Nature Coast Times

• 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.

Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said that if sinusitis sufferers treat their issues earlier rather than later with minimally invasive procedures such as a balloon sinuplasty, it can lead to a better quality of life.

"Quality of life is directly related to early intervention with chronic sinusitis," she told Nature Coast Times. "The earlier you treat the problems, the better you're going to feel. I have so many patients who have had sinus problems for years. I mean, we're talking about 40, 50 years. They come in and the facial structure is different. The bones and their sinuses are very, very firm due to the chronic inflammation. So it's a lot harder to treat once things have progressed."

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, according to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, and it is proven to negatively impact a patient's quality of life. Early intervention for a sinus patient not only increases their immediate quality of life, but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs. 

"By treating things early, it's been shown that patients do better, have a better quality of life and have fewer health complications," Pate said.

The Indian Journal of Otolaryngology 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 also involves removing sinus tissue, while balloon sinuplasty is "less traumatic" because it doesn't involve removing tissue, instead relying only on dilation.

Many patients who undergo a minimally invasive procedure also find that their sleep quality improves after their procedure, 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.

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.

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