Gateway Reporter

• The overuse of antibiotics prescribed for sinusitis 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.

As antibiotic resistance has become more of a concern, ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialists say it’s better to find alternative solutions to recurring sinus infections.

“Antibiotics really have to be used carefully; they can't be used haphazardly,” Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told Gateway Reporter. 

Sinus infections can be difficult to deal with. Whether you are suffering from an acute (less than four weeks) or chronic (more than 12 weeks) infection, you may face nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort, and nasal drainage. 

Many patients who have sinus infections go to general practitioners seeking a prescription to fight off the infection. WebMD reports that nearly 90% of adults with such infections are prescribed antibiotics for their sinus treatment. 

But that "becomes a problem for people down the road,” Khanna said. “Our GI tract just becomes much more sensitive to these medications with repeated use, and it becomes a problem for us as we get into our older years. We start to deal with more resistant, tougher and more virulent bacteria out there that don't respond to antibiotics, and this is becoming a problem.”

Khanna is not alone in voicing those concerns. A reliance on antibiotics has been connected with changing the patient's gut microbiota, and that can increase the likelihood of a person developing chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The AHA says that overusing antibiotics could also be a risk factor in premature death.

So what should you do if you suffer from sinusitis? Healthline suggests balloon sinuplasty after other treatments for this condition have been ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is a simple in-office procedure and few complications have been associated with it, according to Healthline. There’s no cutting involved and no removal of bones or tissue during a balloon sinuplasty. 

If you're interested in learning more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.