Pensacola Times

• Sinusitis sufferers could be at risk for heart disease if they don't seek treatment.
• Multiple studies have shown that acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis can potentially lead to stroke.
• A balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can help sinus sufferers and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke.

Many sinusitis sufferers are unaware of the correlation between chronic sinusitis and inflammation, but Dr. Matthew Blair of Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Pensacola Times that a balloon sinuplasty can help to treat sinusitis in a minimally invasive way.

Sinusitis causes inflammation in the sinus cavities, which, if left untreated, can cause an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, neurological disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, according to Next Avenue. Therefore, it's important for patients who struggle with these issues to seek treatment before they encounter irreversible negative effects.

A balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can help sinusitis suffers and reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.

"Whatever your sinus condition is or your complaint, the Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers can definitely find a way to improve your quality of life," Blair said. "We just have to take it slowly and tailor your treatment to your specific problem, and we could definitely improve you in some way. I tell people that with balloon sinuplasty, they'll experience blood on the front of the nose for an hour or two, you're going to be stuffy for a couple days to probably a week, and you may have a headache for 12 hours or so. So usually, by the next day, people are feeling good enough to even go to work."

In 2012, the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy published a study, which concluded that both acute and chronic sinusitis are risk markers for stroke, and that they are completely separate from traditional markers for stroke. Using data from the national cohort study published in PLOS One, it has been deduced that chronic sinusitis consistently increases the risk of stroke, regardless of demographic.

Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. There’s no cutting and no removal of bones or tissue, making the procedure minimally invasive.

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