Richmond Leader

• 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, and recovery time is minimal.

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.

"The earlier that we can arrest the progression of chronic sinusitis, then we can decrease some of the long-term complications, including formation of polyps and significant chronic disease," Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told the Richmond Leader. "We recommend early management vs. waiting until the situation is severe. And that may mean that there may be minimal findings on CT scan, but significant. As far as quality of life, if you can treat the patient and improve their sinus conditions, then it will decrease their time off from work, which will increase productivity. There have been studies to show that chronic sinusitis affects overall productivity. It's very important to get at it early."

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 who are suffering from chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective. This noninvasive, in-office procedure is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. There are no incisions and no removal of bone or tissue, according to Healthline.

After having 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 Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.