Columbia Standard

• Asthma is a common issue many sinusitis sufferers have to deal with.

• Allergies triggered by sinusitis lead to mouth breathing, which leads to airway disorders, such as asthma.

• Patients struggling with asthma caused by sinusitis are encouraged to seek minimally invasive treatment from a specialist for a better quality of life.

Sinusitis, in whatever form it may be, can lead to a plethora of different issues, including asthma. Dr. Andy Wells, of Columbia Breathe Free, said asthma and sinusitis are interconnected because they share the same airway.

"There are lots of studies that show that these [asthma and sinusitis] are not two separate conditions, but two very much interrelated and interconnected diseases of the same airway – from top to bottom – the sinuses down through the throat, all the way to the bottom of the lungs," Wells said. "The sinuses affect the upper airway, and the lungs are part of the lower airway. What happens in the upper airway can have a huge effect on the lower airway, in the lungs, from all the drainage from the sinuses. In the general population, only 5% have asthma, but in patients with chronic sinusitis, it's over 20%, so there is a big crossover."

Many people with asthma also suffer from allergies, and allergy triggers can set off asthma symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. The immune system's response to fighting off allergens involves releasing chemicals that can lead to a runny nose, congestion or skin reactions, and those responses can affect the airways, triggering asthma symptoms. 

Allergy treatments such as immunotherapy can reduce your body's reaction to allergens over time, which will in turn decrease asthma symptoms, Mayo Clinic said.

People who suffer from allergies or chronic sinus problems are more likely to breathe through their mouths, but mouth breathing can lead to oral health issues, according to McCarl Dental Group. Mouth breathing dries up saliva, which then allows bacteria and plaque to build up on the teeth, which can cause cavities, gum disease and chronic bad breath. 

Regularly breathing through the mouth can also, over time, lead to strained jaw joints, snoring, sleep apnea, enlarged tonsils and a higher risk for airway disorders, such as asthma, McCarl Dental Group reported.

For sinusitis patients who struggle with asthma, there are minimally invasive treatment options that can provide long lasting results. One of these treatment options is the balloon sinuplasty, which is a safe and minimally invasive procedure utilized by surgeons to address chronic sinusitis, according to Nuffield Health. During the process, doctors insert a guide wire equipped with a small balloon into the nostrils and navigate it to the area of blockage.