SINUS RELIEF IS JUST A BALLOON AWAY

from Healthy Living January 2017

Not Your Average Retirement Community Fare…

Chronic sinus problems and allergies are a nuisance, or even more, to many people, greatly impacting the quality of their life. In central Florida, there are a host of allergy and sinus producing triggers. Many are taking some form of allergy or sinus medication too often, or all of the time. Frequently, medication can manage the symptoms enough of the time. Many, though, have chronic headaches, congestion, drainage problems, and even a lack of a sense of smell and taste which affects the quality of their life such as time missed from work or the enjoyment of daily activities. Most chronic sinus and nasal problems begin because the sinus openings become narrowed or blocked. Medication is designed to re-open those passageways. Sometimes medication does not work. Many people believe that they will have to live with their sinus problems.

Options for people whose sinus infection symptoms do not improve with maximum medical therapy include traditional telescopic sinus surgery to open the sinuses to improve ventilation and congestion symptoms which requires general anesthesia and having this performed in a hospital. Balloon sinus dilatation was developed as a more minimally invasive method to provide the same relief which can be performed in the ofﬁce with local anesthesia.

Balloon sinuplasty is an FDA approved, insurance approved, catheter based system for providing an “angioplasty” to the narrow sinus openings, re-establishing improved ventilation and drainage. When the balloon is inﬂated, it gently restructures the passageways of the sinus openings without damaging the surrounding tissue. This procedure is frequently performed in the ofﬁce, with just topical and local anesthesia, thus eliminating the need to go to the hospital for general anesthesia, minimal time away from work or regular activities, minimal discomfort, and no need for sinus packing as with some traditional procedures. There is long term follow-up that reveals excellent reduction in symptoms and high patient satisfaction. The doctors at Lake ENT have been performing balloon sinuplasty for more than 5 years, achieving excellent results for their patients, enabling them to return to a better quality of life, literally smelling the roses in their life again.