Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that usually occurs during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight. | Pexels/Lamar Belina
Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that usually occurs during the late fall and winter and is associated with shorter hours of daylight. | Pexels/Lamar Belina
• Approximately 10 million Americans experience seasonal depression, also known as seasonal affective disorder, each year.
• Chronic sinus problems can also increase the likelihood of experiencing depression.
• Depression caused by chronic sinusitis can be treated by addressing the sinus problems.
With the official start to the winter season comes less daylight and an increased likelihood of recurring sinus issues. Researchers have found that both can contribute to an increased risk of depression.
Roughly 10 million Americans experience symptoms of seasonal depression such as sadness, sluggishness and weight changes each year, Boston University reported. Dr. Cody Aull, a physician with West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, said addressing chronic sinus issues could help treat depression.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) typically occurs during the winter, when days are shorter and there is less sunlight than other times of the year, and it is more likely to affect women than men. Treatments for SAD can include light therapy or traditional treatments, such as antidepressants.
"I get excited about seeing a patient as they present their problem," Aull told the Okeechobee Times. "You can see the devastation in their eyes because they see no way to get this fixed. In a few hours, we get all the information; we can paint the picture and show them step by step how this is happening, how we're going to fix it and how they're going to get better. In some ways they are instantaneously better because you've taken the mental anguish, anxiety and depression away from them. They know that this can be taken care of, and we're going to help them."
Studies have uncovered a link between sinus problems, anxiety and depression. Physician's Weekly highlighted one study that compared patients with chronic sinus issues to those without sinus problems, over the course of 11 years, and found that those who experienced sinus problems were more than 50% more likely to develop depression or anxiety.
According to a report from Houston Advanced Nose and Sinus, as many as 25% of people who suffer from chronic sinusitis also experience symptoms of depression. Health experts say addressing the the sinus issues through medication or surgery can treat depression as well.
To evaluate your sinus or allergy symptoms, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
Alerts Sign-up