SE LA Times

Sinus problems can sometimes be so severe that they contribute to mental health issues, according to Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers.

"There's a very significant correlation unfortunately," Hershcovitch told SE LA Times. "There's a very good study out of the Cleveland Clinic that shows a direct link between not only depression, but anxiety as well, with people with chronic sinusitis. Those who have developed chronic sinusitis are much more likely to develop depression and anxiety."

Major depression affects 7.1% of the U.S. population, according to the Depression and Bipolar and Support Alliance. Symptoms of depression can include inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal, irritability and loss of appetite, the organization said.

In a review of 320 patients with sinus symptoms, it was noted that depressed chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS)  patients reported significantly worse pain. Using the Beck Depression Inventory, a self-reporting questionnaire that measures depressive symptoms, scientists concluded that more depression was found in participants with chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps, the American Journal of Rhinology said.

In a larger cohort study with an 11-year followup, findings show that chronic rhinosinusitis sufferers are at an increased risk for depression and that depression and anxiety appeared to occur more frequently in patients without nasal polyps, compared with those with nasal polyps, Medicine reported.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) occurs in 1 to 5% of the population and includes symptoms like sinus pressure headache and postnasal drip. Depression may develop from failed attempts at medical management or the treatment itself. 

Balloon sinuplasty is an FDA-approved endoscopic medical procedure for those who have CRS. Approved in 2005, the procedure is simple and minimally invasive. A ear, nose and throat specialist inserts a tiny balloon into the nasal cavity, then expands it to open the sinuses, allowing the patient to breathe better.   

In a prospective cohort study from the Journal of American Academy of Otolaryngology, improved measurements in quality of life were reported after endoscopic sinus surgery.

If  you are struggling with chronic sinusitis with depression and want to learn more about treatment options, take our Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.