Manatee Review

• Antibiotics are typically used as an initial treatment for sinus infections.

• Potential health risks associated with ongoing antibiotic use include cardiovascular disease and cancer.

• Balloon sinuplasty is an alternative treatment option for chronic sinusitis.

Of adults in the U.S. who are diagnosed with acute sinusitis -- a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks -- about 90% are prescribed antibiotics, according to WebMD. Chronic sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts for more than 12 weeks. Symptoms of sinus infections can include nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort, and nasal drainage.

Overusing antibiotics has been linked to changes in the patient's gut microbiota, which can increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, according to the American Heart Association. The report notes that overusing antibiotics could also be a risk factor in premature death.

People who develop resistance to antibiotics can face increased risk if they experience infections related to other medical procedures, such as joint replacements, organ transplants and diabetes treatment, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Antibiotic resistance is becoming a huge issue," Dr. Mariah Pate of Tampa Bay Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told the Manatee Review. "We have many different antibiotics, which are really helpful for the treatment of sinusitis and other bacterial infections. But over the years with overuse, we are seeing more and more antibiotic resistance. There's some bacteria out there now that we really can't treat with anything. And that's incredibly scary.

"We are so privileged to have such great medicine," Pate said. "But if you think back to before antibiotics were around, people were dying of infections left and right because they couldn't be treated. Our job as clinicians is to be as judicious as possible [with] antibiotics, because the more we use them, the more resistant they'll be, and the more likely we are to have an issue where antibiotics won't work anymore. That's the reason it's important to treat these chronic conditions in ways other than antibiotics."

An alternative treatment for chronic sinusitis sufferers is balloon sinuplasty, which is typically recommended after other treatments have been ineffective. Balloon sinuplasty is fairly straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. There’s no cutting and no removal of bones or tissue, according to Healthline.

Balloon sinuplasty is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses, according to WebMD. The doctor puts a thin tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end, then guides the balloon to the blocked area inside the nose and inflates it. The balloon helps clear the passageway so the sinuses can drain properly, alleviating congestion and allowing the patient to breathe more effectively.

If you're suffering from chronic sinusitis and are looking for treatment options, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.