St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated on March 17, can be a bad time of year for allergies and sinus problems. | PxHere.com
St. Patrick's Day, which is celebrated on March 17, can be a bad time of year for allergies and sinus problems. | PxHere.com
Don't be surprised if your sinus or allergy problems flare up after celebrating St. Patrick's Day this year.
A study published in the medical journal BMC Pulmonary Medicine in 2021 confirmed the association between acid reflux and nasal issues. Another study, published in the medical journal Respiratory Medicine in 2005, found that alcohol-induced nasal symptoms seem to be associated with allergic rhinitis. In other words, if you partake in food and drinks on St. Patrick's Day that your body might not tolerate very well, it's possible that this can ultimately affect your sinuses.
"We conclude that alcohol-induced nasal symptoms exhibit a prevalence of more than 3% in the general adult population is often associated with other important chronic airway diseases like allergic rhinitis, asthma and COPD," the study said.
Another factor to keep in mind if you notice a worsening of allergy symptoms around St. Patrick's Day is that seasonal allergies often get ramped up at this time of year. Although spring allergies typically begin in February, true spring is just days away from St. Patrick's Day, which is traditionally celebrated on March 17.
But there are solutions to sinus problems. One of them is called balloon sinuplasty. A tiny catheter with a balloon attached to it is gently inserted into the patient's nasal cavity and slowly inflated to open the blocked passageway. The balloon is then deflated and removed. The procedure is minimally invasive, carries a low risk of negative side effects and patients usually have a very quick recovery time.
"It's interesting, as our indications for balloon sinuplasty have really grown," Dr. Jeffrey Feinfield of Bella Vista ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery told East Ventura News. "In the early stages, it was only for the simplest of cases where there's a small blockage. In our practice and as techniques have evolved, we have perfected our anesthetic protocol. It's really any patient that has any type of sinus disease, any type of inflammation."
Bella Vista ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery offers a free Sinus Self-Assessment Quiz to help you evaluate your symptoms.
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