Maryland State Wire

A large percentage of ear, nose and throat patients also have depressive symptoms, and there is medical proof relating these issues to each other.

Dr. Jamie Oberman of the Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says that persistent sinusitis symptoms can be extremely taxing.

"The studies show that it certainly contributes to a loss of vitality, productivity and quality of life," Oberman told Maryland State Wire.

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance reports that 7.1% of the U.S. population currently suffers from serious depression. Depression symptoms can include a loss of pleasure from past activities, isolation, irritability and appetite loss.

In a sample of 320 people with sinus symptoms, those who reported being depressed also reported experiencing more pain than those who did not, according to a medical study published in the American Journal of Rhinology.

According to large cohort research published in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, patients with chronic rhinosinusitis had an elevated risk of depression throughout an 11-year follow-up period. Additionally, researchers discovered that people without nasal polyps experienced melancholy and anxiety at a higher rate than those with nasal polyps.

In a separate study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, researchers utilized a self-report questionnaire called the Beck Despair Inventory to assess depression symptoms. They discovered that people experiencing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without nasal polyps reported higher levels of depression.

CRS currently affects between 1% and 5% of the population and is associated with symptoms such as sinus pressure, headache and postnasal drip.

Additionally, depression may occur as a result of unsuccessful medical treatment efforts or the medication itself, according to Medicine.

People suffering from CRS, on the other hand, may find relief through balloon sinuplasty, which the FDA authorized in 2005. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure in which an otolaryngologist places a small balloon into the nose and inflates it to reopen the sinuses.

People who've undergone endoscopic sinus surgery reported improved quality of life after the procedure, according to a prospective cohort study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

People who are suffering from chronic sinusitis and are interested in learning more about treating their symptoms can take the Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Center's Self-Assessment Quiz.