Baltimore City Wire

• Men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are at an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction.

• Taking cold medication to treat sinusitis can also contribute to erectile dysfunction.

• A surgical treatment option can resolve both sinusitis and its side effects.

Chronic sinusitis affects people all across the world, and the condition can even come with side effects like erectile dysfunction.

Dr. James Oberman of Frederick Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers spoke about the options people have when it comes to treatment. He said once the underlying problem is treated, erectile dysfunction and other side effects can be resolved.

“On conventional surgery, I advise patients: 'You'll be out of work or school for about seven days recovering, concentrating on rinsing your nose and not blowing your nose, and seeing me for debridements on a regular basis.' Versus the minimally invasive approach, where there's usually maybe one day, the day of the procedure, maybe at max one day afterwards downtime,” Oberman told Baltimore City Wire.

Erectile dysfunction affects around 5% of men nationwide, according to the Scientific Reports: NatureResearch. It is defined as “the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse.” A study of data from more than 1 million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database found that chronic sinusitis is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. Treating sinusitis decreased erectile dysfunction in patents significantly, according to the study.

Yahoo! Sports reported that men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent compared to men who don’t suffer from sinusitis. This was based on a report from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan. When sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses, it causes the blood vessels in men’s genitals to restrict blood flow, according to the study.

While some people may turn to medication to alleviate sinus symptoms, medications like Sudafed and other cold medications can also cause erectile dysfunctions, according to Men’s Journal.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several surgical treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to WebMD. Endoscopy is a common procedure where doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nose. One instrument has a small camera that sends images back to a screen, which allows the doctor to see where the blockage is. This helps them guide other instruments to remove polyps, scar tissue and other blockages.

Because doctors don't cut into the skin, recovery is relatively fast. The procedure is usually done with local anesthetic, meaning it will numb the area, but the patient remains awake.

Balloon sinuplasty is a good treatment option for patients as well. A doctor inserts a thin tube into the patient's nose with a small balloon attached. It is then guided into the area and inflated. The balloon will clear the passageway so the sinuses can be drained and alleviate congestion.

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