When Dr. Matthew Blair of the Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Center in Pensacola, Fla., first started his residency, he said sinus surgery and allergy shots were really the only two methods of treatment for chronic sinus inflammation.
“Sinus surgery was (a) very bloody surgery. It was very painful for the patients,” Blair said.
Now, with Balloon Sinuplasty — it’s no longer an invasive, painful or lengthy recovery procedure. The procedure was approved by the FDA in 2005 (according to Healthline) has seen ongoing improvement and results that have resulted in a positive sinus revolution.
“... We want to transition from going to the outpatient surgery center to treating more patients inside the office, almost like going to the dentist and having a procedure done and reaping benefits, hopefully, lifelong benefits as soon as possible.”
The entire process, he said, takes less than a minute for each sinus.
“What that does is it permanently opens the sinuses so we can get treatment into the sinus,” Blair said. “The sinus is then prevented from being blocked from whatever the cause may be, whether it is anatomic or an inflammatory cause from a condition the patient might have that they cannot control, like nasal polyps, for instance.”
Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for people with snoring, post nasal drip, chronic congestion, breathing through the mouth, chronic sinusitis, headache pain, pain in upper teeth, bad breath, thick yellow grain nasal discharge, nasal congestion, stuffy nose, facial pain and pressure. As a whole, the procedure is typically fairly straightforward and reported complications are minimal as there is no cutting or removal of bones or tissue.
Individuals who receive this treatment report needing less than two days of recovery time. Balloon Sinuplasty may help people breathe through their nose more easily which can promote all sorts of benefits. Breathing through the nose while exercising promotes good form, good posture, and therefore, prevents injuries. Breathing through the nose can improve singing and improve athletic performance. “We are now understanding some of the deeper layers to managing stress, which has direct impact on not only the general population, but is at the heart of how elite performers can optimize performance.” Brian Mackenzie, author, athlete and founder of the Art of Breath, a program that teaches how to use breathing to optimize athletic performance.
Dr. Matthew Blair is a local expert on the procedure and patient experience. Prospective patients and or inquiring minds may evaluate their symptoms with a simple quiz that’s provided by Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Center to help determine a best path for care
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