• 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 is an effective, manageable procedure for people with chronic sinusitis.
According to the American Sinus Institute, nasal inflammation is swelling of the tissue that lines the sinuses. Also known as sinusitis, this condition blocks the air passageways, causing mucus to increase and potentially cause an infection. This type of ailment is common and can be caused by something as simple as the common cold.
Serious complications can result from untreated sinusitis, such as vision loss or other infections, according to Mayo Clinic.
"There's a couple of new treatments out there that are really exciting," Dr. Nicola DeLorio of Accent Sinus Center & Head & Neck Group told New Jersey Business Daily. "First and foremost is balloon sinus dilation, or sinuplasty. That allows us to take a small balloon and place it into the opening of the sinus to open up the sinus and restore drainage. This is done in the office with no surgery, no general anesthesia, and the patient is coming out in about 20 minutes. There's very little recovery. It's really a lifestyle change for people. They come in on a Friday, have their procedures and return to work on Monday."
Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Chronic sinusitis is the cause of 4.1 million doctor visits and more than 230,000 emergency room visits each year.
Balloon sinuplasty is often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective. This minimally invasive, in-office procedure is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. There are no incisions and no removal of bones or tissue, according to Healthline.
After a balloon sinuplasty, many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two. Some people even drive themselves home from the procedure.
Readers can learn more about sinusitis or balloon sinuplasty and take a Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz from Accent Sinus Center & Head & Neck Group.