• Early intervention for sinus patients can lead to a better quality of life, while also reducing health care costs.
• Untreated sinusitis can lead to serious infections and even vision loss.
• A minimally invasive treatment option for sinusitis is balloon sinuplasty. 

Early intervention for sinusitis is important to consider, as studies have found that the longer a patient waits, the more likely it is they will need to deal with long-term problems. Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers recently offered some examples of the issues that can arise from sinusitis, both short and long term.

“The longer that you live with (sinusitis), the more permanent the problem becomes and the more issues arise that you cannot alter,” Trimble told Lone Star Standard. “There are several examples of that. The easiest example is obstructive sleep apnea. I think my dad followed in this course, and obviously as a kid growing up, I didn't know the stuff that I know now. So I always tell people, I grew up with a dad who carried a handkerchief around because he was always blowing his nose.”

Trimble added that his father always had nasal congestion, which would cause him to snore.

“His snoring problems got worse and became severe obstructive sleep problems, obstructive sleep apnea, and so my dad's on a CPAP machine. But I'm convinced that if my dad had his sinus problems effectively addressed when he was younger, he never would have been on a CPAP machine,” Trimble said.

Early intervention for a sinus patient not only increases their immediate quality of life but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs, according to a study published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The sooner you get treated, the less you'll be spending on other problems that can result from sinusitis.

Mayo Clinic reports that serious complications can arise from untreated sinusitis, including vision loss or infections in the bones and skin.

According to Healthline, a minimally invasive sinus treatment option that comes with a quick recovery time is balloon sinuplasty. Healthline reported that balloon sinuplasty, which is also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses. It is fairly new, as it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It is also commonly referred to as the “smart sinus” procedure.

Balloon sinuplasty is recommended for those who have chronic sinusitis and have tried other treatments without success. Complications tend to be minimal, as bone and tissue is not removed during the procedure. Balloon sinuplasty can be done in a hospital or at an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist’s office.

The procedure involves a wire with a flashlight at the end being inserted into the patient’s sinuses. A small balloon catheter is then inserted into the sinus cavity and inflated. This allows for the sinus to open and the doctor to flush out mucus with a saline solution. There may be drainage from the nose, swelling, congestion and fatigue after the surgery, but this is to be expected.

Many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two after having a balloon sinuplasty. Some people are even able to drive themselves home after the procedure. 

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.