PHX Reporter

• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population. 
• Chronic sinusitis can decrease one’s quality of life, leading to mental health issues like depression and anxiety. 
• Symptoms of sinusitis that could lead to a higher rate of depression include loss of taste and smell, difficulty sleeping, facial pain, and fatigue.

Chronic sinusitis has a multitude of symptoms that can affect one’s life, including an increased risk of depression. According to Dr. John Stewart of Arizona Breathe Free, sinusitis can severely hamper one’s day-to-day life.

"A study by the National Institute of Health showed that over a one-year period, there were up to 73 million restricted-activity days related to sinusitis and total direct medical costs of almost 2.4 billion, not including surgery or radiographic imaging," Dr. Stewart told the PHX Reporter. "Unresolved sinusitis becomes a quality of life issue, taking people away from their jobs, family, friends and obligations."

Studies have found that people with chronic sinusitis could also be more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety, according to Physician's Weekly. One study compared a group of 16,224 individuals who were treated for chronic sinusitis with a group of 32,448 "similar people" who did not have sinus problems. The study found that over the next 11 years, the sinusitis sufferers were more than 50% more likely to develop depression or anxiety.

A report from Houston Advanced Nose and Sinus found that as many as 25% of people with chronic sinusitis also experience depression, along with more familiar sinus infection symptoms such as headaches, facial pain, a cough, and nasal discharge. Depression that is caused by chronic sinusitis can be treated by addressing the sinus infection through medication or a surgical procedure like balloon sinuplasty.

A study published by the National Library of Medicine found that people who suffer from chronic sinusitis are more likely to experience poor-quality sleep. While 8-18% of the general population suffers from sleep disruption, the study found that 60-75% 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.

People who lose the ability to smell and taste frequently experience decreased appetite and poor nutrition and may be more likely to experience depression, according to Mayo Clinic. Some might use excess salt or sugar on food to try to make its taste stronger, which can make problems with diabetes or high blood sugar worse. Fortunately, if the loss of taste and smell is due to a sinus infection or other nasal issue, treating the infection will restore the senses of taste and smell.

According to Arizona Breathe Free's website, Dr. John Stewart earned his bachelor's degree in biology, graduating with summa cum laude honors, from Grand Canyon University. He went to medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency training in otorhinolaryngology/facial plastic surgery at the Freeman Hospital & Health System in Joplin, Missouri.