• Both allergies and colds are more common in the fall and winter months.
• Allergies and colds can potentially develop into sinus infections.
• Arizona Breathe Free offers a range of solutions to treat the underlying conditions causing allergies or sinus infections.

While many people know that experiencing allergy symptoms and common colds is more likely in the fall and winter, they may not realize that allergies and colds can develop into sinus infections, the Houston Chronicle reported. Allergies, colds and sinus infections have many of the same symptoms, so it can be difficult to distinguish between them.

Dr. Tran Locke, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist who works at Baylor College of Medicine, said that if symptoms such as congestion last longer than 10 days, it might be time to see a doctor to determine whether a sinus infection has developed. Other symptoms could include a feeling of pressure in the face, a decreased sense of smell, tooth pain or a fever. Many patients can resolve their symptoms through medication, but for some, a minimally invasive surgery might be the best option to treat an underlying condition, Locke said.

Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses, according to Healthline. This surgery is relatively new, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It’s also commonly referred to as the “smart sinus” procedure.

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 during that time period, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week, according to Dr. Michael Eisemann of Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center in Houston.

"A basic cold or sinus infection is an inflammatory response," Dr. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Arizona Business Daily. "Allergies, in the long run, do the same thing. Instead of one being an infectious cause, one's an inflammatory cause. Allergies are just [symptoms of] an overreactive immune system, and it leads to inflammation. That inflammation, in general, will cause the very same pathology, swelling and obstruction. Instead of being an infection that's treated with antibiotics, it is treated with allergy medicines. We'll say, 'Let's reset that nose back to happy.’ We’ll use a little sinuplasty and then we'll test them for allergies."

Arizona Breathe Free offers a variety of solutions to treat the underlying conditions that cause sinusitis and allergies and to provide permanent relief. The practice is located on East Bell Road in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Those interested in learning more about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis are invited to take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.