Okeechobee Times

• Early intervention for sinus patients can lead to a better quality of life, while also reducing health care costs.

• Untreated sinusitis can lead to serious infections and even vision loss.

• A minimally invasive treatment option for sinusitis is a balloon sinuplasty.

Dr. Cody Aull of West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said some patients might not be seeking treatment because they think they're okay living with their symptoms, but they don't realize that treatment can be simple and provide them with the best quality of life they can have.

An early intervention for sinus patients not only increases their immediate quality of life, but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs, according to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The earlier you get treated, the less you'll be spending on other problems that can result from having sinusitis.

"The thing I try to highlight to patients is that we have set up something that is comprehensive and easy to accomplish and should not be a big hassle," Aull told Okeechobee Times. "You should feel like you're getting care as though you were a concierge patient. That makes it so that it's not only reasonable, but you want to treat mild or moderate symptoms.

"These patients are not going to the physician because they've either gotten tired of getting antibiotics pumped in them or they know it's not quite bad enough. Patients might think, ‘But it does affect me and I don't like it. I never really breathe through my nose, but I can live.’ I want to encourage them by saying, 'Yes, you can live, but I can give you a better quality of life for minimal time investment and maximum return.’ That's something that I really want to focus on. We're all real people here."

According to Mayo Clinic, serious complications can result from untreated sinusitis, such vision loss or infections in the bones and skin.

A minimally invasive sinus treatment option, which comes with a quick recovery time, is a balloon sinuplasty. Healthline reported that balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses. This surgery is relatively new, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It’s also commonly referred to as the “smart sinus” procedure.

After a balloon sinuplasty, many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two, according to Healthline. Some people even drive themselves home after having the procedure.

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