If you are living with chronic sinusitis, you are not alone. Approximately 37 million people in the U.S. suffer from sinusitis each year, roughly 17 percent of women and 10 percent men. These sinus problems are estimated to result in 18 million physician office visits. Living with sinusitis can be challenging because it affects the quality of life of the people who have it. However, not everyone experiences symptoms for weeks on end.

TYPES OF SINUSITIS

Some people have recurrent or acute sinusitis which normally lasts no more than four weeks, while others suffer from chronic sinusitis which typically lasts longer than 12 weeks. Sinusitis occurs when the lining of your nose, sinuses and throat become inflamed: possibly from a pre-existing cold or allergies. Chronic sinusitis is when this inflammation lasts three months or more. Chronic sinusitis symptoms never really go away for long periods of time. Instead, patients must endure the symptoms throughout a majority of the year. 

COMMON SYMPTOMS

Disrupted sleep, constant discomfort, and inability to fully focus on or perform daily tasks are serious consequences of chronic sinusitis. Specifically, individuals with chronic sinusitis live with a:

stuffy nose

drainage from the nose

facial pain

coughs

pressure in the face

ear pain 

difficulty breathing

fatigue

loss of smell/taste

headaches

The combination of these persistent symptoms can affect the patient’s ability to participate in and enjoy daily activities. While there are several home and natural remedies that can help relieve symptoms, they are typically not long-term solutions. 

Fortunately, the American Sinus Institute in San Antonio, TX specializes in a minimally invasive and effective procedure for the treatment of chronic sinusitis: balloon sinuplasty. Balloon sinuplasty has rapidly become the standard care for treating patients suffering with long-standing symptoms of pain and pressure. This simple 20-minute surgery opens sinus passages and transforms the life of patients. More than 150,000 patients have been treated safely with balloon sinuplasty technology with 95% of saying they would do it again. Contact our board-certified physicians in Otolaryngology to see if balloon sinuplasty is right for you and breathe easy again!