SC Connecticut 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.

Sinusitis causes inflammation in the sinus cavities, which, if left untreated, can cause an increased risk of stroke, heart disease, neurological disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, according to Next Avenue. Therefore, it's important for patients who struggle with these issues to seek treatment before they encounter irreversible negative effects.

Many sinusitis sufferers are unaware of the correlation between chronic sinusitis and inflammation, but Dr. Robert Weiss of CT ENT Sinus Center told SC Connecticut News that this correlation can put patients at a higher risk of having a stroke or a heart attack.

"It comes down to chronic inflammation; anywhere in the body is not good," Weiss said. "It's not good for your heart, it's not good for your blood vessels. Inflammation begets inflammation, so it can lead to some of those sorts of unpleasant and life-threatening situations."

In 2012, the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy published a study, which concluded that both acute and chronic sinusitis are risk markers for stroke, and that they are completely separate from traditional markers for stroke. Using data from the national cohort study published in PLOS One in 2018, it has been deduced that chronic sinusitis consistently increases the risk of stroke, regardless of demographic.

Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for people who are suffering from chronic sinusitis, after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. There’s no cutting and no removal of bones or tissue, making it minimally invasive, and it does not require long recovery times.

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