North Baltimore Journal

• 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. 

Sinusitis can be a challenging condition, and Dr. James Oberman, a sinus specialist at Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, pointed out that it can adversely impact a patient's overall well-being and quality of life.

"It certainly can be quite debilitating,” Oberman told North Baltimore Journal. “The studies show that it contributes to a loss of vitality, productivity and quality of life.”

Chronic sinusitis can be a driver for depression and anxiety in people suffering with the condition, and Physician's Weekly reported that a study compared a group of 16,224 patients treated for chronic sinusitis with a second group of 32,488 people who did not have sinus issues. The study tracked the subjects for 11 years and found that those with sinusitis were 50% more likely to also suffer from anxiety or depression.

Chronic sinusitis, according to Mayo Clinic, can include a host of physical symptoms, including a runny nose, nasal inflammation, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, postnasal drainage, headaches, loss of taste or smell, bad breath, sore throat and fatigue.

“You don't have to live with it,” Oberman said. “There are solutions out there, many of which are very well-tolerated and minimally invasive and almost risk-free."

A key solution for the treatment of chronic sinusitis is balloon sinuplasty, a procedure that lasts 10 to 15 minutes and has a recovery time of only a day or two, according to the Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center. Patients may experience some swelling for about a week, but they can resume normal activities relatively quickly.

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