Richmond Leader

• Physical symptoms of sinusitis include nasal inflammation, a runny nose, congestion, headaches and pain or swelling in the face.
• People who have chronic sinusitis are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a low-risk, minimally invasive procedure used to clear blocked sinuses.

One of the lesser-known side effects of suffering from chronic sinusitis are potential mental health issues, a Richmond physician told the Richmond Leader.

It's not always obvious to patients that "with chronic sinusitis, there is some association with mental health," Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said.

Dr. John Ditto | Richmond Breathe Free

"Chronic sinusitis can affect the rest of your health in multiple ways," Ditto said, adding that the connection is well-documented. "We know also with chronic sinusitis, that there is some association with mental health, including anxiety and depression."

Ditto is a board-certified otolaryngology head and neck surgeon, and a fellow of the American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, according to Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers..

The Richmond Breathe Free office is located on Cox Road in Glen Allen, Virginia.

Sinus conditions' link to mental health issues is not a new observation. Physician's Weekly reported in 2019 that people with chronic sinusitis are at higher risk of depression and anxiety than those who don't suffer from it. A study in Korea compared a group of 16,224 people treated for chronic sinusitis with a group of 32,448 "similar people" who did not suffer sinus problems over 11 years and found the sinusitis sufferers were more than 50% more likely to develop depression or anxiety.

Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic sinusitis causes 4.1 million doctor visits and more than 230,000 emergency room visits each year.

Chronic sinusitis sufferers might experience 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.

Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses that is relatively new, approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It's also commonly referred to as the "smart sinus" procedure, according to Healthline. After a balloon sinuplasty, many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two, and some even drive themselves home after the procedure.

It's no wonder that balloon sinuplasty is becoming more and more popular. The procedure boasts lower risk and quicker recovery than traditional sinus surgery, according to GoodRx. The procedure does not require the removal of any bones or facial tissue, which means most patients experience less pain and swelling and a lower risk of infection.

If you would like to find out more about diagnosis and treatment options for chronic sinusitis, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.