Stop the sinus pain with Balloon Sinuplasty

There are three types of patients that can be helped with balloon sinuplasty. Patients with chronic sinusitis, infection lasting for more than three months are good candidates. Studies show that about 94% can have a successful resolution after this treatment. Patients with recurring sinus infection, having 5 or more per year, can also benefit. Studies show a dramatic reduction in the frequency of sinus infections, doctor visits, and antibiotic treatment after balloon sinuplasty. Lastly, patients with chronic sinus headaches only temporarily relieved by allergy therapy and decongestants are also candidates. Even migraine sufferers that are triggered by sinus pressure can get great relief. Daniel Slaughter, MD

The Problem with Nasal Polyps

Patients suffering from nasal polyps have many questions. This frustrating medical condition causes chronic sinus infections and chronic severe congestion. Sometimes the polyps can be so severe that they will be visible hanging out of the nose. There are two main causes of nasal polyps. They occur secondary to persistent sinus infection that doesn't resolve with medical treatment. The chronic inflammation from the infection causes swelling and eventual polyp formation. Successful treatment of the infection and removal of the polyps has an excellent chance of a long term cure without polyp recurrence. This is typically performed with a simple office procedure called balloon sinuplasty. Allergy can also produce polyps. Although surgical therapy can help alleviate the polyps they will tend to recur if the allergy is not managed well. Nasal sprays, antihistamines and immunotherapy can be used to help prevent the recurrence. A visit with an ENT doctor can help identify the cause and help develop a long term plan for success. Daniel Slaughter, MD

Saving Sinuses with Saline

If you're one of the millions of Americans dealing with sinus problems, you know how miserable facial pain and clogged nasal passages can be. Many sinus sufferers have turned to nasal saline irrigation, a therapy that uses a salt and water solution to flush out the nasal passages. Many people with sinus symptoms from allergies and environmental irritants use the Neti pot, or other nasal irrigation device, to alleviate congestion, facial pain and pressure. Research backs up these claims, finding that nasal irrigation can be an effective way to relieve sinus symptoms when used along with standard sinus treatments. Nasal irrigations thin mucus and help flush it out of the nasal passages. They may also be effective at removing allergens and other irritants that cause sinus problems. Other typical treatments used with nasal irrigations include allergy medications such as antihistamines, decongestants, and nasal steroids. Patients with persistent nasal obstruction or sinus congestion despite these therapies may benefit from simple clinic procedures such as turbinate reduction to open the nasal airway and balloon Sinuplasty to open blocked sinus passages. If these procedures are appropriate for you, your ENT surgeon will typically use nasal saline irrigations postoperatively to expedite the healing process. Nasal saline irrigations are effective tool used by patients and physicians alike to treat chronic sinonasal complaints. Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Do I have a bacterial sinus infection or cold virus?

Now that school is back in session, we will begin to see lots of upper respiratory infections. Some of these will run their course and resolve without therapy, others should be treated, but how do you tell the difference? The basic distinction between these illnesses is viral versus bacterial, but it is usually very difficult to tell them apart. Both can cause cough, fever, discolored nasal discharge, sore throat, and headache. We generally recommend that viral upper respiratory illnesses be treated without antibiotics, instead using medications to treat the symptoms. Decongestant medications like Sudafed, cough suppressants, and mucus thinners like guaifenesin can be helpful. The viral upper respiratory illnesses will usually get better between five and seven days later, while bacterial infections last longer. In many instances, we first get sick with a viral infection, and a bacterial infection will take over after about five or six days. As you can tell, the timing of the infection is usually how we differentiate the two. It is possible to take cultures, and look for bacteria under the microscope when the illness is severe. Obviously there are other illnesses that can have some of the same symptoms mentioned above, even allergies can mimic one of these two illnesses; however, if you have a nasal/sinus infection that isn’t getting better after 5-6 days, it’s time to see the doctor. If you are getting these types of infections more than twice a year, it’s time to see your friendly neighborhood ENT doctor. Christopher Thompson, MD

Does balloon Sinuplasty replace traditional sinus surgery?

