Those who suffer from chronic sinus infections know that they can interfere with the ability to get a proper night's rest. | stock photo
Those who suffer from chronic sinus infections know that they can interfere with the ability to get a proper night's rest. | stock photo
New studies show the link between sinusitis and depression caused by a lack of sleep, which can be attributed to breathing issues.
A Korean study published in Physician's Weekly said that those who suffer from chronic sinusitis, specifically chronic rhinosinusitis, are 41% more likely to suffer from depression and experience a reduced quality of life, in addition to problems with physical, social, emotional and cognitive function.
Additional research published in medical journal Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy shows that 60 to 75% of chronic sinus sufferers also experience poor sleep.
"I think most people who don't have issues with their nose or sinuses have no idea. For the unfortunate millions of people who are suffering with chronic sinus issues, all of these sinus issues trickled down into every facet of their life. Because when you're not breathing through your nose, you're not sleeping well and then you don't have the proper energy and you feel foggy all the time," Dr. Brian Lee of the Scottsdale Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Center told the Grand Canyon Times.
The theory is that sleep disruption in people with sinusitis causes decreased quality of life and is linked to poor functional outcomes, such as impaired cognitive function and depression. While the direct cause cannot be established due to a lack of knowledge regarding patients' personal lives, the theory still shows a link between chronic nasal issues and poor quality of life.
"Unfortunately, this happens kind of slowly and chronically, and people, unfortunately, accept this as the new norm and figure, well, most people are like this, or this is just kind of the way it is and something they've got to live with. Luckily that's not the case, and there are a lot of easy, simple things we can do to really improve their quality of life," Lee said, regarding treatment options offered at Scottsdale Breathe Free.
Research published in the medical journal Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery found that early interventions for sinus patients not only increases their immediate quality of life, but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs. One of the most popular early interventions is called "balloon dilation," which is a minimally invasive, in-office procedure performed by Lee or any otolaryngologist.
Alerts Sign-up