South Jersey Sun

• 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.

Chronic sinusitis sufferers endure miserable symptoms, but they also are more likely than non-sufferers to develop depression and anxiety, a South Jersey physician told the South Jersey Sun.

Physicians have known for a while about the correlation between chronic sinusitis and mental health issues, Dr. Nicola DeLorio of Accent Sinus Center & Head & Neck Group in Linwood said.

Dr. Nicola DeLorio | Accent Head & Neck Group

"There are actually studies showing an increased number of patients who have depression, along with chronic sinusitis," DeLorio said. "Again, I think a lot of it links back to quality of sleep and quality of life. When you're suffering from poor sleep and poor quality of life due to this sinus symptomatology, depression can be triggered in patients prone to that type of mental health issue."

DeLorio, a board-certified otolaryngologist and facial plastic surgeon, is the founding owner and medical director of Accent Sinus Center & Head & Neck Group. She has the special expertise, advanced training and more than 17 years experience treating allergy, nasal and sinus issues.

Accent Sinus Center & Head & Neck Group is located on New Road in Linwood.

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. 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, which 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 low 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're looking for information about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.