Pomona Valley News

• Both allergies and colds are more common in the fall and winter months.
• Allergies and colds can potentially develop into sinus infections.
• SoCal Breathe Free offers a range of solutions to treat the underlying conditions causing allergies or sinus infections.

Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers says that inflammation in the nose can be caused by a sinus infection or allergies. 

While most people know that experiencing allergy symptoms and common colds is more typical in the fall and winter, they may not realize that allergies and colds can develop into sinus infections, the Houston Chronicle reported. 

"Many times the inflammation is caused by chronic sinusitis and allergies," Hershcovitch told Pomona Valley News. "We offer allergy treatment and testing in our office, as well as treatment for your chronic sinus issues. Many times, we will offer nasal steroid irrigation decongestants, sometimes injections of the eustachian tube itself. And for the ones that just simply will not open, we will actually balloon dilate them to relieve the pressure, and we've found very good-long term results with this procedure."

Allergies, colds and sinus infections have many of the same symptoms, so it can be difficult to distinguish between them. Dr. Tran Locke, an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist who works at Baylor College of Medicine, said that if symptoms such as congestion last longer than 10 days, it might be time to see a doctor to determine whether a sinus infection has developed. Other symptoms could include a feeling of pressure in the face, a decreased sense of smell, tooth pain or a fever. 

Many patients find that they can improve their symptoms through medication, but for some, a minimally invasive surgery might be the best option to treat an underlying condition.

Balloon sinuplasty, also known as balloon catheter dilation surgery, is a procedure used to clear blocked sinuses, according to Healthline. This surgery is relatively new, having been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2005. It’s also commonly referred to as the “smart sinus” procedure.

According to Dr. Michael Eisemann of Eisemann Plastic Surgery Center in Houston, a balloon sinuplasty procedure takes 10 to 15 minutes, and patients usually recover inside of one to two days. Most patients can resume their normal activities in that time period, although they may experience some swelling for up to a week.

SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers provides a range of testing and treatment choices to give durable relief to people who suffer from sinus problems and allergies. The office is located on Buena Vista Street in Burbank.

If you're interested in learning more about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.