LA Harbor News

• 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. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said that many sinusitis patients have seen results from a balloon sinuplasty that dramatically improved their quality of life.

"Their life is significantly improved. It's one of the most rewarding experiences," he told LA Harbor News. "To see people get very quick, very dramatic relief from what they thought was an incurable problem is very, very gratifying."

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, according to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology, and it is proven to 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 largely untreated.

"These patients have headaches, facial pressure, nasal congestion, postnasal drip, any and all of the above, for years most the time. And they're just resigned to the fact that there's nothing they can do about it," Hershcovitch said. "They take antibiotics periodically and that's it. (Here) that is not the case. Many of them come back afterwards saying, 'I can't believe this has been so good. I haven't gone so long ever in my life without having a sinus infection. This is great, thank you.' I can't tell you how many times I hear that, and it's wonderful."

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

Many patients who undergo a minimally invasive 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 takes only 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 Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.