Oh when the weather outside is frightful, those allergies aren’t so delightful.
You may think the allergy symptoms you’re experiencing are just another case of the common cold, but if they persist as the season passes, then odds are that you may be suffering from winter allergies.
Though many trees, grasses, flowers, and weeds stop producing pollen during the winter, it doesn’t lessen your risk of being exposed to indoor allergies caused by you spending more time indoors. According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, millions of people have allergy symptoms year-round as a result of indoor allergens.
Today, our McAllen balloon sinuplasty specialists at the Glatz Group are glad to explain how winter can affect your allergies, as well as provide a few helpful tips on how to protect yourself! Don’t let this holiday season go by without giving yourself the gift of sinus relief.
It is important to know the differences in symptoms between a cold and allergies.
A cold should typically last no more than several days to a week while the effects of allergies can last up to several weeks. Allergy symptoms include watery and itchy eyes, whereas a cold does not. Allergies can happen at any time throughout the year while colds are more likely to occur during spring or winter.
However, when it comes to indoor allergens, they are what can trigger your winter allergies. The most common sources are dust mites, mold, and even your very own pet.
If you’re suffering from allergies this winter, consider these tips to protect yourself from these common indoor allergens:
1. Dust Mites - These microscopic creatures thrive in warm, damp environments like bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpeting. To best protect yourself and your family from these little but insufferable creatures:
2. Mold - Molds can easily gather up inside and outside your home if you live in a humid area. Molds love to grow in moist areas such as your kitchen and bathroom, whether you can see them or not. Wipe down wet surfaces to keep mold from thickening. With good insulation, the mold can be reduced from less condensation on cold surfaces. Make sure to also clean your garbage cans and fridge drawers regularly to prevent mold from growing in these places.
3. Pets - It’s important to remember that even as a pet lover, you’ll have to make some sacrifices to manage your allergies or those of a loved one in your home. When it comes to minimizing indoor allergens caused by your pet:
If you have pet allergies, you may want to speak with your primary physician to see if you are eligible for allergy immunotherapy shots.
There are a plethora of different options in regards to allergy relief which are both short-term and long-term. Some short-term remedies include over-the-counter medications that will provide allergy relief for a couple of days. A few of the most popular medications include oral antihistamines, nasal sprays, and decongestants.
If any of these short-term options don’t work for your symptoms, you may want to consider a long-term treatment plan, like balloon sinuplasty.
Find out what treatment is right for your case by consulting with our McAllen otolaryngologist, Dr. Frank R. Glatz at the Glatz Group, to adequately recommend medication and/or services based on your needs.
Balloon sinuplasty is a safe and efficient operation meant to slightly alter the affected sinus passageways and help them drain better without requiring any removal of bone or tissue. The procedure is generally done for those who suffer from severe cases of chronic sinusitis and is a relatively fast process that can be administered by our trusted ENT in our Glatz Group McAllen office.
In order to figure out if your symptoms qualify for a balloon sinuplasty, schedule a consultation with our McAllen sinus relief specialists of the Glatz Group today.
If your past year has been full of sinus pain, massive headaches, and stuffy noses due to chronic sinus infections, now’s the time to be proactive and avoid another year of discomfort.
According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, Americans spend roughly more than $1 billion every year on over-the-counter medications to treat their sinus infection (sinusitis). Sinus infections are also accountable for 16 million doctor visits and $150 million spent on prescription medications.
While treatment via allergy medications or nasal surgeries may be viable options, balloon sinuplasty is typically the best, cost-effective method to get the long-term relief you are looking for in the new year. Count on Dr. Frank R. Glatz of the Glatz Group, a dedicated and trustworthy McAllen ENT, to explain the three reasons why December is the ideal time to have this procedure.
Balloon sinuplasty, also commonly referred to as the smart sinus practice, is usually most recommended to those who experience chronic sinusitis, which can be a real pain in the nose. It is a brief and easy process where an ENT dilates or enlarges the natural openings of your sinuses through the employment of a tube-like device that then inflates a tiny balloon inside your sinus passages.
Once the doctor deflates and retrieves the balloon, the sinuses stay open to let fluid drain and allow more air to flow through. The results of this procedure will last much longer than if you were to receive traditional nasal surgery. In addition, there is less bleeding, scarring, and post-operative pain with a balloon sinuplasty when compared with the alternative.
