South Jersey Sun

Multiple scientific studies have found a correlation between patients identified as regularly experiencing symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis and links with a substantial number of patients also suffering from depressive-type symptoms (CSR). According to a   local sinus inflammation specialist, poor sleep and quality of life are two factors that present as a common link between both alignments. 

Dr. Nicola DeLorio of Accent Head and Neck Group explained that suffering from issues caused by the sinuses, ort sinus symptoms, affects both one's quality of life and ability to sleep, which can cause depression. 

“There are actually studies that show that there's an increased number of patients that have depression that have chronic sinusitis. A lot of it links back to the quality of sleep and quality of life. When you're suffering from poor sleep and poor quality of life due to this symptomatology from the sinuses, that can then trigger depression,” said Dr. Nicola DeLorio with Accent Head and Neck Group.

Sinus issues that cause lack of sleep can lead to poor life management, general quality of life and even depression. They can further develop into more severe health issues, both physically and mentally, if the presenting symptoms are not addressed by a healthcare professional. 

An article from the American Family Physician also stated that CRS happens to one to five percent of the population. A Depression and Bipolar Alliance report found the number of those suffering from severe depression is close to the same percentage at 7.1%.

The National Library of Medicine released a report that showed that depression was high among people who suffered from chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps. Another study found that chronic rhinosinusitis patients were susceptible to depression and that patients without nasal polyps suffered more from depression than those with nasal polyps, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Depression is sometimes found to be a snowball effect of ineffective management of symptoms such as sinus pressure headaches and postnasal drip. Results from PubMed's examinations of 320 patients back this idea with its finding that for 320 patients who had sinus symptoms, depressed CRS patients stated having more pain in the bridge of the nose, along with headaches and diminished energy levels, compared to patients “without depression comorbidity.”

Symptoms of depression, according to the Depression and Bipolar Alliance report, also listed that those identified as being impacted by depression have other typical symptoms including a lack of hobbies, a departure from social activities, lack of hunger and a bad temper.

Endoscopic sinus surgery, a surgery that relieves pressure from the sinuses to treat pain and sinus suffering, has been reported to enhance one’s quality of life, according to a study published by the Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology. Other options are also available to patients that do not include having surgery or long recovery periods. While certain criteria are required to be met for eligibility to have a Balloon Sinuplasty, which became FDA approved in 2005 according to Healthline, the procedure in quick and virtually painless. 

"There are a couple new treatments out there that are really exciting. First and foremost, is balloon sinus dilation or sinuplasty,"Dr. DeLorio explained. "That allows us to take a small balloon in the office and place it into the opening of the sinus and open the science up and restore drainage, with no surgery no general anesthesia the patient is done in about 20 minutes and there's very, very little recovery." 

If you think you could benefit from a balloon sinuplasty, take this online Sinus Self-Asessment Quiz.