Sinus problems can take a toll on those who suffer in more ways than one.
“Chronic sinus infections can have a significant impact on our quality of life, from how we perform at work/school and interact with friends and family,” said Dr. Seth Palmer of Michigan ENT & Allergy Specialists.
Patient Doug Mandrick experienced the misery firsthand. “I was missing probably one day a week in sixth grade due to allergies, severe congestion and headaches.”
Michigan ENT & Allergy Specialists can help. One of the treatments offered is called “balloon sinuplasty,” an inpatient procedure. A tiny catheter is inserted through the nose and placed inside the blocked sinus cavity. Then a small balloon is inflated, which safely opens the sinus passage, providing quick relief from the misery chronic sinusitis patients have been enduring.
“We have a great team at Michigan ENT & Allergy that can evaluate you to improve your health and wellness,” Palmer said. “We have providers who are excellent in evaluating the sinuses with endoscopy, allergy testing and CT scans to come up with the best management for your chronic sinus issues. There are many things we can do to treat the sinuses, from using an appropriate nasal/allergy regimen to procedures that can be done in the office and surgical options.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11.6% of adults in the U.S. have been diagnosed sinusitis, totaling 28.9 million people.
The National Institutes of Health found that in one year, sinusitis created a total of 73 million days when patients had to restrict their activities. Direct medical costs amount to $2.4 billion each year.
The impact on quality to life is hard to measure in financial terms, but it causes patients to miss time on the job, time with their families and time spent doing other activities they enjoy.
A study published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery found that early intervention for sinus problems “is associated with lower health care utilization than intervention after many years of medical management.”