Maryland State Wire

Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers describes the symptoms of a chronic sinus pain sufferers and what makes them ideal candidates for a balloon sinuplasty procedure. 

• Swelling, fullness in the ears and pain in the cheekbones or nose are signs of a sinus headache.
• These are not migraines, which create additional symptoms.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a solution for chronic sinusitis.

"The ideal patient is an individual with recurring sinus infections that have been refractory to antibiotics or steroids, or they get better, but these continued to recur over a certain amount of time," Dr. Khanna said. "That patient is also someone who's having sinus headaches, pressure, and that cannot tolerate flying. These can be patients who have significant congestion and post nasal drip that's been refractory to medical management. Those are your ideal patients for balloon sinus dilation."

When sinuses become inflamed —usually because of an allergic reaction or an infection — the sinuses swell, produce more mucus, and they can become blocked from draining properly. This build-up in the sinuses can create pain that feels like a headache, according to WebMD. Symptoms of a sinus headache include swelling in the face, a feeling of fullness in the ears, a fever and constant pain in the cheekbones, forehead or the bridge of the nose.

Sinus pain differs from tension headaches and migraines, the latter associated with additional symptoms. Although sinus headaches and migraines have some symptoms that overlap, there are other symptoms that are unique to migraines, such as nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light, noise or smells, according to the American Migraine Foundation.

People who suffer from sinusitis have numerous surgical treatment choices, such as endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to WebMD. A more recent procedure, balloon sinuplasty is a good choice for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses. 

The doctor puts a thin tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end. The doctor then guides the balloon to the blocked area inside the nose and inflates it. The balloon helps clear the passageway so the sinuses can drain properly, alleviating congestion.

A survey for sinus symptoms can be found here.