I am often asked if Balloon Sinuplasty has replaced traditional endoscopic sinus surgery. As with most things, the answer is not black or white. The simple answer is Balloon Sinuplasty does replace the need for traditional endoscopic sinus surgery in the majority of chronic sinusitis patients. Traditional endoscopic sinus surgery was developed in the mid-80s. This procedure uses a fiber-optic endoscope to visualize the sinus drainage pathways. Special sinus instruments are then used to remove specific tissues which open the sinus drainage pathways. The procedure has improved significantly since the 80s, but still requires general anesthesia, tissue removal, and about a week of postoperative recovery time. Balloon Sinuplasty was FDA approved in 2005 and has been increasing in popularity since that time. About one third of otolaryngology physicians have adopted and trained to perform balloon Sinuplasty to treat chronic sinus patients. In this procedure, a balloon is placed in the sinus drainage pathway and used to dilate the natural opening. There is no need for general anesthesia, there is no tissue removal, and recovery time is measured in hours instead of days. Studies have shown that in the properly selected patient, the success rate is equal to traditional endoscopic sinus surgery and other studies have shown the benefit to be long lasting. The big question is who are the right patients for balloon Sinuplasty? Patients that benefit from this procedure typically have multiple sinus infections each year, frequent sinus pressure, frequent headaches – usually above and below the eyes, and general nasal congestion. Which patients are better served by traditional endoscopic sinus surgery? These patients typically have severe sinus disease. Two common examples are patients with severe nasal polyps and patients with chronic fungal sinus infections. In my practice, this represents about 10% of my chronic sinusitis patients. These two findings are very easily diagnosed by an experienced otolaryngologist and balloon Sinuplasty would not be recommended. Balloon Sinuplasty is a simple clinic procedure that can be used to treat the majority of patients with chronic sinus complaints at a fraction of the risk associated with traditional sinus surgery. If you feel you may be a candidate for balloon Sinuplasty, be sure to locate an otolaryngologist who is familiar and experienced with all treatment options to treat chronic sinus issues. Zachary Wassmuth, MD

How does having chronic sinusitis affect my health?

We are all familiar with the symptoms we have with chronic sinusitis. Facial pressure, headache, fatigue, congestion. There's plenty of reason to get this problem resolved. You may not be aware of how it can affect other aspects of your health. Chronic sinusitis causes significant worsening of asthma. Many times adults may develop asthma for the first time secondary to persistent sinusitis. Patients may also developed pneumonia because of persistent sinusitis which could require hospitalization. Sinusitis also causes middle ear infections, fluid, and hearing loss. Because the brain and eyes are so close to the sinuses, sinusitis can also cause serious complications such as meningitis and eye infections resulting in vision loss. Modern techniques make successful correction of chronic sinusitis easy and safe allowing patients to end the suffering and avoid the risk to their overall health. Daniel Slaughter, MD

Why does nasal congestion make me snore?

We have all experienced a terrible night sleep during a cold or allergy season. The congestion and mouth breathing results in a significant amount of difficulty going to sleep and frequent awakenings throughout the night. Nasal congestion actually causes an increase in the velocity and turbulence of the airflow. We have all seen what happens when we narrow the opening of the garden hose by putting our thumb over the opening. The narrowed opening causes an increase in the velocity of the water flowing. This same basic principle is true when we have nasal obstruction as well. The suction of air into our nose being forced through the congested nasal airway makes the airflow much more rapid. When the rapid air reaches the back of our throat the collapsible structures which include the soft palate, tonsils, and base of tongue will vibrate significantly producing snoring. In addition to snoring the airway may actually collapse because of this rapid airflow going through this collapsible segment in our throat. This collapse, which is called apnea, will wake us up out of deep sleep into a lighter level of sleep. The lighter level of sleep does not provide the physical or mental rest necessary to feel good and perform well the next day. If a patient has chronic nasal congestion, and associated chronic episodes of apnea, it is likely they will develop significant associated medical issues such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes. Specialists which focus on the ear nose and throat can perform a thorough evaluation of your nasal congestion complaints. Correction of these complaints provide significant benefit during the daytime and during exercise but will also have a very positive effect on reducing snoring and reducing the risk of apnea. Put simply, correcting your chronic nasal congestion, can provide a much higher quality sleep. Daniel Slaughter, MD

What is Balloon Sinuplasty?

It’s a beautiful day in Austin Texas, but unfortunately the allergy forecast has called for high mold counts. Despite allergy medications, you know that sinus pressure and a sinus headache are in the forecast for you as well. Others may have bigger problems with ragweed, cedar, or oak. Many people dread barometric pressure changes while others fight recurrent sinus infections with antibiotic after antibiotic. Is there anything that can be done? For many years, patients with the above complaints either had simple treatment such as allergy medications and antibiotics or aggressive treatment that included sinus surgery. In 2005, the FDA approved balloon Sinuplasty. Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that relieves pain and pressure associated with sinus inflammation. It also effectively treats chronic sinusitis patients who are not responding to medications such as antibiotics, nasal steroids, or other sinus medications. Using balloon catheters similar to the ones used in angioplasty, the otolaryngology surgeon is able to dilate blocked sinus drainage pathways. Opening the sinus drainage pathway using balloon Sinuplasty helps drain mucus and restore normal sinus drainage without cutting, bleeding, or any significant risk to the patient. This approach also preserves the natural structure of the sinuses. Balloon Sinuplasty is typically performed in the clinic setting under mild sedation. It takes about 15 minutes to dilate the sinuses. Since there is no cutting or bleeding, nasal packing is not necessary after the procedure. Most patients are back to work in under 48 hours. Interestingly, not only do most patients get immediate relief from their sinus complaints, but they also note improvement in their nasal breathing as a side effect of the procedure. Studies have shown that the sinus dilation is not short-lived and most patients can expect permanent relief. In similar studies, over 95% of patients noted improvement of their sinus complaints and over 95% of patients stated they would undergo balloon Sinuplasty again if necessary. If sinus problems are a constant part of your life, evaluation by an otolaryngologist who specializes in balloon Sinuplasty may be the next step to improved sinus health. Zachary Wassmuth, MD

I decided to start running again but I can hardly breathe! What's the story?

Since Austin is one of the fittest cities in the country as well as one of the most prone to sinus and nasal problems, it is not surprising that they frequently conflict with one another. Whether you like to run, cycle, swim or any other aerobic exercise, sinus and nasal problems can definitely slow you down. You should be consistently breathing through the nose during aerobic exercise, and that's because the nose provides important humidification to the air entering the lungs. If you're not moving air through the nose, your compromising your performance. Limited nasal airflow can be the result of swelling in the nose, or structural abnormalities such as a deviated septum or nasal polyps. The first step is to identify the problem, and then apply the proper remedy. Sometimes, it's as simple as a daily nasal spray; other problems require surgery to provide lifelong improvement of the nasal breathing. If you are one of the people pulling down the average fitness level of Austin, you might be able to blame your nose. Christopher Thompson, MD

Recurring sinus issues after sinus surgery

Traditional sinus surgery uses special instruments to remove tissue in an effort to open sinus drainage pathways and resolve chronic sinusitis. The surgery is very effective at opening the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. Many physicians do not treat the sphenoid sinus during initial sinus surgeries, and frontal sinuses are very difficult to effectively treat with traditional sinus surgery methods. The most common persistent symptom after traditional sinus surgery is headaches. Frontal headaches and retro-orbital headaches are typically related to untreated, or poorly treated frontal and sphenoid sinuses during traditional sinus surgery. Advances in sinus treatment have led to significant improvements in treating these sinuses. Balloon Sinuplasty is very effective at treating persistent narrowing in the sphenoid sinus and frontal sinuses. This will significantly decrease infections and pressure headaches in these sinuses. Even better, the revision balloon procedure is a simple clinic procedure that will require no packing. Recovery is easy with most patients returning to work the next day. Success rates are over 90%. Chronic sinusitis has a known 10% recurrence rate after traditional sinus surgery. Many of these patients will be good candidates for simple Balloon Sinuplasty revision. Evaluation by an otolaryngologist familiar with balloon technology is the first step to resolving your recurrent symptoms. Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Is my sinus infection immune to antibiotics?

