PHX Reporter

• Chronic sinusitis can cause poor-quality sleep, which can lead to other negative health consequences.
• Other factors that could contribute to poor sleep are stress and anxiety, an irregular sleep schedule and consuming too much alcohol or caffeine.
• Poor sleep can cause bad moods, an inability to focus and depression.

There are a number of things that can lead to poor sleep -- such as stress and anxiety, an irregular sleep schedule, consuming too much alcohol or caffeine, or chronic sinusitis -- but regardless of the issue, a lack of good sleep can cause bad moods, the inability to focus and depression. 

Dr. John Stewart, a board-certified otolaryngologist at Arizona Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, said patients whose sleep issues are attributed to chronic sinusitis can see negative effects in other aspects of their lives, including their health. 

"There are ripple effects of not breathing well. It could mean that you're handed a pillow and told to go sleep on the couch, and that can be detrimental to your relationship," Stewart told PHX Reporter. "Getting back to the medical side of things, if it results in sleep apnea, that's very hard on your cardiovascular system in general. It's not just about snoring and how much noise you're making. It's about how you're sleeping and if you're getting proper rest. Those people end up going in and out of deep, restful sleep, and they never get the full sleep that they need. And it's a strain on the heart. All of a sudden, they wind up with high blood pressure and lots of the disease processes that are certainly avoidable if they were sleeping and breathing well."

A study published by Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy found that people who suffer from chronic sinusitis are more likely to experience poor sleep. While 8 to 18% of the general population suffers from sleep disruption, the study found that 60 to 75% of people with chronic sinusitis experience sleep disruption. The study found that chronic sinusitis patients who experience sleep disruption are also more likely to experience depression, a decreased quality of life, difficulty concentrating, fatigue throughout the day, and decreased memory and productivity.

Signs that your sleep quality could be better can include taking more than 30 minutes to fall asleep at night, regularly waking up more than once during the night, experiencing breakouts, having red or puffy eyes or dark circles under the eyes, finding it difficult to concentrate or feeling tired throughout the day.

To improve sleep quality, the Sleep Foundation recommends implementing a consistent sleep schedule, not watching television or looking at a phone or computer within 30 minutes of going to bed, not drinking alcohol or caffeine before bed, and starting a relaxing bedtime routine. If sleep quality does not improve after implementing those changes, it could be time to talk a doctor.

Many patients who undergo a minimally invasive surgery to treat their chronic sinusitis also find that after the surgery, their quality of sleep drastically improves, according to Atlanta ENT Sinus & Allergy Associates. A study of more than 500 patients who underwent sinus surgery found significant improvement in the patients' sleep quality and overall quality of life.

To learn more about the symptoms of sinusitis and allergies, take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.