Major depression affects 7.1% of the U.S. population. | PxHere.com
Major depression affects 7.1% of the U.S. population. | PxHere.com
Studies showing a link between chronic sinusitis and symptoms of depression dovetail with a report showing that depression frequently presents with other illnesses and medical conditions.
Chronic sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses that lasts for more than three months and comes with symptoms such as green or yellow nasal discharge, fever, irritated or puffy eyes and a cough that worsens at night.
Depression is a medical illness that “causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed,” according to the American Psychiatric Association.
“The research shows that there is a connection between chronic sinusitis and depression. We see more people (who) have depression and have chronic sinusitis." Dr. Daniel Mongiardo, a board-certified otolaryngologist with the Dr. Daniel Mongiardo Sleep and Sinus Center, told the NE Kentucky News.
Approximately 17.3 million American adults aged 18 and older, or about 7.1%, have Major Depressive Disorder, according to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, which also reported that “Depression often co-occurs with other illnesses and medical conditions.”
Depression has resulted in worsening of chronic sinus symptoms and quality of life, according to the American Journal of Rhinology said. A review of 320 patients with sinus symptoms showed that 26% of them had depression and that the depressed patients had “significantly worse pain and energy level and difficulty with daily activities.”
A study of almost 50,000 people in an insurance review showed that during an 11-year follow-up, people with chronic sinusitis had higher incidences of depression and anxiety, and that “patients without nasal polyps seem to be at a higher risk of developing depression and anxiety,” according to JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
“Depression in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is underdiagnosed but significantly impacts treatment outcomes and health care utilization,” according to the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy.
Treatment options for chronic sinusitis include balloon sinuplasty, which is a minimally invasive endoscopic medical procedure that uses a tiny balloon inserted into the nasal cavity to expand the sinuses and help patients breathe better, Healthline explained.
If you are struggling with chronic sinusitis with depression and want to learn more about treatment options, take our Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.
Alerts Sign-up