In fact, most people are able to go back to their daily lives within a day or two, just in time for some holiday shopping and festive celebrations.
Winter months in McAllen leave us more prone to getting colds and other viruses as the season starts to get colder and we spend more time indoors than normal--especially with January being the coolest month of the year in Texas.
Getting balloon sinuplasty ahead of the new year would decrease the magnitude of sinus infections throughout the year since it would open up the sinus passageways and allow drainage caused by allergens, bacteria, or viruses to have an easier time passing through.
Other reasons to think about having this simple balloon sinuplasty include:
If you want to evaluate if balloon sinuplasty would be the best option to treat your chronic sinusitis or other nasal conditions, visit our McAllen ENT doctor of the Glatz Group to see if you qualify for balloon sinuplasty. If eligible, balloon sinuplasty can be safely administered by our ENT doctor and staff in our very own office.
There are many myths surrounding balloon sinuplasty that make it harder for patients to get the help that they truly need. In truth, this method avoids the use of invasive surgical tools and techniques that cut and/or remove tissue or break bone, letting the recipient recover quickly with minimal pain, if any.
However, with newer technology and techniques come fantastical myths about why one should avoid them. Today, your friendly McAllen ENT, Dr. Frank R. Glatz of the Glatz Group, is debunking these myths to determine if getting a balloon sinuplasty is right for you.
Fact: Balloon sinuplasty is one of the most routinely performed sinus surgeries, where approximately 535,000 people have been treated using this procedure worldwide since it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005. Balloon sinuplasty continues to become the preferred method of sinus relief, as a 2017 study conducted by the Oakland Medical Center revealed that this procedure increased significantly in usage by an average of 59 percent between 2011 through 2014.
While it is a breakthrough alternative to traditional sinus surgeries, it certainly isn’t an experimental procedure.
Fact: No. Most patients see no external changes as a result of their balloon sinuplasty. Since the procedure doesn’t involve any cutting, less than 0.1 percent of cases see complications. It also won’t result in any bruising, discoloration, or black eyes.
Fact: Before the small, latex-free balloon is inserted, your sinus doctor will administer either a local or general anesthetics in an effort to eliminate any pain during this safe procedure. After the procedure, your sinus doctor may recommend an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory to help with any mild discomfort or irritation.
Because this procedure doesn’t cut into your sinuses or cause a lot of bleeding, there is no need to pack gauze into your nasal cavity as well--a process that can cause significant pain and pressure in patients when removing.
Fact: Most patients only need one to two days for recovery before they are ready to return to their regular activities; however, many other sinus or nasal surgeries involve a long and painful recovery period, often requiring weeks to months of recovery time.
With a balloon sinuplasty, there is no need to visit an operating room, stay overnight at the hospital, or enter any kind of rehabilitation program. This innovation of nasal relief is an in-and-out type of procedure.
Fact: Balloon sinuplasty is highly effective, so much so that most patients who undergo this procedure report significant improvement and have no need to repeat it. If a patient does return, often it is to perform the procedure on other sinus openings that weren’t previously treated.
While some other nasal surgeries can cause scarring that may need to be revisited in further surgeries, this isn’t a necessity with balloon sinuplasty.
Fact: Balloon sinuplasty is an in-office, non-invasive procedure that avoids all of the other charges and expenses that would be present on a standard hospital bill.
Because of this, its cost is significantly lower than that of traditional sinus surgeries. It doesn’t require a hospital stay and is covered by most private insurance companies as well as Medicare.
In order to determine if you are a good candidate for a balloon sinuplasty, set up a consultation with our sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group. While you may be a candidate for the procedure, certain nasal conditions or restrictions may prevent you from having the procedure performed.
For individuals that live with chronic sinusitis, excruciating symptoms that can make a significant impact on their breathing affect their lives daily. In fact, about 30 million individuals are affected by sinusitis on a yearly basis.
When antibiotics and nasal sprays just won’t deliver you adequate results, balloon sinuplasty is the solution that properly drains your sinuses, providing relief to facial pain and pressure and allowing you to breathe freely again.
While just reading the words “procedure” or “surgery” can raise alarms and frighten you, the McAllen sinus doctor at the Glatz Group, Dr. Frank R. Glatz, wants to ease your fears and anxieties about balloon sinuplasty by explaining the basics of the procedure and what to expect as you recover from it.
