West Florida News

• Physical symptoms of sinusitis include nasal inflammation, a runny nose, congestion, headaches and pain or swelling in the face.
• People who have chronic sinusitis are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure used to clear blocked sinuses.

Chronic sinusitis can lead to unexpected mental health issues, but there's no need to suffer because treatments are available, a Pensacola physician told West Florida News.

Balloon sinuplasty brings relief to many sinus conditions with fewer risks and quicker recovery than traditional sinus surgery, Dr. Matthew Blair, a board-certified otolaryngologist with Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said.

Dr. Matthew Blair | Gulf Coast Breathe Free

"I tell people that with balloon sinuplasty, they'll experience blood on the front of the nose for an hour or two, you're going to be stuffy for a couple days to probably a week, and you may have a headache for 12 hours or so," Blair said. "Usually, by the next day, people are feeling good enough to even go to work."

That outcome is different from traditional sinus surgery.

"Traditional sinus surgery is a little different," Blair said. "I tell people that you are going to have a headache for about three days. Drippy, bloody nose, possibly going to sit for 48 to 72 hours, and you're going to be generally stuffy for a week and a half to two weeks."

By contrast, balloon sinuplasty boasts many benefits, compared to traditional sinus surgery.

"With balloon sinuplasty, the recovery time is significantly shorter. Hopefully the outcomes are permanent and your quality of life is much improved, and your sino-nasal symptoms have been fixed or greatly minimized," Blair said.

Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is located on Spanish Trail in Pensacola, Florida.

Sinus conditions' link to mental health issues is not a new observation. Physician's Weekly reported in 2019 that people who suffer from chronic sinusitis are at higher risk of depression and anxiety. A study in Korea compared a group of 16,224 individuals treated for chronic sinusitis with a group of 32,448 "similar people" who did not suffer sinus problems over 11 years and found the sinusitis sufferers were more than 50% more likely to develop depression or anxiety.

Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic sinusitis causes 4.1 million doctor visits and more than 230,000 emergency room visits each year.

Chronic sinusitis sufferers may experience nasal inflammation, a runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath or fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.

Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses that is relatively new, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It's also commonly referred to as the "smart sinus" procedure, according to Healthline. After a balloon sinuplasty, many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two and some even drive themselves home after the procedure.

It's no wonder that balloon sinuplasty is becoming more and more popular. The procedure boasts low risk and quicker recovery than traditional sinus surgery, according to GoodRx. The procedure does not require the removal of any bones or facial tissue, which means most patients experience less pain and swelling and a lower risk of infection.

If you're interested in more information about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.