balloon is removed.

Hollenkamp and his team at Indianapolis Sinus Center can help to treat sinus issues before they put a damper on your plans this summer. The clinic offers balloon sinuplasty -- along with other sinus, allergy and sleep disorder treatment -- and is accredited through the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities, Inc. The Sinus Center is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for sinus-related conditions and is equipped with the latest technology and techniques to diagnose and treat a wide range of issues.

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