South Palm Beach Today

• People suffering with chronic sinusitis often experience low-quality sleep.

• Having chronic sinusitis increases  a person's risk of developing sleep apnea.

• Sleep apnea, in turn, increases the risk of stroke, heart failure and heart disease.

Sixty to 75% of chronic sinusitis patients also suffer from poor sleep, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. In comparison, only 8 to 18% of people who do not have chronic sinusitis experience poor sleep quality or sleep disruption. Sleeping poorly is connected to an overall lower quality of life, as well as a higher risk of depression.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis can experience symptoms, such as congestion and coughing, which make it more difficult to breathe while sleeping, leading to a risk of developing sleep apnea, according to Silent Night Therapy. People who have sleep apnea might wake up in the middle of the night gasping for air, experience headaches in the morning and feel fatigued throughout the day.

Sleep apnea is more likely to affect men and those who are overweight, according to the American Heart Association. People who have sleep apnea face an increased risk of heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, diabetes, liver problems and stroke. In the U.S., heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death.

"We know that chronic sinus disease worsens sleep. We also know that bad sleep is horrible for the mind. We know that if you're not getting a good night's sleep, your risk for Alzheimer's disease starts to go through the roof," Dr. Cody Aull of West Palm Beach Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told South Palm Beach Today. "A small amount of sleep is a huge problem. I don't know about you, but I've never been able to sleep if I can't breathe through my nose. So we fix that. You need to see somebody so that we can fix the real problem and get better sleep for you. It correlates with absolutely everything. So helping your sinuses can help a myriad of different things."

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several surgical treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to Web MD. 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 your recovery should be relatively fast and easy. Endoscopy is usually done with a local anesthetic, meaning the area will be numb and the patient remains awake.

Another relatively new treatment is balloon sinuplasty, which is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses. The doctor inserts a thin 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 and allowing the patient to breathe better.

If you're interested in learning more about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.