Doctors say studies have found a link between chronic sinus issues and increased risk for depression. | Pixabay
Doctors say studies have found a link between chronic sinus issues and increased risk for depression. | Pixabay
• Many people may not realize that chronic sinusitis can also affect their mental health.
• Studies have found that people who have chronic sinusitis are at an increased risk for depression and anxiety.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a quick, minimally invasive surgery that can treat chronic sinusitis.
Dr. Cody Aull of West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers points out that chronic sinusitis can have a negative impact on a patient's quality of sleep, which in turn can negatively affect their quality of life.
"The idea that all these different systems don't coexist in one holistic patient paradigm is incorrect,” Aull told Sunshine Sentinel. “That is a false idea that is put out there and was taught for years. It just doesn't hold true at all. We know that chronic sinus disease worsens sleep. We also know that bad sleep is horrible for the mind. A small amount of sleep is a huge problem. I don't know about you, but I've never been able to sleep if I can't breathe through my nose.”
Aull said that by treating sinus issues, several other issues also may be improved at the same time. Physician's Weekly published a study finding that people who suffer from chronic sinusitis are often more likely to fall into a depression or suffer from anxiety.
The website described a study that looked at 16,224 people treated for chronic sinusitis and then compared them to a group of 32,448 similar people without sinus issues. The study tracked them for 11 years, concluding that the people suffering from sinus issues were more than 50% more likely to suffer from depression or anxiety as well.
Mayo Clinic reported that symptoms can include a runny nose, postnasal drainage, nasal inflammation, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath or fatigue.
There is a surgical option that can provide some relief for chronic sinusitis: a balloon sinuplasty. Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center explains that the procedure only takes about 10 to 15 minutes and most patients usually recover within a day or two. They can resume normal activities during that time, though they could experience minor swelling for up to a week.
To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
Alerts Sign-up