Patients who get recurring sinus infections have real concerns about using so many antibiotics. They are not just concerned about the side effects and the cost but also the risk that these important medicines will no longer be effective. It's not actually the patient that becomes immune but the particular bacteria. Bacteria have sensitivity to some antibiotics and resistance to others. After repeated exposure to antibiotics the bacteria can actually learn to become resistant making the antibiotic ineffective. This is why it is important to follow some important steps when treating with antibiotics. Viral infections should not be treated with antibiotics. Your clinician can help you determine if the infection is bacterial. Treatment should be based on an accurate culture of the infection if possible. Nasal endoscopy can be used to accurately and painlessly obtain a sinus culture in the office setting by an ENT physician. Therapy should be long enough and strong enough to resolve the infection. Weak or short courses tend to create resistant bacteria. Confirmation that the infection has been resolved is also important. Frequently the patient will feel better but may still be carrying a low grade infection. Imaging or repeat culture can be done if there is doubt that the infection has resolved. Lastly, if the infections continue to recur quickly after treatment there must be an evaluation to see if there is an underlying chronic sinus infection with obstruction of the outflow tracts. Simple procedures such as balloon sinuplasty can resolve the obstruction and make the antibiotic therapy successful. Using these guidelines you can be assured that your antibiotic treatment will be effective and safe. Daniel Slaughter, MD

Do you have a sinus infection or a chronic sinus infection?

Sinusitis affects over 40 million Americans each year. For those with acute sinusitis, medical therapy is effective and appropriate. For patients with chronic sinusitis, more aggressive medical therapy may resolve the pathology, but intervention by an otolaryngologist is often necessary. Acute sinusitis is defined as an infection causing inflammation of the sinuses lasting less than four weeks. Typical symptoms include sinus pain, pressure, and headaches, increased colored nasal drainage, nasal obstruction, maxillary tooth pain, and often fever. Most of these infections start as an upper respiratory tract infection that does not seem to improve. Typically viral upper respiratory infection symptoms that persist or worsen at 5 to 7 days represent an acute sinus infection. Routine sinus antibiotics are indicated for this condition. Chronic sinusitis is one of the more prevalent chronic illnesses in the United States, affecting persons of all age groups. It is an inflammatory process that involves the sinuses and persists for 12 weeks or longer. Most cases of chronic sinusitis are continuations of unresolved acute sinusitis; however, chronic sinusitis usually manifests differently from acute sinusitis. Symptoms of chronic sinusitis include nasal stuffiness, postnasal drip, facial fullness, and malaise. Chronic sinusitis is often related to infection and anatomic obstruction in the sinus drainage pathways, but can be caused by allergy, cystic fibrosis, and immunologic disorders. Medical therapy is directed toward controlling predisposing factors, treating concomitant infections, and reducing edema of sinus tissues. Surgical therapy involves opening sinus drainage pathways. The most common procedure to accomplish this is Balloon Sinuplasty. In this procedure, a balloon is used to dilate the sinus openings to improve sinus drainage. This is a simple clinic procedure which is 90% effective in resolving the chronic problems. If chronic sinusitis seems to be affecting your quality of life, the otolaryngology physician has both medical and simple surgical interventions to resolve your symptoms. Zachary Wassmuth, MD

We at Capital Otolaryngology strive to offer our patients cutting edge technology for healthy hearing. We are now pleased to offer the newest in hearing aid technology: GN Resound LINX hearing aids which sync via a 2.4 gigahertz band with iPhones, iPad and iPod Touch. These hearing aids can stream phone calls, FaceTime chats, music, movies and even navigation directly from your iPhone. These hearing aids offer cutting edge noise suppression, compression and dynamic sound processing in order to provide clear speech information to the user. When streaming from your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch, you hear what you want to hear, corrected for your hearing loss. It’s the best of both worlds, a hybrid technology built for today’s wireless lifestyle. Apple had hearing aid users in mind when they created iOS 7 featuring accessibility that turns your iPhone into a microphone in difficult listening situations. LINX is a powerful new tool for hearing aid users, setting it apart from the competitors. Let us provide you with the most enjoyable listening experience available. Please contact our office to schedule a hearing aid evaluation and learn more about the latest in wireless technology.

