Doctors say studies have found a link between chronic sinus issues and increased risk for depression. | Pixabay
Doctors say studies have found a link between chronic sinus issues and increased risk for depression. | Pixabay
• Many people may not realize that chronic sinusitis can also affect their mental health.
• Studies have found that people who have chronic sinusitis are at an increased risk for depression and anxiety.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a quick, minimally invasive surgery that can treat chronic sinusitis.
Dr. Anthony Sanders of Indianapolis Sinus Center said people who suffer from chronic sinusitis could find that it has a negative effect on their mental health.
"I think people who have chronic rhinosinusitis tend to have a lot of issues," Sanders told East Indy News. "Fatigue is a common symptom associated with rhinosinusitis, as is poor concentration. I think people just feel poorly and they tend to not function as well because of that. They tend not to rest as well. Depression tends to be more prevalent in people with chronic sinusitis than without. It definitely can affect how people function in their jobs and in their lives. And I've certainly witnessed that and have also witnessed the corollary that once you help people with these symptoms, they tend to feel better and function more normally."
Studies have found that people with chronic sinusitis could also be more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, according to Physician's Weekly. One study compared a group of 16,224 people who were treated for chronic sinusitis with a group of 32,448 "similar people" who did not have sinus problems. The study found that over the following 11 years, the sinusitis sufferers were more than 50% more likely to develop depression or anxiety.
Physical symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, a runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, a sore throat, bad breath or fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.
One surgical treatment option for chronic sinusitis sufferers is balloon sinuplasty. A balloon sinuplasty procedure only takes 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.
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