Columbus Standard

• The lifetime cost of managing acute sinusitis is $38,51.
• The management of sinusitis in the United States exceeds $11 billion per year overall.
• There are minimally invasive treatment options for sinusitis that can provide long-term results and reduce your healthcare costs in return.

Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp of Indianapolis Sinus Center said that overusing antibiotics can lead to allergies and immunities, which are expensive to treat. That's why early intervention for sinusitis may save patients' money over time.

"There's only so many different types of antibiotics in this world, and there hasn't been a whole lot of new ones coming out lately. Once you start developing allergies or immunities to these different things, then you can't use that group anymore. Then you're stuck and starting to look at the really expensive big gun IV things that require hospital stays or intravenous lines," Hollenkamp said.

Chronic sinusitis is a condition where the sinuses, the spaces inside your nose and head, become inflamed and swollen for a period of three months or more, according to the Mayo Clinic. This disrupts the normal drainage of mucus, leading to nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose. As a result, individuals may experience a stuffy nose, and the area around their eyes may feel tender and swollen. Triggers include infections, the presence of abnormal growths in the sinuses, such as nasal polyps, and inflammation of the sinus lining. Adults and children alike can be affected by this condition.

Untreated, chronic sinusitis can be expensive to address. According to a study in PubMed, the lifetime cost of managing sinusitis is $38,515. Some variables include the price of antibiotics, and the inability to work.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology reported that approximately one in eight adults in the U.S. are affected by sinusitis, with more than 30 million annual diagnoses. The management of acute and chronic sinusitis costs Americans over $11 billion each year.

Long-term, minimally invasive treatment options help to prevent constant fees, saving patients money in the long run. One such option is balloon sinuplasty, which is considered a safe and minimally invasive procedure performed by surgeons to address chronic sinusitis, according to Nuffield Health. During the procedure, doctors insert a guide wire into the nostrils, equipped with a small balloon, and navigate it to blockage area. The balloon is inflated to open the airway and provides for easier breathing.

If you think a minimally invasive sinus treatment may improve your quality of life, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.