Why Does my ENT perform a Nasal Endoscopy and request a CT scan? Are they both necessary?

An otolaryngologist has very special training in the detailed anatomy of the nasal cavity and the sinuses. They also have been trained to identify correctly what different diseases look like inside the nose and sinuses. All of this knowledge isn’t very useful without a technique to get a good exam of these areas. Most of us have had the experience of our primary care doctor shining the light at the entrance to our nose as part of their exam. In truth, very little except the obvious can be identified by this exam. Their nasal or sinus diagnoses is basically based on symptoms and unfortunately this is not very reliable. An otolaryngologist uses a nasal endoscope in the office to obtain a magnified detailed examination of the nasal anatomy and the sinus. This is frequently performed along with a sinus CAT scan which looks at the bony openings of the sinus cavities and the sinuses themselves. This is similar to a primary care doctor feeling your abdomen to identify what is causing intestinal complaints versus a gastroenterologist doing a colonoscopy and a barium enema. The use of these types of tools by a specialist greatly increases the ability of the physician to correctly identify the diagnoses and provide the relief the patient needs. Daniel Slaughter, MD

Does it seem like your sinus issues are getting worse every year?

This is a very common complaint for Austin’s sinus sufferers. The over the counter medicines just don’t seem to provide the relief they did just a few years ago and the prescription medicines may not be providing the relief you expected. There are several explanations for this common complaint. Allergies do actually worsen over time. Allergy is a strong immune response to the allergen. Subsequent exposure year after year can cause a progressively stronger immune response. Starting on effective allergy therapy prior to your bad season is much more effective than trying to catch up once you are already suffering. Immunotherapy can also be a big help to provide a reduced immune response. Anatomical problems in the nose also tend to worsen over time. Even a small nasal injury many years ago can result in progressive deviation of the septum inside the nose and progressive swelling of the turbinates as well. The space for air to pass freely can be reduced each year making the medicines feel less effective. An evaluation by an ENT doctor can answer whether the anatomy may be the main issue. Correction with minor surgical procedures is quick and easy with modern techniques. Your worsening sinus complaints can actually be an ongoing chronic sinus infection. It’s hard for the patient to tell the difference between chronic infection and allergies and the proper treatment plan is completely different. If allergy therapy that previously provided relief isn’t working, it is worthwhile to consider sinusitis as the possible diagnosis. A MiniCat xray can be performed in an office setting to rule out sinusitis. Anatomical issues would also be identified with this image. Therapy can be provided specific to the bacteria or mold infection based upon cultures performed in an office setting. Like my professor used to say..”if its hard you are doing it wrong”. If you aren’t getting the response you need from your sinus complaints, consider these possible causes to find your solution. Daniel Slaughter, MD

Enjoy the Spring Weather without all the Sinus Pressure and Congestion

Spring is upon us. Seems like we just got relief from cedar season and now oak pollen has started. Let's talk about the best strategy to enjoy the nice spring weather this year without all the sinus pressure and congestion. Prevention is important. Follow the allergy counts and avoid the outside on extremely high count days. Run the recirculate on your car air conditioning to avoid the outside while driving. Rinse your nose with saline solution after exposure to wash away the pollen before you react. Over the counter antihistamines can be taken nightly as an excellent prevention. Prescription medications such as nasal steroids sprays and nasal antihistamine sprays are very effective for both prevention and treatment. A taper of steroids or a steroid "shot" given by your physician can be a life saver in severe cases. If you develop a sinus infection with your allergies early treatment with a decongestant and possibly an antibiotic may be necessary. With these guidelines Austin's outdoor enthusiasts can feel free to enjoy our beautiful spring weather. Daniel Slaughter, MD

