Ft Worth Times

• In a case-control study, participants with sinus inflammation showed decreased brain connectivity

• Chronic sinusitis was found to consistently restrict the mental faculties

• 41% of sufferers are more likely to suffer from depression

Sinusitis or chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) may have a major influence on brain processes that affect mental health, such as depression, cognition and consciousness, according to a new medical study on PubMed.gov.

As part of the study, 22 individuals were selected to examine brain activity in CRS patients using data from the Human Connectome Project, an open-access research tool from a project that was initiated in 2009. The case-control study revealed that people with sinusitis exhibited reduced brain connectivity in areas responsible for cognitive regulation.

A separate study published in the International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology found that CRS regularly impairs cognitive abilities in objective cognitive functions and other categories. This study used a series of tests, including the Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics, the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire, and the Fatigue Severity Scale for evaluating fatigue.

Dr. Monty V. Trimble of the Dallas Breathe Free Sinus and Allergy Center found that patients whose symptoms have been reduced also reported improved cognitive performance.

“I definitely see patients whose improved well-being has led to improve the ability to think to work," Trimble said. "They feel more well-rested and that goes back to appreciating the importance of the nose and the sinuses on breathing and how important that is. We're starting to realize that breathing and breathing through our nose and how we breathe through our nose at night truly may have the biggest impact overall on our health.”

CRS is caused by inflammation in the nose, a headache and pressure in the sinuses, which can be triggered by infections, allergic reactions or other irritants, according to Healthline.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 11% of U.S. adults, or approximately 30 million individuals, currently live with chronic rhinosinusitis.

CRS may be managed using endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) or balloon sinuplasty to help alleviate patients' symptoms.

According to the results of a 2019 study published in the International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology, patients who underwent ESS also frequently demonstrated improvements in their cognitive abilities.

Sinusitis and migraines without a doubt have an impact on quality of life. Now there is a way to measure the severity of the disease.