Litchfield Hills Today

• Early intervention for sinus patients can lead to a better quality of life, while also reducing health care costs.
• Untreated sinusitis can lead to serious infections and even vision loss.
• A minimally invasive treatment option for sinusitis is balloon sinuplasty.

CT ENT Sinus Center's Dr. Robert Weiss believes it's important to seek treatment for sinus issues earlier rather than later because it can lead to a better quality of life overall.

It's a sentiment echoed in a study published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. According to the research, early intervention for a sinus patient not only increases immediate quality of life, but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs. 

"You would intuitively think that emphysema or diabetes must have a much bigger impact on quality of life than something like allergies, where most people get a stuffy nose," Weiss told Litchfield Hills Today. "Well, when they've done those studies, they find out that having seasonal allergies and sort of average chronic sinusitis is just as impactful on quality of life as these drastic disease states. The first time I read that, I thought it was eye-opening because, intuitively, you wouldn't believe that, but it speaks to the notion that allergies are a big deal. Sinus infections aren't a big deal compared to other things -- but if you're the patient, it's a big deal. Most people who say that is a big deal haven't suffered from it. I'd say that the biggest goal of treating our patients is improving their quality of life."

Mayo Clinic pointed out that untreated sinusitis can lead to serious complications, including vision loss or skin and bone infections.

Luckily a minimally invasive sinus treatment option with a quick recovery time could be the fix that many patients are looking for. Balloon sinuplasty is used to clear blocked sinuses. It is fairly new, having received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2005, and it's often called the "smart sinus" procedure.

Healthline noted that many people are able to resume normal activities within a few days of having the procedure. Some are even about to drive themselves home afterward.

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