Could Balloon Sinuplasty Help You Sleep Better?

Chronic sinusitis can be a terribly painful condition. In my practice, I have seen many patients come to me suffering from headaches caused by pressure in their eyes, nose, cheeks and forehead. Patients with a sinus infection cough frequently, have a continuous runny nose, difficulty breathing because of their congestion, and snore which interrupts their sleep patterns.

For many people who suffer from chronic sinusitis, their symptoms can last from three months to years, as opposed to acute sinusitis which lasts for a few days to three months. Over an extended period of time, antibiotics may not work, and in those cases, patients have additional options. Today, there is a relatively new procedure to treat blocked sinus passages called Balloon Sinuplasty™ — a less-intrusive form of surgery that can be performed in a doctor’s office on an out-patient basis.

The FDA cleared this technology and it is clinically proven to be safe and effective. The procedure includes and endoscopic catheter that uses a small, flexible balloon that is inserted into the sinus passageways, and inflated. Then it gently restructures and widens the walls of the passageways, which restores the normal ability for the sinuses to drain, while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining.

Balloon Sinuplasty™ Technology is an endoscopic, catheter-based system for patients suffering from sinusitis. It uses a small, flexible, sinus balloon catheter to open up blocked sinus passageways, restoring normal sinus drainage. When the sinus balloon is inflated, it gently while maintaining the integrity of the sinus lining.

To determine if you have either acute or chronic sinusitis, and if that is the cause of your snoring, you should visit a doctor of otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat doctor) who will run a series of simple to complex tests.

Sinusitis is often caused by allergies or a physical abnormality such as a deviated septum, or malformed bone. A nose and throat exam will most likely be a starting point that will reveal potential blockages. This exam will help your doctor identify the possible abnormalities that may cause snoring. If your doctor needs a detailed image of your sinuses, he may perform a CT scan (Computerized Tomography Scan). This test provides a detailed cross-sectional image of the sinuses and can be used to help identify the severity of infection inside the sinus cavities. To determine if the cause of your sinusitis is from allergens, your doctor may refer you to an allergist for a detailed evaluation.

If you suffer from facial pain and pressure, recurring sinus infections and sinus headaches, Balloon Sinuplasty™ technology may be the answer to your chronic sinusitis. Contact your doctor today and schedule an examination, or if you’re in the New York City area, feel free to contact the Manhattan Snoring and Sleep Center for expert diagnosis.

Dr. Volpi is the founder of the Manhattan Snoring and Sleep Center, and has had a private ear, nose and throat practice in New York City for more than 20 years. He and his medical staff at Otolaryngology Associates are board-certified surgeons and members of New York’s finest teaching hospitals.
 
This article is intended for general information only is in no way intended to be a substitute for receiving direct medical advice from a medical professional, their diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions regarding a medical condition, or if you suspect you may have a snoring disorder, contact your physician. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. 

Brain Damage from Snoring?

Brain Damage from Snoring?

Snoring from sleep apnea can have dangerous consequences. For years physicians have known that chronic snoring can cause daytime symptoms of fatigue that affect cognitive function and memory loss due to the interruption in sleep it causes. A new study out of Australia from the Institute for Breathing and Sleep at Melbourne’s Austin Health reveals not just an impact in function. Snoring while you sleep could be the cause of brain damage.

During the Australian study, brain scans of 60 people in their mid 40’s who were recently diagnosed with sleep apnea, a common sleep disorder, showed “a decreased amount of gray matter” compared to healthy sleepers. Sleep apnea is caused by the airways collapsing while asleep at night, pausing breathing and forcing sleep apnea sufferers from rousing from a deep sleep, sometimes “hundreds of times a night,” according to Dr. O’Donoghue of Austin Health. This pause results in the brain being deprived of oxygen as well as "surges in blood pressure".

Since the scans showed decreased amount of grey matter in the brain, it meant there was damage in certain areas. According to O’Donoghue, the damage was evident in two pockets of the brain, one that handles memory and the other known to allow smooth movement and changes in attention during complex tasks. Earlier studies have showed that this part of the brain is activated during a driving task, and therefore may explain why sleep apnea patients have an increased risk of car accidents.

"What specific part of sleep apnea might cause these changes we can’t say, but we can see the changes that have occurred…The take home message is if you complain of these sort of symptoms it is not a good idea to ignore it, you should seek help," Dr. O’Donoghue said.

This research was presented at the 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian Sleep Association and Australasian Sleep Technologists Association Conference, in Christchurch, New Zealand.