NE Valley Times

• Chronic sinusitis can cause poor-quality sleep, which can lead to other negative health consequences.
• Other factors that could contribute to poor sleep are stress and anxiety, an irregular sleep schedule and consuming too much alcohol or caffeine.
• Poor sleep can cause bad moods, an inability to focus and depression.

Dr. Franklyn Gergits of Sinus & Allergy Wellness Center of North Scottsdale pointed out that the symptoms of chronic sinusitis can make it difficult to get a good night's sleep.

People who are suffering from chronic sinusitis are more likely to sleep poorly, according to a study published by Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy. The study found that anywhere from 8 to 18% of the general population may have problems sleeping, while 60 to 75% of people with chronic sinusitis have problems sleeping.

"When chronic inflammation takes place inside the nose, that reduces the ability to get good-quality sleep,” Gergits told NE Valley Times. “And when that happens, sleep apnea could occur. We can sometimes see heart disease, strokes, and/or high blood pressure with untreated sleep apnea. So there's no doubt about it: If we can maximize the nasal function, we can maximize the quality of sleep as well."

The study also found that people suffering from chronic sinusitis are more likely to be depressed, suffer from a lower quality of life, have problems concentrating, experience tiredness throughout the day, and suffer from memory and productivity issues.

The Sleep Foundation found that a key sign that your quality of sleep is suffering is the length of time it takes to fall asleep. According to the website, if it takes more than 30 minutes to fall asleep and you wake up more than once during the night, have red or puffy eyes or dark circles under the eyes, it could indicate that you are being affected by your lack of sleep.

To correct the problem, the Sleep Foundation recommends that people who are having these problems set up a consistent sleep schedule, avoid watching television or looking at the phone or computer 30 minutes before retiring for the night, avoid alcohol or caffeine before bed, and engage in a relaxation regimen before bedtime. If this doesn’t do the trick, it could be time to see a doctor.

According to the Atlanta ENT Sinus & Allergy Associates, people who suffer from chronic sinusitis may elect to undergo a minimally invasive procedure to treat chronic sinusitis, which often results in an improved quality of sleep. A study of more than 500 patients who underwent the procedure had significant improvement in their sleep and quality of life.

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