Indy Standard

• People who suffer from chronic sinusitis are at risk of developing erectile dysfunction.

• Medications such as Sudafed and other decongestants can cause erectile dysfunction.

• New treatment options, such as balloon sinuplasty, are available for patients with chronic sinusitis.

Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp of Indianapolis Sinus Center said people who suffer from chronic sinus issues risk developing erectile dysfunction.

"There's just a higher risk of dysfunction," Hollenkamp told the Indy Standard. "To me, that was one of the biggest surprises, because you just wouldn't intuitively think that to be true. But they've done studies on that, and it's certainly true, and it's significantly higher. There's definitely a strong correlation there. Chronic inflammation can affect many symptoms -- be it brain or respiratory tract or muscular systems -- and it can affect a lot more than just your sinuses."

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 U.S., 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 sinusitis is associated with increased risk of erectile dysfunction. According to the report, treating sinusitis surgically significantly decreased erectile dysfunction in patients.

Yahoo Sports reported that 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, citing a report 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, medications such as Sudafed or other decongestants can also cause erectile dysfunction, according to Men's Journal.

People who suffer from chronic sinusitis have several surgical treatment options, including endoscopy and balloon sinuplasty, according to WebMD. 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.

There's no incision, so recovery should be relatively fast and easy. Endoscopy is usually done with a local anesthetic, meaning the area is 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 inserts 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're interested in learning more about diagnosis or treatment of chronic sinusitis, please take this Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz.