Sometimes short headlines can’t say what you really want them to say. Sinus surgery can improve your quality of life, but only if you have a condition that needs it, right?
If you live with chronic sinus infections or inflammation, sinusitis, you’ve likely tried many treatments or therapies to get relief. Sometimes, the only option is surgery though and this is proving to be quite a boon for many people who need it. In fact, according to a new study, over 3/4 of patients who needed endoscopic sinus surgery had good results.
Endoscopic surgery involves using very small instruments that reach into the sinuses, allowing surgeons to operate without having to make incisions. These types of surgeries are called minimally invasive surgeries.
Chronic sinusitis or rhinosinusitis (CRS) is defined as a condition where symptoms persist for more than three months, despite medical treatment. Statistics show that it affects about 14% to 16% of the American population. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, CRS is a problem that is the most common chronic illness seen in Americans.
Symptoms of CRS include:
- stuffy nose,
- sinus pain and pressure
- headache
- sneezing
On top of being uncomfortable, CRS can affect the bottom line economically. There is not only the amount of money spent on treatments and therapies, but lost work and productivity.
People who live with CRS often have, believe it or not, more overall body pain than and less social contact than people who live with more serious health issues, such as heart failure, COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) or back pain.
To understand how effective surgery can be on patients with CRS, researchers examined 302 patients and followed them for about 18 months after. The results of the study were published in the most recent issue of the journal Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery.
What the results showed was that a majority of the patients, between 72% and 76%, showed significant improvements in their quality of life after having the surgery.
Of course, not all patients are candidates for surgery and not all patients can be helped with this type of surgery, but the results are promising for many, particularly patients who are suffering with CRS and who are trying to decide if they should go ahead and have the procedure done.
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Image: MorgueFile.com
Post from: Blisstree