Pinellas Times

• Early intervention for sinus patients can lead to a better quality of life, while also reducing health care costs.

• Untreated sinusitis can lead to serious infections and even vision loss.

• A minimally invasive treatment option for sinusitis is a balloon sinuplasty.

Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers said seeking treatment for your sinus issues before they progress is important, as they'll be more difficult to treat in the future.

An early intervention for sinus patients not only increases their immediate quality of life, but also improves long-term relief and reduces health care costs, according to the Official Journal of the American Academy of Otolaryngology. The earlier you get treated, the less you'll be spending on other problems that can result from having sinusitis.

"Quality of life is directly related to early intervention for chronic sinusitis," Pate told Pinellas Times. "The earlier you treat the problems, the better you're going to feel. I have so many patients who have had sinus problems for years. I mean, we're talking about 40, 50 years. And they come in and the facial structure is different. The bones and their sinuses are very, very firm due to the chronic inflammation. And so it's a lot harder to treat once things have progressed. And so by treating things early, it's been shown that patients do better, have a better quality of life and have (fewer) health complications."

According to Mayo Clinic, serious complications can result from untreated sinusitis, such vision loss or infections in the bones and skin.

A minimally invasive sinus treatment option, which comes with a quick recovery time, is a balloon sinuplasty. Healthline reported that balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses. This surgery is relatively new, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It’s also commonly referred to as the “smart sinus” procedure.

After having a balloon sinuplasty, many people are able to return to their regular activities within a day or two. Some people even drive themselves home after the procedure.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.