NE Valley Times

Spring is upon us, and for many individuals who suffer from sinus issues, uncomfortable days may be ahead.

“Allergies can present themselves in various forms, such as runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, etc.,” Diana Ruiloba, physician assistant at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, told the NE Valley Times. “If allergies are not addressed and managed appropriately, this may lead to sinus disease or may be amplifying the sinus disease already present.”

The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences published a new study in February that suggests climate change is affecting the pollen season -- and the longer pollen season means that allergy sufferers could have an extended period of time in which to deal with these issues.

The study looked at pollen trends in the U.S. between 1990 and 2018 and found growing pollen concentrations and longer pollen seasons. Testing climate models showed that human-caused climate change has already changed the length of the pollen season and significantly contributed to increasing pollen concentrations.

It helps to identify an issue, but it's even more important to learn how to deal with the issue. And in Arizona, there are professionals available to help allergy sufferers figure out what the issue is and how to deal with the increase in pollen.

“Allergies can be a constant struggle, especially out here in the Arizona desert and mountains. We offer two types of testing here: blood tests known as RAST (radioallergosorbent test) and a skin-scratch test,” said Dr. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers. “The scratch test, you get instant results, and a treatment plan can be coordinated immediately based on your individual test results.”

The link between allergies and sinus issues have been studied by the UCLA School of Medicine, and the study revealed that allergies were an underlying factor in 40 to 67% of patients with chronic sinusitis and in as many as 80% of patients with sinusitis in both nostrils. And an article in Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology revealed that the mucosal inflammation from allergies can block the sinuses, which could lead to a secondary infection. That could mean trouble for Arizona residents with busy lifestyles.

“A study by the National Institutes of Health showed that over a one-year period, there were up to 73 million restricted-activity days related to sinusitis and total direct medical costs of almost $2.4 billion, not including surgery or radiographic imaging. Unresolved sinusitis becomes a quality-of-life issue, taking people away from their jobs, family, friends and obligations,” Dr. John Stewart told NE Valley Times.

Luckily, there are several ways to treat these issues. If someone is curious about whether breathing issues could be chronic sinusitis, take this sinus quiz to find out how to help get a handle on these symptoms.