Maryland State Wire

• 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. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says that some people who suffer from sinusitis don't realize how much it affects their everyday life. And they may not realize how much minimally invasive procedures, like a balloon sinuplasty, can help.

"This is something that's almost ignored, in a sense," Khanna told Maryland State Wire. "It's not diabetes, it's not cancer, it's not something that's going to necessarily kill them, but it may affect or shorten their lifespan. It may affect their quality of life, how they breathe, sinus headaches, pressure, just kind of feeling down. They're fatigued because they're not getting enough air. Let's say that these are people who exercise, and they say, 'Why can't I do that extra lap? Why can I lift that extra weight? Because I feel like I just don't get enough air.'"

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, according to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The condition can negatively impact one'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. However, sinusitis often goes ignored.

"This is part of every day and every minute of their life," Khanna said. "We tend to ignore it because it's not something that glaringly jumps out at us, but when we think about it, there is a problem. So one of the satisfying things is enlightening patients about this. We can help with that; we can change the way your everyday life is."

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 less antibiotic treatment after their procedures. FESS also involves removing sinus tissue, while balloon sinuplasty is "less traumatic" because it doesn't involve removing tissue and instead relies only on dilation.

Many patients who undergo a minimally invasive sinus 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 lasts 10 to 15 minutes, and patients typically recover within one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities in 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.