Sinus Issues can Cause Snoring

Ever notice that sinus congestion can give you a bad nights sleep? There are so many medications over the counter trying to offer some relief and a good nights sleep for people with sinus congestion. Actually, there are studies demonstrating that chronic sinus issues and nasal blockage can lead to a disease called upper airway resistance syndrome. Patients suffering from this condition have snoring, sleep fragmentation, and have less of the deep sleep required to repair the body and the mind. Longterm it can even lead to heart disease and memory issues. There are now minimally invasive techniques such as balloon sinuplasty and turbinate reduction that can be performed as simple office procedures to relieve chronic sinus issues. Patients can enjoy the improved breathing during the day and rest assured that there sleep quality will make them ready for the day to come. If you have sinus issues and snoring, seek a consultation with an Ear, Nose, and Throat physician to review options that may work for you. Daniel Slaughter, MD

Why our patients love the SNOT20

Although not part of the normal coffee shop discussion, most of us ear nose and throat physicians find humor in the name Snot 20. This refers to a questionnaire that our patients, suffering from sinus and nasal problems, complete before and after treatment. They like it so much, that we put an interactive version of this questionnaire on our website (www.nscaustin.com) so that those suffering from sinus and nasal problems can put a number to their suffering! The acronym stands for the sinonasal outcome test, which makes sense, but this naming was clearly manipulated for humor. The purpose of this test is to try to numerically evaluate the severity of the sinus and nasal problems. Fortunately, the test seems to correlate very well, and is a wonderful way for us to measure how bad you feel and how much better you feel after we fix the problem. Our patients have always been extremely appreciative after we fix problems that have often been present for many years. However, we were unable to put a number to this improvement. With the SNOT 20, we can not only better understand our individual patients, we can now look at a broad cross-section of our patients to better understand trends. As we have more patients taking the questionnaires, we will also be able to accumulate data which will help future patients decide which course of therapy they would like to pursue. This is a very exciting time in our field with our new ability to fix sinus and nasal problems surgically in the office with minimal downtime. Our patients see the value of the therapy, and now we can begin to show them numerically, how much improvement they, and other patients like them, are enjoying. Christopher Thompson, MD

Not all congestion is Allergies

Look at any list of allergy capitals the US, and Texas will always be well represented. Surprisingly, not all nasal congestion is caused by seasonal allergies. More than half of the patients that I treat with self-diagnosed allergies actually have another diagnosis causing their nasal complaints. Most patients with typical seasonal allergies will have absolutely no nasal complaints except when their particular allergen is present. Cedar, which is pollinating now, is probably one of the worst central Texas allergens. Most patients will complain of itchy eyes, watery eyes, sneezing, clear nasal congestion, and nasal obstruction from nasal inflammation. When cedar season is over, patients with cedar allergies should have complete resolution of their symptoms. Many patients complain of nasal and sinus symptoms year-round. It is still possible that allergies to mold and dust will give the symptoms, but more commonly it is for other reasons. Patients who have unilateral nasal obstruction year-round most frequently have a nasal septal deviation which can be resolved with a simple 20 minute procedure. Patients with year-round congestion and postnasal drainage more frequently have chronic sinonasal inflammation or infection that has been undiagnosed. The correct diagnosis and proper medical therapy or balloon Sinuplasty will typically resolve these problems. Many adults will become “addicted” to topical nasal decongestants. These medications decongest the nasal turbinates, but over time have the opposite effect. Turbinate enlargement for any reason, to include allergies, can be resolved with a brief clinic procedure allowing patients to stop using oral and topical decongestants altogether as well as decrease allergy medication use. Patients that snore and have mouth breathing at night often have one or more of the above problems. Children most commonly have adenoid enlargement at the back of the nose which causes nasal obstruction, congestion, and loud breathing or restless sleep. If your child is “not responding” to allergy medications, she probably does not have allergies. Adenoidectomy will allow your child to breathe easy and sleep sound. Even if you have had positive allergy testing, a brief visit with the otolaryngologist will often times uncover diagnoses that can be permanently corrected with simple procedures alleviating long-term nasal congestion and nasal obstruction complaints. Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Cures for your aching head

There are many potential etiologies for headaches. The three most common types of headache are tension headaches, migraine headaches, and sinus headaches.

Tension headaches are obviously caused by tension and stress. These are the most common type of headache and are typically well treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen. Reducing stress as well as relaxation techniques and massage will also help.

