Dallas City Wire

• Antibiotics are commonly prescribed for sinusitis.
• Doctors warn that overuse of antibiotics can lead to the development of "antibiotic resistance," which can cause serious health complications.
• Patients looking for a long-term solution have treatment options such as balloon sinuplasty.

Many sinusitis patients are prescribed antibiotics, but Dr. Monty Trimble of Dallas Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers told the Dallas City Wire that repeatedly relying on antibiotics can lead to other health complications.

"I think anything we can do to use antibiotics judiciously so that we will stop producing resistant organisms, treating these issues in a different fashion, is going to not only help the health of the individual but will help public health overall," Trimble said. "I think that's why it's important to find other solutions. As I tell people, someday you're going to get bad pneumonia, you may get a bad kidney infection or bladder infection or, God forbid, meningitis, and you're going to be very hopeful there's an antibiotic that's going to help that problem. I think that if we don't become more careful in our prescribing of antibiotics, we're only going to increase our issues in the future with bacterial resistance to antibiotics."

Acute sinusitis is a sinus infection lasting less than four weeks. According to WebMD, approximately 90% of adults in the U.S. who are diagnosed with acute sinusitis are prescribed antibiotics. Chronic sinusitis is a sinus infection that lasts longer than 12 weeks. Symptoms can include nasal congestion, headaches, coughing, facial pain or discomfort and nasal drainage.

The American Heart Association reported that antibiotic overuse can lead to changes in a patient's gut microbiota, increasing the risk of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. The AHA also noted that such overuse can also be a factor of premature death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), those who develop antibiotic resistance can face increased risk if they get infections tied to other medical procedures, such as joint replacements, organ transplants and diabetes treatments.

Chronic sinusitis patients have alternative treatment options available, such as balloon sinuplasty procedures.

Healthline reported that balloon sinuplasty is commonly recommended for those who suffer from chronic sinusitis after other treatments for their condition have been ineffective. The process doesn't involve any cutting or removal of bones or tissue. The procedure is straightforward, and reported complications are minimal. After undergoing a balloon sinuplasty, many patients are able to return to their regular activities within one or two days. Some patients are even well enough to drive themselves home following the procedure.

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