NE Valley Times

• Sinusitis sufferers could be at risk for heart disease if they don't seek treatment.
• Multiple studies have shown that acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis can potentially lead to stroke.
• A balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can help sinus sufferers and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke.

Many sinusitis sufferers are unaware of the correlation between chronic sinusitis and inflammation, but Dr. Franklyn Gergits of Sinus and Allergy Wellness Center of North Scottsdale told NE Valley Times that this correlation can put patients at a higher risk for having a stroke or a heart attack.

"The inflammatory changes that take place inside the sinus cavities can be similar to the inflammatory conditions that can take place with undiagnosed dental infections and cavities," Gergits said. "When there's extra inflammation inside the body, the body handles that in different ways. Sometimes that inflammation can present itself to the blood vessels, and that could cause strokes. It could cause heart attacks."

According to Next Avenue, sinusitis causes inflammation in the sinus cavities, which, if left untreated, can lead to an increased risk for stroke, heart disease, neurological disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes. For this reason, it's critical that patients who are suffering from sinusitis seek treatment before they develop irreversible negative effects.

According to a research article published by the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy in 2012, a study found that acute and chronic sinusitis are risk markers for strokes and are completely different from traditional stroke markers. According to a research article published by PLoS ONE in 2018, data from a national cohort study revealed that chronic sinusitis consistently increases the risk of having a stroke, regardless of demographic.

Healthline reported that a balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended to people suffering from chronic sinusitis, after other treatments were found to be ineffective. The procedure is fairly straightforward with no cutting or removal of bones or tissue, and reported complications are minimal. Following a balloon sinuplasty, many patients are able to return to their daily activities within one to two days. Some patients are even healthy enough after the procedure to drive themselves home.

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