Balloon sinuplasty is a relatively short, simple yet effective, and safe procedure that can be administered in our McAllen office by our trusted ENT doctor and specialists. When sinusitis causes one’s nasal cavities to become inflamed and/or swollen, they cannot properly drain out mucus as intended.
The goal behind balloon sinuplasty is to slightly alter these inflamed cavities with a small balloon-like device that inflates in order to open up the pathways without the need to perform surgery that extracts tissue or bone.
Before he or she begins, your doctor will administer the right dosage of general or local anesthesia before the procedure to ensure you don’t feel much pain, if any, during the operation.
In comparison to your traditional nasal surgeries, the recovering period from undergoing balloon sinuplasty is a quick process. The procedure only takes about an hour to perform on average, and because there are no tissues or bone removed, patients can resume regular scheduled daily activities as soon as the following day!
Getting behind the wheel after the procedure is done isn’t recommended. Because the procedure employs the use of general, injection, or topical anesthesia administered beforehand, the patient must plan accordingly and make sure a designated driver, such as a relative or friend, is able to drive them back home safely following the procedure.
While specific recovery periods do vary on the patient, it is strongly advised to follow the doctor’s orders when resting, rinsing, and sticking to medication schedules. It is important to take any antibiotics that you were given until the prescription’s completion and to use other medications prescribed to you as directed for their full duration. You may also be prescribed a saline solution designed to lubricate and help heal for three to seven days after the procedure.
Also, avoid blowing your nose within the first 24 hours after the procedure. Your sinuses will still be extremely sensitive as it restores its cavities back to normal function. You may experience swelling, nasal congestion, and potential nosebleeds after you get out and all these symptoms are completely normal and temporary. However, if you feel these symptoms recurring for more than 2 days, please do not hesitate to call us for further guidance.
Straining yourself at work or at home shortly after a balloon sinuplasty can elevate your heart rate, and that isn’t ideal for your healing tissues and underlying structures because elevated blood pressure worsens bleeding.
Since the sinus area is still rather tender after a procedure, any extra pressure that is applied while doing strenuous activities can do significant damage to the tissues and underlying structures that are healing after a balloon sinuplasty.
While the idea of a nasal procedure might sound intimidating at first, don’t worry. This efficient procedure is less painful than other nasal surgeries and procedures by miles, and the recovery period is truly brief--days, not weeks.
At the Glatz Group, we work hard to ensure that balloon sinuplasty will be one of the best decisions you’ve made for your well-being. If you are tired of living with sinusitis or other sinus issues, contact our McAllen sinus doctor at the Glatz Group to see if you are an eligible candidate for balloon sinuplasty.
[et_pb_section bb_built="1" fullwidth="off" specialty="on" inner_width="auto" inner_max_width="1200px" next_background_color="#000000"][et_pb_column type="3_4" specialty_columns="3"][et_pb_row_inner admin_label="Row"][et_pb_column_inner type="4_4" saved_specialty_column_type="3_4"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.24" text_text_shadow_horizontal_length="text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" text_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" text_text_shadow_vertical_length="text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" text_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" text_text_shadow_blur_strength="text_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" text_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" link_text_shadow_horizontal_length="link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" link_text_shadow_vertical_length="link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" link_text_shadow_blur_strength="link_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length="ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" ul_text_shadow_vertical_length="ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" ul_text_shadow_blur_strength="ul_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length="ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" ol_text_shadow_vertical_length="ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" ol_text_shadow_blur_strength="ol_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length="quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" quote_text_shadow_vertical_length="quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" quote_text_shadow_blur_strength="quote_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_text_shadow_horizontal_length="header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_vertical_length="header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_blur_strength="header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length="header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_2_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length="header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_2_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength="header_2_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_2_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length="header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_3_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length="header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_3_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength="header_3_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_3_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length="header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_4_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length="header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_4_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength="header_4_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_4_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length="header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_5_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length="header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_5_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength="header_5_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_5_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length="header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_6_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length="header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_6_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength="header_6_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_6_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet="0px" box_shadow_vertical_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_tablet="40px" box_shadow_spread_tablet="0px" z_index_tablet="500"]
The acting world suffered a great tragedy recently when one of its younger actress, Laurel Griggs, passed away due to complications stemming from a massive asthma attack. She had been fighting asthma for two years when an attack sent her to the hospital where she later passed away.
