South Indy News

For the thousands of people with undiagnosed chronic sinusitis, doing controlled breathing and slowed breathing exercises that improve overall health may be rather challenging.

According to Mayo Clinic, chronic sinusitis can make it difficult for people to breathe normally and reduce their ability to perform controlled breathing exercises and enjoy the benefits these exercises provide. 

"Sinusitis occurs when the linings of your nose, sinuses and throat become inflamed, possibly from a preexisting cold or allergies," Dr. Nicholas Hollenkamp with the Indianapolis Sinus Center told South Indy News. "Chronic sinusitis is when this inflammation lasts three months or more. We offer on-site diagnostic testing, including low-dose CT scan, to get a better look inside your sinus cavity and identify inflammation and signs of infection."

A study from the National Institutes of Health has proven that controlled breathing can help lower stress, relax your muscles and improve mood, as it affects respiratory muscle activity, ventilation efficiency and heart rate variability. The study also found that controlled breathing and slowed breathing techniques can potentially optimize a person's physiological variables associated with health and longevity.

"Good breathing has been associated with better health for a variety of different ailments," Dr. Anthony Sanders, also of Indianapolis Sinus Center, told South Indy News.

One of the issues that chronic sinusitis can cause is mouth breathing, which can lead to other health problems.

"Mouth breathing is not good. It can affect sleep quality," Sanders said. "For instance, you're probably more likely to have sleep apnea, which is a major problem in its own right. But I think the major thing with that is that these symptoms, some people have had them so long, they are almost considered normal. But I think the real point is, you don't have to live with that anymore, and the solutions for it have gotten so much more acceptable than what they were once upon a time."

A report by the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) said that along with the cardiovascular benefits associated with slowed or controlled breathing, a person can also use these techniques to optimize the body's ability to handle and manage pain.

While thousands of people suffer with undiagnosed chronic sinusitis, often confusing it with everyday allergies, taking this quiz from the Indianapolis Sinus Center can help determine if seeing a sinus specialist may improve your quality of life.