If you are suffering from recurring sinus issues such as chronic sinusitis, nasal polyp growth, or allergic rhinitis, and non-invasive medical treatment, such as decongestants, have not worked well for you, sinus surgery may be an effective option. While it is not a cure-all for sinus problems, it does provide numerous benefits and relief from exhaustion, congestion, headaches, blockages, and sinus abnormalities. If your quality of life is being heavily impacted by sinus infections, it may be time to consider sinus surgery.
What Kind of Benefits Can Sinus Surgery Have For Me?
If you choose to go ahead with sinus surgery, immediate benefits include rapid pain relief and the ability to breathe normally. From here on out, you can expect the following benefits:
1. You Will Have Reduced Facial Pain & Pressure
Sinus infections can bring about intense facial pain and pressure. You may feel this pain behind your eyes, across the bridge of your nose, or around the upper teeth. This pain and pressure is coming from your sinuses’ inability to drain the mucus freely due to inflammation or blockages in your nasal passages. Opening up the passages with sinus surgery will relieve the pressure and pain, as your sinuses will be able to drain properly.
2. Prescribed Medications May Be More Effective
After sinus surgery, the widened sinus pathways make it easier to reach the lining of the sinuses with medication during repeat sinus infections. Items like medical sprays and rinses that had little to no impact before, are much more effective as they can reach the impacted area and provide relief to you.
3. You May Experience Fewer Headaches & Infections
Another benefit of widening the sinus pathways with sinus surgery is the decreased risk of developing blockages that cause sinus infections in the first place. In maintaining proper airflow and drainage, not only is there reduced pressure and pain in the face, but there are fewer headaches as a result.
4. You Will Gain Relief from Fatigue & Inadequate Sleep
When you are unable to breathe properly through the nasal passages, this can impede your ability to sleep, causing major fatigue and general exhaustion. One of the remarked improvements that chronic sinusitis sufferers comment on is their improved quality of life due to improved sleep. Sinus surgery provides relief from fatigue by reducing facial pain and pressure and alleviating congestion.
5. You May Have Reduced Symptoms of Bad Breath (Halitosis)
If the use of decongestants or nasal sprays has little to no impact on your congested sinuses, you may resort to breathing through your mouth. If this is done over a long period of time, as is the case with those who suffer from chronic sinusitis, you may develop a condition called dry mouth. With dry mouth, bacteria are given the chance to proliferate at a rapid rate due to the lack of saliva in the mouth (there is nothing to wash away food debris and mucus). As bacteria grow and consume the “food” available, they produce volatile sulfur compounds which emit a noxious odor. This is what causes you to have bad breath. Sinus surgery will open up the nasal passages, allowing you to breathe better through your nose, thus eliminating your dry mouth and the bacteria that comes with it.
6. Your Risk for Dental Problems Decreases
If you suffer from dry mouth, as noted in the above point, the lack of saliva in the mouth will allow oral debris, acid, and food particles to stick to your teeth and gums. This will wear down the protective enamel coating on your teeth, which can lead to the development of dental problems such as cavities and gum disease. In opening up your ability to breathe through your nose, sinus surgery can eliminate or reduce your dry mouth so that you have enough saliva to prevent enamel breakdown.