The 13-year-old had committed herself to her craft, wowing audiences with her performances on Broadway, expanding her career to TV and film, and even showcasing her talents on Saturday Night Live. Her bright career was only coming into fruition when her asthma attack happened, now leaving behind devastated family members, friends, and fans of her work.
As parents here at the allergy department of the Glatz Group, our hearts go out to the Griggs family for their loss. Today, we want to take the time to honor Laurel’s memory by using our platform to bring awareness of this disease. Asthma is a prevalent and dangerous disease that sends over 2 million people to emergency rooms across America every year. Your McAllen ENT Doctor, Dr. Frank R. Glatz, and his allergy team have extensive knowledge of how asthma begins, how it can affect you, and how we can help you.
Asthma is a long-term respiratory disease that affects over 25 million Americans every year. Sometimes called a chronic respiratory disease by doctors or “bronchial asthma” by others, this disease causes your airway to become narrow due to a trigger of some sort, impairing a person’s ability to breathe efficiently.
When it occurs, it can cause a bevy of symptoms, include:
However, more severe cases of an asthma attack can cause symptoms such as:
Sometimes severe asthma can also worsen despite using medication. Overall, depending on how bad the symptoms are, asthma is ranked by medical professionals into four degrees of severity:
In any case, immediate emergency medical services are required when enduring severe symptoms; however, you should visit our experienced allergy team over at the Glatz Group right away if you begin feeling any of the mild signs and symptoms first to determine if what is causing your asthma is allergy-related and what can be done to help treat it.
When asthma symptoms worsen, an asthma attack may occur. Many different scenarios exist that can trigger symptoms that ultimately turn into an asthma attack, such as:
When any of the above triggers asthmatic symptoms in individuals susceptible to them, an asthma attack may happen. During an attack, the airways within your throat are inflamed and begin to swell, also known as a bronchospasm. During the bronchospasm, a thick mucus is produced that further inhibits breathing, turning a frightening situation into a dire one.
If you have asthma and are enduring a severe asthma attack, get medical help immediately. If severe asthma attacks are left untreated, they can ultimately lead to respiratory failure, and then death.
In a recent article published by NBC News, it was discovered that McAllen, Texas is actually the worst city for living with springtime allergies. For all of us living in McAllen and the Rio Grande Valley, this article shows us that there is a need to visit a devoted allergy team to help give you sinus and allergy relief.
Since we here at Glatz Group specialize both in allergies and in airways, seeing us if you are concerned about your asthma symptoms is always a good idea. Here, we can help you develop a plan that can guide your efforts at managing your condition.
From there, we can discuss:
At the Glatz Group, we are a robust, dedicated team of medical professionals that want to ensure that your ear, nose, and throat health is at optimal shape. Should you begin to experience problematic asthma symptoms, Dr. Frank R. Glatz can help you find the relief you need.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column_inner][/et_pb_row_inner][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4"][et_pb_sidebar _builder_version="3.24" area="sidebar-1" text_shadow_horizontal_length="text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" text_shadow_vertical_length="text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" text_shadow_blur_strength="text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" header_text_shadow_horizontal_length="header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_vertical_length="header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_blur_strength="header_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_text_shadow_horizontal_length="body_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" body_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_text_shadow_vertical_length="body_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" body_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_text_shadow_blur_strength="body_text_shadow_style,%91object Object%93" body_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" box_shadow_horizontal_tablet="0px" box_shadow_vertical_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_tablet="40px" box_shadow_spread_tablet="0px" z_index_tablet="500" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built="1" fullwidth="off" specialty="off" prev_background_color="#000000" inner_width="auto" inner_max_width="1200px"][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.22.3" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" saved_tabs="all" locked="off" global_module="947"][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_cta global_parent="947" title="Request" button_url="https://glatzyoudid.com/contact-us/" _builder_version="3.24" header_level="h1" header_font="Roboto|||||on|||" header_text_color="#ffffff" header_font_size="40px" header_line_height="2.4em" header_text_shadow_style="preset5" body_font="||||||||" body_line_height="3.1em" body_text_shadow_style="preset1" use_background_color_gradient="on" background_color_gradient_start="#1c80d8" background_color_gradient_end="rgba(239,239,0,0.26)" background_image="https://glatzyoudid.