LAX Leader

Having chronic sinus issues can make it hard for some people to sleep comfortably.

Bella Vista ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery doctors say that help is needed if this is a common issue a patient is facing every night. 

"When we suffer from chronic sinusitis, we have severe inflammation in the nose," Dr. Jeffrey Feinfield of Bella Vista ENT told the LAX Leader. "Not only is that acting on the sinus where the infection is brewing pain and pressure, but when you're uncomfortable, you're not going to be able to sleep. The restorative sleep all of us need eludes chronic sinusitis patients and patients with nasal obstruction. Traditionally, this leads to their chronic fatigue and a lot of other medical conditions."

Between 60 and 75% of chronic sinusitis sufferers also suffer from poor sleep, according to the National Institutes of Health. 

About 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population, are affected by chronic sinusitis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says.

"Patients who have chronic sinusitis have a level of fatigue that is indescribable. It's miserable and it stems from not sleeping properly. You are not getting good oxygen through the nose," Feinfield explained. "It is a constant state of alert; there's not an ability to to let the body relax. We have seen this not only just in our practice, but it's documented in the literature."

A large number of patients in one study by the National Institutes of Health correlated multiple chronic sinus symptoms with sleep impairment.

For sinus sufferers who think a specialist could help, take this sinus quiz from Bella Vista ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery to find out if you should see a doctor.