Montgomery News

• Sinusitis sufferers could be at risk for heart disease if they don't seek treatment.
• Multiple studies have shown that acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis can potentially lead to stroke.
• A balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can help sinus sufferers and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke.

Many sinusitis sufferers are unaware of the correlation between chronic sinusitis and its other health risks, and Dr. Manish Khanna of Capitol Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers gave Montgomery News some insight on these risks, which can even include stroke.

Next Avenue reported that sinusitis frequently results in inflammation in the sinus cavities, and if it is left untreated, it can increase the risk for heart disease, stroke, neurological disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. The website also suggested that patients should seek treatment if they exhibit symptoms of sinusitis.  

"We see patients who are taking enormous amounts of decongestants, and it becomes a concern in older patients,” Khanna said. “Decongestants like Claritin D treat a symptom, but they're not treating the problem, so if patients take tremendous amounts of those, it can raise their blood pressure, and that is a risk factor for stroke. Be careful, especially with people who have underlying cardiovascular or just vascular disease, they certainly can be at risk there."

The American Journal of Allergy & Rhinology cited a study that found both acute and chronic sinusitis proved to be a risk factor for stroke and stood apart from the usual risk factors for stroke. PLOS One cited data from a national cohort study, which found that chronic sinusitis boosts the chances of having a stroke, and demographics don’t factor into the increased rates.

According to Healthline, there is a relatively new treatment available called balloon sinuplasty, which is recommended for patients suffering from chronic sinusitis, after other treatments have failed. It is a simple procedure with minimal risks for complications. The balloon sinuplasty procedure does not require cutting or removal of any bones or tissue, so it is minimally invasive and doesn't carry much risk or require a long recovery time.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.