South Bay Leader

• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population. 
• Experts recommend early intervention for sinusitis to reduce the risk of more serious conditions developing later.
• Balloon sinuplasty is a procedure often recommended to treat chronic sinusitis. 

While the initial symptoms of sinusitis may seem mild, they can severely diminish one's quality of life if left untreated. According to Dr. Farhad Sigari of Del Rey MD, some patients unfortunately become accustomed to the symptoms of this chronic illness. 

"Many individuals unknowingly live with chronic sinus issues and related symptoms, missing out on the potential for a significantly better quality of life," Dr. Sigari told the South Bay Leader. "It's not that they don't desire improvement. Rather, they often don't realize that their current state is abnormal."

Causes of sinusitis include viruses, bacteria, fungus, and allergies, according to the Merck Manuals. If sinusitis lasts for more than three months, it is considered to be chronic sinusitis. Symptoms of sinusitis include yellow or green drainage from your nose, pressure and pain in your face, stuffy nose, bad breath, coughing up mucus, especially at night, and sometimes fever and chills.

Serious complications can result from untreated sinusitis, including vision loss or infections in the bones and skin, according to Mayo Clinic. It is rare, but infections caused by sinusitis can even cause meningitis.

People experiencing symptoms lasting more than a week are advised to seek a physician, according to NHS Inform. An ENT specialist may initially recommend a saline solution or over-the-counter medication, or they may even prescribe antibiotics or a corticosteroid spray for more severe cases. For cases where those treatments are ineffective, the specialist might recommend sinus surgery.

Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure to clear blocked sinuses, according to Healthline. The procedure is relatively new, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis after other treatments for their condition have proven ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal.

According to Del Rey MD's website, Dr. Sigari obtained his bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California, San Diego, where he conducted research on heart disease. He attended Chicago Medical School, earning degrees in medicine, applied physiology, and pathology. During this time, Dr. Sigari received recognition, including the Dean's Award and the Alpha Omega Alpha Award. He completed his surgical internship training, specializing in otolaryngology and head and neck surgery, at the University of Chicago Hospital.