Sinus issues can be caused by any number of issues - allergies, work environments, and even genetics. There are several medications that can be used to treat the symptoms, but many come with debilitating side effects such as drowsiness. There are homeopathic treatments, such as flushes, but these often need to be repeated frequently to be effective. Dr. Gordon Siegel, of Midwest ENT, in Chicago, IL, would like to inform you about the benefits of balloon sinuplasty.
What Are Sinuses?
Our sinuses are cavities in the front of our heads that are connected. They make and drain thin mucus that keeps the nasal cavities clean of debris and bacteria. If the mucus is prevented from draining properly, bacteria can grow and lead to infection.
This infection can be caused by drainage that is blocked due to inflammation but could also lead to inflammation that doesn’t already exist.
There are medications that can treat some of these issues, but they focus on the symptoms rather than the cause.
What is Balloon Sinuplasty?
Though the word “plasty” is commonly associated with cosmetic surgery, this is neither cosmetic nor invasive surgery. There is no cutting anything open to making this happen.
Balloon sinuplasty is performed by inserting a balloon catheter into the impacted nasal passageway. The balloon is then inflated, so as to restore normal flow without compromising the sinus walls. A saline solution is used to clean any mucus or pus from the affected sinus cavity. The catheter is removed and the passageway is left unblocked.
What Are Some Benefits of Balloon Sinuplasty?
Balloon sinuplasty helps relieve the pressure when sinus draining builds up. This pressure often leads to headaches, difficulty breathing and speaking, blurred vision and watery eyes, or even altered taste in your mouth. Frequent sinus drainage that is ingested can also lead to nausea and upset stomachs.
Balloon Sinuplasty helps to relieve all of these symptoms by focusing on the malfunctioning body part. Unlike medications that treat a symptom, this helps get to the cause. There are also no unpleasant side effects that most sinus medications can carry. The recovery time is usually less than 24 hours.
If you have any questions about whether or not balloon sinuplasty may be right for you, contact Midwest ENT in Chicago, IL, to schedule a consultation today with Dr. Gordon Siegel. Call for more information today at (312) 988-7777.