NE Valley Times

• Studies have shown that men who struggle with sinus issues are 50% more likely to be impotent.
• Cold and sinus medications can cause urinary retention in men and even erectile dysfunction.
• Seeking treatment from a sinus specialist can help to resolve sinusitis and other side effects.

There are many surprising symptoms that result from sinusitis, which can affect your quality of life. Dr. Franklyn Gergits of Sinus and Allergy Wellness Center says that if your sinuses are inflamed from from chronic sinusitis, your sex life could be negatively impacted.

"I think that [regarding] the quality of life, there are so many different parameters that we could spend time talking about," Gergits told NE Valley Times. "Sex life and blood flow to the organs can be negatively impacted if the sinuses and nasal cavity are chronically inflamed. If that happens, that means there's not the best blood flow to any part of the brain or the body. Sometimes erectile dysfunction or other forms of sexual dysfunction can occur when inflammatory processes take place inside the body."

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 National Center for Biotechnology Information. 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. According to the report, treating sinusitis surgically significantly decreased erectile dysfunction in patients.

Yahoo! Sports reported that men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent, compared to men who do not suffer from sinusitis, citing a report from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan. The study found that when sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses, it causes the blood vessels in men's genitals to restrict blood flow.

While some people might turn to medication to try to alleviate their sinus symptoms, remedies such as Sudafed or other cold medications can also cause erectile dysfunction, according to Men's Journal.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to WebMD. Endoscopy is a common procedure, during which doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nose. One instrument has a small camera lens that sends images back to a screen, allowing the doctor to see where the sinuses are blocked and guide the other instruments to gently remove polyps, scar tissue and other blockages.

Doctors won’t cut into the skin, so the recovery is relatively fast and easy. Endoscopy is usually done with a local anesthetic, meaning the area will be made numb and the patient remains awake.

Another newer treatment is balloon sinuplasty, which is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses. The doctor puts a narrow tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end. The doctor then guides the balloon to the blocked area inside the nose and inflates it. The balloon helps clear the passageway so the sinuses can drain properly, alleviating congestion.

To see if you might benefit from chronic sinusitis treatments, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.