SE LA Times

• 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.

There's a definite and well-documented link between chronic sinusitis and mental health issues, a Burbank sinus specialist told SE LA Times.

"Physicians have known for a while that people with chronic sinusitis and other sinus ailments are more likely to also suffer from depression and anxiety," Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said.

Dr. Matt Hershcovitch | SoCal Breathe Free

"There's a very significant correlation, unfortunately," Hershcovitch said. "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 mental health issues are something chronic sinusitis sufferers have to watch out for.

"Those who have developed chronic sinusitis are much more likely to develop depression and anxiety," Hershcovitch said. "This is because it is like a weight on top of you 24/7. You have headaches, you have congestion, you can't breathe, you can't sleep well at night. You have postnasal drip, you're constantly clearing your nose, you can't speak for long periods of time without having to blow your nose or clear your throat."

Depression and anxiety are just more ailments that wear the patient down.

"This is very taxing to high-functioning individuals and can lead to mental problems that wouldn't otherwise occur, so treating the chronic sinusitis is important not only for quality of life, but mental health as well," Hershcovitch said.

Hershcovitch specializes nasal cavity conditions, including nose and sinus infections, sinus obstructions, ruptures, operculum collapse, polyps and sinus cavity reconstruction.

SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is located on South Buena Vista Street in Burbank.

Sinus conditions' link to mental health issues is not a new observation. Physician's Weekly reported in 2019 that people who suffer from 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 from 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 may 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 that 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 from 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, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.