Gateway Reporter

• Experts recommend that people see a doctor when allergies begin to interfere with their day-to-day activities.
• Early intervention for a sinus patient not only increases their immediate quality of life but also improves long-term relief and reduces healthcare costs. 
• Studies have found that people with chronic sinusitis could also be more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety.

For patients dealing with sinusitis, the question of when to go see a doctor or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist is important. According to Dr. Stephen Bane of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, sinusitis can seriously affect quality of life if it goes untreated. 

"Most sinus patients that have had issues for years, and so many of them become accustomed to feeling miserable and don't realize how much better they're going to feel when we can fix their problem," Dr. Bane told the Gateway Reporter.

People suffering from sinusitis may experience congestion, facial pain, headaches, toothaches, nasal drainage, a reduced ability to smell, fever, and bad breath, according to NHS Inform. People experiencing symptoms lasting longer than a week should see a physician. An ENT specialist might recommend a saline solution or over-the-counter medication. If those treatments fail to improve symptoms, they might prescribe antibiotics, corticosteroid spray, or even sinus surgery.

According to the Mayo Clinic, serious complications can result from untreated sinusitis, including vision loss or infections in the bones and skin. Patients are advised to see a doctor if symptoms last more than 10 days or fail to improve with treatment. Patients experiencing symptoms such as confusion, swelling, or fever may be facing a serious infection and should see a doctor immediately.

A study completed by the University of Michigan found 99% of 114 participants were misdiagnosed as having chronic sinusitis when their diagnosis came from the emergency department or their primary care physician. This indicates the best diagnosis comes from an inflammation specialist.

Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis after other treatments have been shown to be ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is a fairly straightforward procedure with no cutting or removal of bones or tissue and reported complications are minimal. However, balloon sinuplasty is still a type of sinus surgery, and carries some of the same risks that other types of sinus surgery do.

According to Capitol Breathe Free's website, Dr. Bane trained in general surgery in New York at NYU and Bellevue Hospitals. He has practiced in Woodbridge and has been on staff at Potomac Hospital/Sentara Northern VA Medical Center since 1997. He served as Chairman of the OR Committee, ENT Section Chief, and Medical Executive Committee, and he is currently Chairman of the Surgical Department. He was recognized as one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Doctors in 2020.