Grand Canyon Times

• Men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are at an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction.
• Taking cold medication to treat sinusitis can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
• A surgical treatment option can resolve both the sinusitis as well as its side effects.

Chronic sinusitis affects people of all ages across the world in a number of ways, and that can even mean unpleasant side effects like erectile dysfunction due to the use of various medications and treatments.

Dr. Brian Lee of the Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center said those suffering from sinusitis should not wait to seek treatment. He said side effects like erectile dysfunction can be resolved once the underlying problem is treated.

“There have been multiple studies that show that the earlier that you intervene in the disease process, the better the long-term outcomes,” Lee told Grand Canyon Times. “So you never want to wait until your sinuses are an absolute mess, because your outcomes are probably not going to be as good, and you may need repeat procedures to completely eliminate the infection or the inflammation. The earlier we intervene, the better the patients do.”

According to the National Library of Medicine, erectile dysfunction affects about 5% of men in the United States. The National Institutes of Health define it as “the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse.” A study using data from more than 1 million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) found that chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. Treating rhinosinusitis significantly decreased erectile dysfunction in patients, according to the report.

According to a report by Yahoo Sports, men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent compared to men who don’t suffer from sinusitis. Yahoo Sports cited a study from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan, which found that when sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses it causes the blood vessels in men’s genitals to restrict blood flow.

According to Men’s Journal, while some people may turn to medication to alleviate sinus symptoms, Sudafed and other cold medications can cause erectile dysfunction, as well.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several surgical treatment options including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to Web MD. Endoscopy is a common procedure where doctors insert thin, flexible instruments up the nose that are called endoscopes. One instrument has a small camera that sends images back to a screen that allows the doctor to see where the blockage is. This helps them guide other instruments to remove polyps, scar tissue and other blockages. Doctors won’t cut into the skin so recovery is relatively fast. It is usually done with local anesthetic, meaning it will numb the area but the patient remains awake.

Balloon sinuplasty is another treatment that is a good option for patients who don’t need anything removed. The doctor puts a thin tube into the nose with a balloon attached, and then guides the balloon into the area and inflates it. The balloon clears the passageway so the sinuses can then drain and alleviate congestion.

To address symptoms go to the Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy website for a free quiz.