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/bBAA.png" custom_button="on" button_text_color="#ffffff" button_bg_color="#0098ea" button_bg_color_gradient_start="#464ddb" button_border_width="0px" button_border_radius="17px" button_font="||||||||" button_icon="%%73%%" box_shadow_style="preset2" box_shadow_style_button="preset2" transform_scale_last_edited="on|desktop" transform_translate="147px|0px" transform_translate_last_edited="on|desktop" transform_translate_linked="off" transform_rotate_last_edited="on|desktop" transform_skew_last_edited="on|desktop" transform_origin_last_edited="on|desktop" transform_styles_last_edited="on|desktop" text_orientation="right" background_layout="light" width="436.5px" height="251.19px" animation_style="slide" animation_direction="left" z_index_tablet="500" text_shadow_style="preset1" header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_line_height_last_edited="on|desktop" body_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" button_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" button_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" button_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" box_shadow_vertical_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_tablet="40px" box_shadow_horizontal_button_tablet="0px" box_shadow_vertical_button_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_button_tablet="40px" box_shadow_spread_button_tablet="0px" text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px"]
Protect Your Sinuses![/et_pb_cta][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_2"][et_pb_cta global_parent="947" title="Are You A Candidate ?" button_url="https://glatzyoudid.com/how-fall-affects-your-allergies-and-how-sinuplasty-can-help/" button_text="Symptoms Checker" _builder_version="3.24" header_level="h1" header_font="Roboto||||||||" header_text_align="left" header_text_color="#ffffff" header_font_size="40px" header_line_height="1.4em" header_text_shadow_style="preset5" body_text_shadow_style="preset1" use_background_color_gradient="on" background_color_gradient_start="#1c80d8" background_color_gradient_end="rgba(239,239,0,0.26)" background_image="https://glatzyoudid.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AUAC.png" custom_button="on" button_text_size="17px" button_text_color="#ffffff" button_bg_color="#0098ea" button_bg_color_gradient_start="#464ddb" button_border_width="0px" button_border_radius="15px" button_font="Arial|600|||||||" button_icon="%%73%%" button_icon_placement="left" button_alignment="left" button_text_shadow_style="preset5" box_shadow_style="preset2" box_shadow_style_button="preset2" text_orientation="right" background_layout="light" width="436.5px" max_width_last_edited="on|desktop" height="251.19px" animation_style="slide" animation_direction="right" z_index_tablet="500" text_shadow_style="preset1" header_line_height_last_edited="on|desktop" header_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" header_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_link_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_link_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_link_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_ul_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_ul_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_ul_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_ol_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_ol_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_ol_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" body_quote_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" body_quote_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" body_quote_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" button_text_shadow_horizontal_length_tablet="0px" button_text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" button_text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" box_shadow_vertical_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_tablet="40px" box_shadow_horizontal_button_tablet="0px" box_shadow_vertical_button_tablet="0px" box_shadow_blur_button_tablet="40px" box_shadow_spread_button_tablet="0px" text_shadow_vertical_length_tablet="0px" text_shadow_blur_strength_tablet="1px" /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
About 30 million Americans suffer from what is known as “Sinusitis” on a yearly basis. Sinusitis occurs when your nasal pathways become inflamed and/or swollen due to the exposure to allergens, bacteria, or viruses.
Some of the symptoms of chronic sinusitis include anywhere from not being able to breathe nor smell through your nose, irritation within your throat causing teeth pain, and bad breath, having abnormal mucus spreading around to even experiencing physical pain throughout your entire face.
Today, with a little guidance from our Pharr sinus doctor, Dr. Frank R. Glatz of the Glatz Group, we’re taking a look into what leads to chronic sinusitis and why you should consider the procedure known as balloon sinuplasty instead of other nasal surgeries.
A person’s sinuses are an intricate ecosystem; however, when allergens, foreign bacteria, or viruses are introduced, it can cause the inner linings of the sinuses to become inflamed. The resulting congestion can prevent mucus from flushing it out of the sinus cavities, trapping unwanted bacteria in your sinuses where they can grow and cause severe infections and chronic pain.
