Sunshine Sentinel

• 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.

Dr. Matthew Blair of Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said that if a sinusitis sufferer visits an ENT specialist, they may be able to improve their overall health and quality of life.

"Nasal obstruction, chronic sinusitis or chronic allergies really affects one's quality of life. If you have a poor outlook on life because you're always suffering from allergies or sinus issues, it's going to affect the rest of your general health," Blair told Sunshine Sentinel. "If you can get your nose in tiptop shape, you're going to feel better and you'll want to do more things. You're going to overall improve your quality of health."

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.

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, and it can have a negative effect on one'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.