Richmond Leader

• 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.

Sinusitis can affect your quality of life in many different ways, which is why it's important to get treatment as early as possible, Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told the Richmond Leader.

"The earlier that we can arrest the progression of chronic sinusitis, the earlier we can decrease some of the long-term complications, including formation of polyps and significant chronic disease," Ditto said. "We recommend early management versus waiting until the situation is severe. 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 and efficiency. So it's very important to get it (treated) early."

An early intervention for a sinus patient not only increases their immediate quality of life, but also improves long-term relief while reducing health care costs, according to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

Many patients who undergo a minimally invasive surgery to treat their chronic sinusitis also find that after the surgery, their quality of sleep drastically improves, according to Atlanta ENT Sinus & Allergy Associates. A study of more than 500 patients who underwent sinus surgery found significant improvement in their overall sleep and quality of life.

Chronic sinusitis is one of the most common chronic medical conditions among Americans, and it can have a negative effect on a patient's quality of life, according to the Indian Journal of Otolaryngology. They 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 involves removing sinus tissue, while balloon sinuplasties are "less traumatic" because the procedure does not include removing any tissue, instead relying on only dilation to improve sinus function.    

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.