Chronic sinusitis can lead to other health problems, including erectile dysfunction in men. | Adobe Stock
Chronic sinusitis can lead to other health problems, including erectile dysfunction in men. | Adobe Stock
- 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 the sinusitis as well as its side effects.
“I'm not a urologist, but my reading of how that works is anything that affects blood vessels can affect other things,” Weiss told Housatonic Valley News. “Erectile dysfunction is based on blood flow, and if blood flow is poor, you can experience it.”
"Chronic inflammation in the body affects blood vessels and blood flow,” he said. “Even again, I think there's probably a connection with sleep. There's certainly a connection with diet. But I'd say from a sinusitis, nasal obstruction standpoint, it comes down to its impact on sleep and the chronic inflammation component."
Erectile dysfunction, which the National Institutes of Health defines as "the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse,” affects approximately 5% of men in the United States, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information. A study using data from more than 1 million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database found that chronic rhinosinusitis is associated with an increased risk of erectile dysfunction. Treating rhinosinusitis surgically significantly decreased erectile dysfunction in patients, the study added.
Men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent compared to men who do not suffer from sinusitis, Yahoo Sports reported, citing a paper from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan. The study found that when sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses, it causes the blood vessels in men's genitals to restrict blood flow.
While some people might turn to medication to try to alleviate their sinus symptoms, Sudafed or other cold medications can also cause or contribute to erectile dysfunction, Men's Journal reported.
People who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several surgical treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, WebMD explains. Endoscopy is a common procedure, during which doctors insert thin, flexible instruments called endoscopes into the nose. One instrument has a small camera lens that sends images back to a screen, allowing the doctor to see where the sinuses are blocked and guide the other instruments to gently remove polyps, scar tissue, and other blockages.
Doctors don’t cut into the skin, so recovery is expected to be relatively fast and easy. Endoscopy is usually done with a local anesthetic, meaning the area will be made numb and the patient remains awake.
Another newer treatment is balloon sinuplasty, which is a good option for patients who don't need anything removed from the sinuses. The doctor puts a thin tube into the nose with a small balloon attached to one end. The doctor then guides the balloon to the blocked area inside the nose and inflates it. The balloon helps clear the passageway so the sinuses can drain properly, alleviating congestion.
If you think you suffer from chronic sinusitis and would like to find out what options are available to help, start with this quiz to find out how CT ENT can help.
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