NE Valley Times

If you're dealing with stress and anxiety, consciously performing breathing exercises is a proven effective way to help relax, but if you try to utilize these techniques while suffering from chronic sinusitis, it can be nearly impossible.

Controlled breathing has been shown to reduce stress, increase alertness and boost the immune system, according to The New York Times.

According to Mayo Clinic, one of the main symptoms of sinusitis is a blocked or stuffy nose, which makes it difficult to breathe properly.

"I think most people who don't have issues with their nose or sinuses have no idea," Dr. Brian Lee of Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy Center told the NE Valley Times. "For the unfortunate millions of people are suffering with chronic sinus issues, all of these sinus issues trickle down into every facet of their life. Because when you're not breathing through your nose, you're not sleeping well. And when you don't have the proper energy, you feel foggy all the time."

According to Physician's Weekly, people with chronic sinusitis are 41% more likely to suffer from depression.

"This happens kind of slowly and chronically, and people unfortunately accept this as the new norm and figure, 'Well, most people are like this' or 'This is just kind of the way it is' and something they've got to live with," Lee said. "Luckily that's not the case, and there are a lot of easy, simple things we can do to really improve their quality of life."

A study conducted by the University of Washington School of Medicine found that chronic sinusitis patients exhibited decreased brain connectivity in areas of the frontal lobe that modulate cognition, introspection and response to external stimuli, according to JAMA Otolarygology-Head and Neck Surgery.