Sunshine Sentinel

• Studies have shown that sinusitis sufferers are 50% more likely to struggle with depression.
• Sinusitis can put a damper on your quality of life when you are struggling daily.
• Seeking treatment from a specialist can improve your life.

Dr. Cody Aull of West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers discussed the relief patients feel upon receiving sinusitis treatment in an interview with the Sunshine Sentinel Report.

"You can see the devastation in their eyes because they see no way to get this fixed," Aull said. "In a few hours, we get all the information; we can paint the picture and show them step-by-step how this is happening, how we're going to fix it and how they're going to get better. You just see, it’s like in some ways they are instantaneously better because you've taken the mental anguish, anxiety and depression away from them. They know that this can be taken care of, and we're going to help them."

Physician's Weekly reported that chronic sinusitis sufferers could be more likely to experience depression and anxiety. A Korean study compared a group of 16,224 people treated for chronic sinusitis with a group of 32,448 similar people who didn't have any sinus conditions. None of the participants reported a history of depression or anxiety. However, during 11 years of followup, chronic sinusitis patients were more than 50% more likely to develop depression or anxiety.

According to Mayo Clinic, nasal and sinus problems, such as allergies and sinusitis, can lead to a loss of taste and smell, possibly causing the sufferer to experience a decreased appetite and poor nutrition. Sinusitis sufferers are also more likely to develop depression. Some patients may put excess salt or sugar in their food to make the taste stronger, which may worsen problems tied to diabetes and high blood sugar. Fortunately, treating the infection will restore the senses if the loss of taste and smell is due to a nasal issue.

Seeking treatment from an ENT (ear, nose and throat) doctor can help those struggling with depression linked to sinus conditions. West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers offers balloon sinuplasty, a minimally invasive treatment option that is completed in-office and lasts about an hour. The preparation takes about 30 minutes and involves anesthetics being applied to the nose for additional comfort.

According to Healthline, a narrow instrument with a balloon attached at the end is guided through the sinuses before being gently inflated with saline for five seconds and removed once the sinuses open. The recovery time is relatively quick, with some patients able to return to work or school the following day.

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