Grand Canyon Times

• Many sinusitis patients are prescribed antibiotics, but their overuse can lead to health risks or the development of antibiotic resistance.

• Antibiotic resistance can increase risks for patients who develop infections after other medical procedures.

• Patients with chronic sinusitis have alternative treatment options, such as balloon sinuplasty.    

Dr. Brian Lee of Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center says that people who suffer from sinusitis and try to treat it with antibiotics could find that, over time, the antibiotics become less effective.

"There are a lot of people that get sick, get antibiotics and you're fine," Lee told Grand Canyon Times. "If that happens once or twice a year, it's not (a big) deal, but unfortunately there are people that are going through that process six, eight, ten times a year. They're literally on antibiotics almost every month. In those cases, they do run the risk of developing resistant bacteria in their sinuses, or developing GI issues from all the antibiotics they are taking. So what happens when people start to take a lot of antibiotics is that you can start to build up resistance."

Of adults in the U.S. who are diagnosed with acute sinusitis -- a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks -- about 90% are prescribed antibiotics, according to WebMD. Chronic sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts for more than 12 weeks. Symptoms of sinus infections can include nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort, and nasal drainage.

Overusing antibiotics has been linked to changes in gut microbiota, which can increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The report notes that overusing antibiotics could also be a risk factor in premature death.

Those who develop resistance to antibiotics face increased risk of infections from other medical procedures, such as joint replacements, organ transplants and diabetes treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

"As you take more and more antibiotics, you start killing off the weaker bacteria," Lee said. "What you're left with are the stronger bacteria that are resistant or don't respond well to most antibiotics."

An alternative to antibiotics, however, is balloon sinuplasty, which is typically recommended after other treatments have been ineffective. According to Healthline, balloon sinuplasty is straightforward, and complications are reportedly minimal. There’s no cutting involved and no removal of bone or tissue, and the procedure can be done on an outpatient basis.

If you'd like more information about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.