Gateway Reporter

A large number of chronic sinusitis patients also suffer from symptoms of depression, and there is the scientific evidence linking these two things.

Dr. Manish Khanna of the Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says that symptoms, including pain and decreased energy levels, may lead to a depressive cycle.

"You just get into this malaise because fatigue is a very common symptom of chronic and acute sinusitis," Khanna told the Gateway Reporter.  "It definitely affects your energy levels, which certainly can exacerbate people who have depression or can kind of lead down that road, to a milder depression if this is untreated."

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance reports that 7.1% of the U.S. population currently suffers from serious depression. Depression symptoms often include a lack of enjoyment of previous pursuits, social isolation, irritability and appetite loss.

In a sample of 320 individuals with sinus symptoms, those who reported being depressed also reported experiencing more pain than those who did not, according to a medical study published in the American Journal of Rhinology.

According to a large cohort study published on the JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery with an 11-year follow-up period, people with chronic rhinosinusitis had an increased risk of depression. Additionally, researchers discovered that people without nasal polyps experienced melancholy and anxiety at a higher rate than those with nasal polyps.

In a separate medical study published in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy, researchers utilized a self-reporting questionnaire called the Beck Despair Inventory to assess depression symptoms and discovered that people experiencing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) without nasal polyps reported higher levels of depression.

CRS currently affects between 1% and 5% of the population and is associated with symptoms such as sinus pressure, headache and postnasal drip, according to Medicine. Additionally, depression could develop as a consequence of failed medical treatment attempts or the medicine itself.

People suffering from CRS, however, may find relief through balloon sinuplasty, which the FDA authorized in 2005, according to Healthline. Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure in which an otolaryngologist places a small balloon in the nasal cavity and inflates it to reopen the sinuses, making breathing easier for the patient.

People who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery reported improved quality of life after the procedure, according to a prospective cohort study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology.

People who are suffering from chronic sinusitis and are interested in learning more about treatment options can complete the Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Center's Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.