In fact, there are many causes that lead to developing chronic sinusitis. Some of the most notable ones include:
Perhaps the most efficient way to treat severe chronic sinusitis cases would be to undergo a procedure known as balloon sinuplasty.
Balloon sinuplasty is a quick, safe procedure that is designed to reshape the blocked sinus passageways via a small balloon in order to open up the sinus cavities without having to remove any bone or tissue.
An ENT doctor utilizes a tube-like device that inflates a small balloon inside the nasal openings of one, a few, or all sinus cavities, slightly altering them in order to open up and ultimately improve drainage function.
While it is not designed to completely fix all of your sinus issues forever, it will provide the most long-term relief in comparison to traditional nasal surgeries.
When it comes to specific sinus problems, there are three other main traditional nasal procedures that can be done in specific cases.
While every procedure includes its fair share of risks, balloon sinuplasty can be the most efficient and safest procedure in comparison to other nasal surgeries listed above. For traditional nasal procedures:
And in the more severe cases:
Balloon sinuplasty, on the other hand, is better in comparison because:
It is worth noting that not everyone might be able to qualify for balloon sinuplasty treatment. Speak with our sinus relief specialists to see if balloon sinuplasty will help you.
In order to determine if balloon sinuplasty would be the best option to treat your chronic sinusitis or other nasal conditions, schedule an appointment with the Pharr sinus doctor of the Glatz Group. Once you arrive at your scheduled appointment, our sinus relief specialists will examine your current symptoms and run the necessary tests.
If eligible, balloon sinuplasty can be safely administered by our ENT doctors and staff right in our office.
Sinusitis is one of the most common types of nasal-infections in the United States with an average of 30 million cases per year. Sinusitis occurs when your sinus lining becomes infected, swollen, and inflamed due to viruses, allergies, or bacteria that you were exposed to.
Rather than your mucus draining out naturally, your sinuses get clogged, which then leads to unwanted germs developing and growing. This ultimately results in sinus infections and the accompanying issues.
While some cases can be acute (temporary), there are many cases that develop into long-term chronic issues, which can lead to excruciating pain.
Thankfully, there is a solution.
The McAllen sinus relief specialists at Glatz Group offer a minimally invasive, FDA-approved procedure known as balloon sinuplasty, which can help to rid you of the symptoms of chronic sinusitis.
Allow our McAllen balloon sinuplasty specialists answer a few of the most common frequently asked questions about the procedure.
A: If you have suffered from any of the following symptoms which have lasted for more than 12 weeks, you may have yourself a case of chronic sinusitis. Please consult a specialist as soon as you can if you have been experiencing any of the following recurring symptoms:
Balloon sinuplasty is a safe and effective procedure that can help to relieve you of the symptoms and pains caused by sinusitis. The procedure is designed to reshape the blocked sinus passageways without needing to remove any bone or tissue.
Just as the name states it, the procedure involves a small balloon attached to a special device. The procedure may be done using general or local anesthesia to render it painless for the patient. Once the patient has been administered anesthesia a thin, flexible tool is inserted into the nasal passage. The tool includes a camera and light which allows the doctor to see exactly where the instrument needs to be used.
At the proper place, the doctor will utilize a small balloon catheter to open up the congested area, restructure the sinus, and restore drainage. The passageways and cavities are flushed with a saline rinse and the balloon is removed to allow the sinus to drain once again.
The procedure is relatively painless and generally takes less than an hour to complete. The procedure has been completed hundreds of thousands of times, is FDA approved, and can be administered in-office by our trustworthy McAllen balloon sinuplasty specialists at the Glatz Group.
While the procedure itself is relatively short and painless, the actual time for recovery does vary from patient to patient. On average, the majority of the time patients can resume their regular activities within 2 days.
After the procedure, patients may feel some swelling but this is normal and will eventually go away.
As far as driving back home after the procedure, it will depend on whether or not you were given some sort of anesthesia.
In order to determine if balloon sinuplasty would be the right move to help with your chronic sinusitis, contact the McAllen sinus relief specialists of the Glatz Group to schedule an appointment with our trusted doctors and staff.
Our specialists will determine if the procedure is right for you based on analyzing your symptoms and will further explain the process, as well as the risks and benefits.
