NE Valley Times

• Sinusitis has been shown to cause erectile dysfunction.

• There are other unexpected side effects of sinusitis as well.

• Sinusitis treatment can be relatively quick, and the recovery time is minimal.

Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is dedicated to helping sinusitis sufferers throughout the Scottsdale area to improve their quality of life, from sleeping to intimate relationships.

While the National Center for Biotechnology Information states that 60 to 75% of chronic sinusitis patients experience poor sleep, Yahoo! Sports reports that men suffering from the condition are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent, compared to men who don’t have sinusitis.

“If you are experiencing snoring due to nasal obstruction, a significant other may not be too pleased,” Diana Ruiloba, physician assistant at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, told NE Valley Times. “Also, lack of sleep due to not breathing well, due to sinusitis, may make you less prone to being in a positive/happy mood around your loved ones or anyone in general.”

Erectile dysfunction, which the National Institutes of Health defines as "the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse,” affects approximately 5% of men in the U.S., according to the NCBI. A study using data from more than 1 million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database found that chronic sinusitis is associated with increased risk of erectile dysfunction. The occurrence of erectile dysfunction in patients significantly decreased upon the condition being treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

In addition to an endoscopy, which entails removing blockages such as polyps and scar tissue from the sinuses, sinusitis patients can opt for a newer treatment known as balloon sinuplasty. The latter is for those who don’t need anything removed from the sinuses and involves the dilation of the sinus passageway to restore drainage and increase air flow.

Besides having issues with sleep and sex, Physicians Weekly reported those with chronic sinsuitis are 41% more likely to suffer from depression.

If you're interesting in learning more about sinusitis or balloon sinuplasty, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.