"I think most people who don't have issues with their nose or sinuses have no idea. For the unfortunate millions of people that are suffering from chronic sinus issues, all of these issues trickle down into every facet of their lives because when you're not breathing through your nose, you're not sleeping well, and then you don't have the proper energy and feel foggy all the time," Dr. Lee told Patient Daily. "Unfortunately, this happens kind of slowly and chronically, and people unfortunately accept this as the new norm and figure that most people are like this, or this is just kind of the way it is and something they got to live with. Luckily, that's not the case, and there are a lot of easy, simple things we can do to really improve a patient's quality of life."
People suffering from sinusitis may experience congestion, facial pain, headaches, toothaches, nasal drainage, a reduced ability to smell, fever, and bad breath, according to NHS Inform. People experiencing symptoms lasting longer than a week should see a physician. An ENT specialist might recommend a saline solution or over-the-counter medication. If those treatments fail to improve symptoms, they might prescribe antibiotics, corticosteroid spray, or even sinus surgery.
According to the Mayo Clinic, serious complications can result from untreated sinusitis, including vision loss or infections in the bones and skin. Patients are advised to see a doctor if symptoms last more than 10 days or fail to improve with treatment. Patients experiencing symptoms such as confusion, swelling, or fever may be facing a serious infection and should see a doctor immediately.
A study completed by the University of Michigan found 99% of 114 participants were misdiagnosed as having chronic sinusitis when their diagnosis came from the emergency department or their primary care physician. This indicates the best diagnosis comes from an inflammation specialist.
Balloon sinuplasty is most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis after other treatments have been shown to be ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is a fairly straightforward procedure with no cutting or removal of bones or tissue and reported complications are minimal. However, balloon sinuplasty is still a type of sinus surgery, and carries some of the same risks that other types of sinus surgery do.
According to Scottsdale Sinus and Allergy's website, Dr. Lee graduated from Loma Linda University School of Medicine as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Subsequently, he completed his internship and residency in otolaryngology (head and neck surgery) at the University of Southern California. Dr. Lee was recognized as one of the Valley's "Top Doctors" by Phoenix Magazine in both 2015 and 2016.
