Can Balloon Sinuplasty Help Manage Your Allergy Symptoms?

Posted on by Arizona Desert Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists

As you dive into your favorite spring activities, whether picnicking in Papago Park or swimming at the lake, you may also start to wonder how bad your allergy symptoms will be this year. Allergies are the sixth-leading cause of long-term illness in the United States. Not only can allergies lead to sneezing, hives and itchy eyes, but some unlucky individuals may see their nasal allergies turn into a sinus infection.

What Is a Sinus Infection?

Woman sneezing in the park.

A sinus infection is an inflammation of the tissues in the air-filled spaces behind your forehead, cheeks and nose. Symptoms of a sinus infection include facial pain, runny or stuffy nose, ear pressure, pain in the upper back teeth, postnasal drip and more. While colds are the most common cause of sinus infections, other viruses, bacteria and allergies can also result in sinus inflammation. Sinus infections are considered chronic when symptoms don’t go away within 12 weeks and recurrent when you have three or more episodes in a year.

How Can Balloon Sinuplasty Help?

Balloon Sinuplasty is a common, minimally invasive procedure used to prevent and treat chronic or recurrent sinus infections. While the procedure cannot cure allergies themselves, it is an excellent option to help mitigate the severity of your nasal symptoms, including congestion and sinus headaches. Your sinus doctor will perform the procedure using the following steps:

  1. Local or general anesthesia is administered depending on the patient.
  2. Your sinus doctor will insert a small, flexible balloon catheter into your nasal passages.
  3. They will inflate the balloon to gently widen the blocked sinus opening. This step may be repeated depending on the severity of the blockage.

Following the procedure, your sinus doctor may recommend you rest at home for 24 to 48 hours. Post-procedure care may include sleeping with your head elevated, rinsing your nostrils with a spray or sinus irrigation system and avoiding nose blowing or strenuous activity.

Balloon Sinuplasty, combined with allergen avoidance and management, is an excellent step towards a better, symptom-free spring. To learn more about how you can benefit from this easy, minimally invasive procedure, contact Arizona Desert Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists today to schedule an appointment with one of our specialists.