• Chronic sinus inflammation can lead to decreased functionality and painful symptoms.
• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population.
• Balloon sinuplasty procedures are considered both effective and manageable.
According to the American Sinus Institute, nasal inflammation, or sinusitis, is the swelling of the tissue that lines the sinuses. The condition blocks air passages, which can cause mucus to increase and lead to infection.The condition can come from causes as simple as the common cold.
“Sinusitis by definition is inflammation of the sinuses,” physician assistant Diana Ruiloba of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Arizona Business Daily.“This is important to note, as inflammation of the sinuses becomes chronic, it makes it more challenging for sinuses to function optimally. Over time, chronic sinusitis can lead to a lack of functionality, which leads to persistent symptoms of nasal obstruction, facial pressure/pain and posterior nasal drainage. These persistent symptoms then begin to affect quality of life.”
According to Mayo Clinic, untreated sinusitis can lead to serious complications, including other infections, even vision loss.
Chronic sinusitis affects a reported 28.9 million adults in the U.S., or 11% of the population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sinusitis accounts for 4.1 million doctor visits and more than 230,000 emergency room calls each year, the CDC said.
Balloon sinuplasty is often recommended after other treatments have been ineffective, and complications are minimal. Healthline says the process, which involves inserting a small balloon into the sinuses to increase airflow, involves no incisions or damage to bones, and many people return to their regular activities within a day or two. Some are even able to drive themselves home from their procedure.
Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers offers a Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz to help learn more about sinus health and treatment options.