Migraine headaches are not quite as common as tension headaches, but are often times considered to be more severe. Patients will often describe unilateral headaches with nausea and light sensitivity. Over-the-counter medications will typically include caffeine to help alleviate these vascular based headaches. Patients with severe migraines may end up on stronger medications through their physician.

Sinus headaches will cause sinus pressure most commonly in the sinuses above or below the eyes, but may affect any sinus. Patients will typically note increased symptoms with congestion, allergies, and barometric changes. Allergy treatments and decongestants are the mainstay of medical therapy.

Two less known treatment options for headaches that are becoming much more popular include Botox and balloon sinus dilation.

Botox injections help to decrease muscular tension in certain areas. Botox has been successful in tension headache treatment, but many patients with migraine headaches also obtain benefit. This simple treatment can be performed in the clinic in five minutes and if benefits are obtained, they typically last for four months.

Balloon Sinuplasty is a new innovative sinus treatment technique to improve sinus drainage. Many patients with both tension and migraine headaches will have sinus pressure as their headache triggers. By using a small balloon to dilate the natural sinus drainage pathways in a simple clinic procedure, sinus pressure can be alleviated. This alleviates sinus pressure headaches and any secondary headaches that patients may have that are related to the sinus triggers. Studies have shown excellent long-term results in resolution of patient’s sinus complaints as well as sinus related headaches.

Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Why am I so Congested?

Many people suffer from chronic nasal congestion. One of the main contributors to nasal congestion is the inferior turbinate. The inferior turbinate is a vascular structure in the nose that swells from allergies or irritation. The inferior turbinate can also be chronically enlarged without an identifiable cause.

Patients that have allergies are treated with allergy medications or allergy shots in an effort to decrease their reactivity to allergens. One of the main tissues that benefits from this treatment is the inferior turbinate. Unfortunately, some patients with allergies continue to have nasal congestion or nasal obstruction despite appropriate treatments.

Many people also take oral decongestants or topical nasal decongestants such as phenylephrine and oxymetazoline.  These medications directly shrink the blood vessels of the nose decreasing the nasal congestion. Unfortunately, these medicines are not intended to be long-term treatments and can have significant side effects.

A very effective treatment that many patients do not know about is a simple procedure called inferior turbinate reduction. The inferior turbinate reduction is performed under local anesthesia in the clinic and takes about five minutes. The inferior turbinate vasculature is directly reduced with a special instrument. By directly reducing the size and vasculature of the inferior turbinate, turbinate enlargement from any etiology is significantly reduced and symptoms of nasal congestion are therefore significantly reduced as well.    Patient satisfaction rate is well over 90%.

Although inferior turbinate reduction does not cure allergies, it will most times resolve the nasal congestion symptoms that most allergy patients experience.

A simple physical exam will help the physician determine whether you are a candidate for clinic turbinate reduction and a lifetime of improved breathing.

Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Why is my nose plugged?

Nasal congestion is one of the most common medical complaints, especially in Austin. There are quite a few things that will plug up a nose, but with a little knowledge, you can usually narrow down the possibilities.

The first thing to consider is how often you experience the problem. If your nose is always blocked, then you probably have a structural problem. These include deviated septum, polyps, tumors and enlarged turbinates (these are the humidifiers in your nose). If you can breathe normally through your nose at times without using nasal decongestant spray, you probably have an inflammatory problem. Something is causing the lining of your nose to swell, plugging your breathing passages.

Inflammatory conditions include allergies, sinus infections, non-allergic rhinitis and rare diseases. Allergies are usually associated with sneezing, watery/itchy eyes, post-nasal drainage, fatigue and clear nasal discharge. Sinus infections can be acute (sudden) or chronic (long-lasting). The acute version causes discolored nasal discharge, facial pressure/headache, loss of smell, post-nasal drainage and sometimes fever. Chronic infections are harder to diagnose because patients often get used to the symptoms. They usually cause post-nasal drainage, bad breath, facial pressure and headaches.

Every type of nasal blockage has a potential solution. Once a diagnosis is made, treatment can begin and you can begin to breathe once again.

Dr. Christopher Thompson is board-certified in Otolaryngology with a subspecialty in sleep medicine.