South DFW News

• The lifetime cost of managing acute sinusitis is $38,515
• The management of sinusitis in the United States exceeds $11 billion per year overall
• There are minimally invasive treatment options for sinusitis that can provide long term results and reduce your healthcare costs in return

Managing chronic sinusitis is expensive, but a balloon sinuplasty procedure can relieve symptoms long term and save patients money. Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free said the procedure can permanently change patients' breathing. 

"When you intervene in [a patient's] nose with balloon sinuplasty, or maybe you're doing some terminal reduction, you can also offer permanent changes to the way those sinuses drain and the way the patient breathes. I think that's exciting to be able to offer this level of treatment with decreased recoveries, in an office setting that just makes it more convenient for that patient," said Trimble.

Chronic sinusitis is a condition where the sinuses, or the spaces inside your nose and head, become inflamed and swollen for a period of three months or more, according to Mayo Clinic. This disrupts the normal drainage of mucus, leading to nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose. As a result, individuals may experience a stuffy nose, and the area around their eyes may feel tender and swollen. Triggers include infections, the presence of abnormal growths in the sinuses, like nasal polyps, or sinus lining inflammation. Both adults and children can be affected by this condition.

If chronic sinusitis goes untreated for a long period of time, the cost of care can soar. According to a study published in PubMed, the lifetime cost of managing sinusitis is $38,515. Some variables include the cost of antibiotics and patients' time away from work due the condition.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology reported that approximately one in eight adults in the U.S. are affected by sinusitis, with more than 30 million diagnoses each year. The management of acute and chronic sinusitis incurs a direct cost of over $11 billion annually.

Instead of paying constant fees, there are long term treatment options for patients that can save patients money. Balloon sinuplasty is a safe and minimally invasive procedure performed by surgeons to address chronic sinusitis, according to Nuffield Health. During the procedure, doctors insert a guide wire into the nostrils, equipped with a small balloon, navigate it to the area of blockage, and inflate it to clear the airway.

If you think you could benefit from a minimally invasive sinus treatment to improve your quality of life, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.