North Panhandle News

• Loss of smell and taste is one of the physical symptoms of chronic sinusitis.
• If you're struggling with loss of smell or taste due to sinus issues, there are minimally invasive treatment options available that can address the problem.
• A balloon sinuplasty procedure is a minimally invasive treatment option that sinusitis patients can benefit from.

Sinusitis can be a problem for more than just your sinuses, and two of these problems can be loss of smell and loss of taste. Dr. Matthew Blair of Gulf Coast Breathe Free said balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can fix these issues.

"We take a small catheter that's inserted into the natural opening of the sinus and dilate that balloon, dilating the natural opening of the sinus, and then we deflate the balloon. This takes less than a minute for each sinus," Dr. Blair told North Panhandle News. "What that does is permanently open the sinuses so we can get treatment into the sinus. The sinus is then prevented from being blocked by whatever the cause may be."

Physical symptoms of chronic sinusitis can include nasal inflammation, runny nose, postnasal drainage, congestion, pain or swelling in the face, headaches, loss of smell and taste, sore throat, bad breath, and fatigue, according to Mayo Clinic.

Individuals who lose their sense of smell and taste often experience reduced appetite and suboptimal nutrition, potentially increasing their susceptibility to depression, according to Mayo Clinic. Some individuals may resort to adding excessive amounts of salt or sugar to their food in an attempt to enhance its flavor, potentially exacerbating diabetes or elevated blood sugar issues. Fortunately, if the loss of taste and smell is linked to a sinus infection or other nasal ailment, treating the infection can lead to the restoration of these senses.

A sinus procedure can help to enhance your nasal airflow, and if chronic congestion has influenced your sense of smell or taste, this intervention can provide relief in those aspects as well, according to WebMD.

Some patients are unaware of the minimally invasive options available to help with these issues, one of which is a balloon sinuplasty procedure. Balloon sinuplasty is a safe procedure utilized by surgeons to address chronic sinusitis, according to Nuffield Health. During the process, doctors insert a guide wire equipped with a small balloon into the nostrils and navigate it to the area of blockage. The balloon is then gently inflated enough to open the sinuses. This is done in-office, and recovery involves minimal downtime.