Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that usually occurs during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight. | Pexels/Teona Swift
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that usually occurs during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight. | Pexels/Teona Swift
• Approximately 10 million Americans experience seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder, each year.
• Chronic sinus problems can also increase the likelihood of experiencing depression.
• Depression caused by chronic sinusitis can be treated by addressing the sinus problems.
Health experts say studies have found the lack of daylight in winter and recurring sinus problems both add to the increased risk of a person developing symptoms of depression.
Boston University reported that approximately 10 million Americans experience seasonal depression each year, which can include symptoms such as sadness, sluggishness and weight changes. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) typically occurs during the winter, when days are shorter and there is less sunlight than other times of the year, and it is more likely to affect women than men. Treatments for SAD can include light therapy or traditional treatments, such as antidepressants.
Dr. Mariah Pate, a physician with Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, says chronic sinus issues and depression go "hand in hand."
"Your risk of depression and anxiety is so much greater when you have chronic sinusitis," Pate told Nature Coast Times. "Many patients with chronic fatigue, not sleeping, not being able to function the way they want to, not being able to breathe -- it really wears on them. And it causes these underlying conditions to really get worse. Many times, when patients get effective treatment and procedures and they start breathing better and feeling better, they're able to get out and live life and they're able to start staving off those feelings of anxiety and depression. I do notice that a lot of patients’ moods will improve after they start breathing and feeling better."
According to Physician's Weekly, a study that examined a group of people who suffer from chronic sinus issues and another group who doesn't have sinus issues found that, over an 11-year period, those who had sinus problems were more than 50% more likely to develop depression.
Houston Advanced Nose and Sinus found as many as 25% of patients with chronic sinusitis also experienced depression, along with typical sinus symptoms. Depression resulting from sinus issues can be treated by first addressing the underlying problem with medication or surgery.
To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis or allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
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