South Louisiana News

• Asthma is a common issue many sinusitis sufferers have to deal with.
• Allergies triggered by sinusitis lead to mouth breathing, which leads to airway disorders, such as asthma.

• Patients struggling with asthma caused by sinusitis are encouraged to seek minimally invasive treatment from a specialist for a better quality of life.

Sinusitis, in whatever form it may be, can lead to a plethora of different issues, including asthma. Dr. Adil Fatakia, of ENT & Allergy of New Orleans, said sinusitis issues, like asthma and allergies, are all intertwined.

"I think it's very important for people to understand that allergies and asthma are really the same thing, presenting in different parts of the body," Fatakia said. "When we think of allergies, we think of runny nose, congestion, and itchy or watery eyes. When we think of asthma, we think of shortness of breath [and] wheezing. But really, those two problems are coming from the same irritant or overactivity of our body, just in different places."

Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies, and allergy triggers can set off asthma symptoms, according to the Mayo Clinic. The immune system's response to fighting off allergens involves releasing chemicals that can lead to a runny nose, congestion or skin reactions, and those responses can affect the airways, triggering asthma symptoms. 

Allergy treatments such as immunotherapy can reduce your body's reaction to allergens over time, which will in turn decrease asthma symptoms, the Mayo Clinic reported.

People who suffer from allergies or chronic sinus problems are more likely to breathe through their mouths, but mouth breathing can lead to oral health issues, according to McCarl Dental Group. Mouth breathing dries up saliva, which then allows bacteria and plaque to build up on the teeth, which can cause cavities, gum disease and chronic bad breath. 

Regularly breathing through the mouth can also, over time, lead to strained jaw joints, snoring, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils and a higher risk for airway disorders, such as asthma, McCarl Dental Group noted.

For sinusitis patients who struggle with asthma, there's minimally invasive treatment options that can provide long lasting results. One of these treatment options is the balloon sinuplasty, which is a safe and minimally invasive procedure utilized by surgeons to address chronic sinusitis, according to Nuffield Health. During the process, doctors insert a guide wire equipped with a small balloon into the nostrils and navigate it to the area of blockage.