PHX Reporter

• Pro golfer Bryson DeChambeau began experiencing dizzy spells at the 2020 Masters.

• After meeting with an ENT specialist, DeChambeau learned that his vertigo was caused by a blocked nasal passage.

• After sinus surgery, DeChambeau found that his dizziness went away, his thoughts were clearer, he could speak better and his energy levels were higher.    

Professional golfer Bryson DeChambeau tried to figure out what was causing him to experience vertigo for almost two years, but it wasn't until he saw an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist that he found the source of the problem: a blocked nasal passage caused by a chronic sinus infection.

DeChambeau underwent sinus surgery in Dallas last November to remove the blockage, and he quickly found that not only had his dizzy spells gone away, but other aspects of his health also improved as well. 

Local doctor of Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, John Stewart, said about half of his patients are surprised by how much their overall health improves after correcting their sinus problems.

"A lot of patients don't realize how bad they feel until they get [their issues] corrected. I hear this over and over again," Stewart told PHX Reporter. "About 50% of my patients will say after they've recovered, ‘I had no idea I was supposed to feel this good and that I was feeling that bad. And if I would have known that, I would have done this 10 or 15 years ago.' It is gratifying to hear from them just how much of an impact -- in a positive way -- it’s made in their overall health and well-being."

DeChambeau's trouble with dizzy spells began at the Masters in November 2020, and after almost two years of trying to figure out the cause, he underwent a full-body scan, LIV Golf reported. The scan found a cyst in DeChambeau's left maxillary sinus, and he met with an ENT specialist.

The doctor explained that the cyst was limiting air flow in DeChambeau's nasal passage, which meant he wasn't getting enough oxygen, and his low nitric oxide levels were what caused his dizziness.

DeChambeau underwent sinus surgery to remove the cyst and improve his nasal passages. For three or four days after the surgery, he had to breathe through his mouth to avoid straining his nose, which he said led to a sore throat. However, after a few days had passed, DeChambeau said he could breathe properly for the first time in years, and other aspects of his health improved as well.

“To get that fixed, it’s been the greatest decision of my life,” DeChambeau told LIV Golf. “My energy level is so much better. My clarity of thought is way better. I don’t know if you can tell, but my speech is a lot more fluent and I’m not stopping as much or pitching as much like I used to last year and before. I feel like I’m back to 2018 me,” when a series of wins led to him finishing the year ranked fifth in the standings.

The inflammation that comes along with chronic sinusitis can cause depression and difficulty concentrating, according to University of Washington School of Medicine.

Chronic sinusitis sufferers might experience low energy levels, facial pain and pressure, decreased sense of taste and smell, coughing, congestion and nasal discharge, the Cleveland Clinic said.

If you'd like more information about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.