Hernando Reporter

• Balloon sinuplasty is a relatively new procedure.
• Of patients who receive the procedure, more than 95% see improvements of their symptoms.
• Balloon sinuplasty can improve other things, such as quality of sleep.

If you can't kick a stuffy nose, or you have sinus pressure that just won't go away, Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free encourages you to have it checked out because treating the problem early is key. 

Pate said patients have been proven to do better, have a better quality of life and fewer health complications when their symptoms are addressed early on.

"Quality of life is directly related with early intervention to chronic sinusitis," Pate said. "The earlier you treat the problems, the better you're going to feel."

A relatively new way to clear blocked sinuses is called balloon sinuplasty, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005, according to Healthline. Balloon sinuplasty, also known as the "smart sinus" procedure, has grown in popularity because the risks are lower and recovery time is shorter compared to traditional sinus surgery, Good RX noted. 

"I have so many patients who have had sinus problems for years," Pate said. "I mean, we're talking about 40, 50 years. And they come in and the facial structure is different. The bones and their sinuses are very, very firm due to the chronic inflammation. And so it's a lot harder to treat once things have progressed."

According to the NCBI, 60% to 75% of chronic sinusitis sufferers also suffer from poor sleep.

In a survey of more than 1,000 patients who underwent the procedure, more than 95% saw their symptoms improve and no one reported any adverse side effects because of balloon sinuplasty, according to Fierce Healthcare. Many patients also reported having better sleep, easier breathing, and less or no facial pain within days of having balloon sinuplasty done, Sleep Review Magazine reported.

If you believe you may suffer from chronic sinusitis and want to know your treatment options, you're encouraged to take Tampa Bay Breathe Free's online quiz to get started.