West LA Times

• Sinusitis sufferers could be at risk for heart disease if they don't seek treatment.
• Multiple studies have shown that acute sinusitis and chronic sinusitis can potentially lead to stroke.
• A balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that can help sinus sufferers and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke. 

Many sinusitis sufferers are unaware of the correlation between chronic sinusitis and inflammation, but Dr. Matt Hershcovitch of SoCal Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told West LA Times that this correlation can put patients at a higher risk of having a stroke.

Untreated sinusitis, which causes swelling in the sinus cavities, can lead to an increased risk for stroke, heart disease, neurological disease, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, according to Next Avenue. This is why it's important to receive medical treatment before the negative effects are irreversible.

"Patients are at significantly higher risk for stroke and cerebrovascular accidents when they have chronic sinusitis. This has been proven, without a doubt," Hershcovitch, a double board-certified, fellowship-trained physician specializing in ENT, told West LA Times.  "The reason for this is because there are many large blood vessels that run through and next to the sinus cavities, specifically the internal carotid artery, which provides most of your blood supply to your brain. These arteries run right on the sidewall of the sphenoid sinus, and when you have inflammation within the sinus cavity itself, it often translates to inflammation surrounding the blood vessels. In the blood vessels themselves, this leads to narrowing and constricting of the blood vessels, thus poor flow to the brain. This puts people at much higher risk of developing a stroke and having a stroke."

A 2012 study in the American Journal of Rhinology & Allergy found that both acute and chronic sinusitis are risk markers for stroke and that they are completely separate from traditional markers for stroke. Using data from a study published in PLOS One in 2018, it has been determined that chronic sinusitis consistently increases the risk of stroke, regardless of demographic.

When other treatments don't work, doctors often recommend balloon sinuplasty as the most effective treatment for chronic sinusitis. According to Healthline, the procedure is fairly straightforward, minimally invasive and has had very few reported complications. 

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