Nola Reporter

• Seasonal depression often begins in late fall and intensifies throughout the winter months.
• Depression is one of the many common side effects of sinusitis, often due to other symptoms such as poor sleep and loss of taste or smell. 
• Treating sinusitis can effectively alleviate the associated depressive symptoms.

As the seasons change and seasonal depression becomes more prevalent, it's important to recognize that one potential side effect of sinusitis is depression. According to Dr. Adil Fatakia of ENT & Allergy of New Orleans, many sinus patients deal with depression.

“I have witnessed a correlation between sinusitis and depression,” Dr. Fatakia told the Nola Reporter. “But with some improvement of chronic sinusitis, the improvement in symptoms can improve patients' cognition as well as psychological and psychiatric problems that they may suffer from. Simply put, chronic sinus issues are another weight that people have to carry. When they're lifted, it can impact all aspects of their health and behavior.”

According to Physician’s Weekly, studies have found that people with chronic sinusitis could also be more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. A study comparing 16,224 individuals treated for chronic sinusitis with 32,448 similar individuals without sinus issues revealed significant findings over an 11-year period. The research showed that those suffering from chronic sinusitis were more than 50% more likely to develop depression or anxiety compared to their counterparts without sinus problems. 

A report from Houston Advanced Nose and Sinus found that as many as 25% of people with chronic sinusitis also experience depression, along with more familiar sinus infection symptoms such as headaches, facial pain, a cough, and nasal discharge. Depression resulting from chronic sinusitis can be effectively treated by addressing the underlying sinus infection. Treatment options may include medication or surgical interventions such as balloon sinuplasty, which can help alleviate the symptoms of sinusitis and, in turn, reduce associated depressive symptoms.

Each year, approximately ten million Americans experience seasonal depression, also called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). According to a report from Boston University, symptoms of SAD can include sadness, sluggishness, and changes in weight. SAD typically occurs during the winter, when days are shorter and there is less sunlight than at other times of the year. Treatments for SAD can include light therapy or traditional treatments such as antidepressants.

According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, the risk of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) increases with age and is relatively rare in individuals under 20. The disorder also disproportionately affects women compared to men. Diagnosis typically involves a thorough mental health examination and a review of the patient's health history.

According to ENT and Allergy of New Orleans' website, Dr. Adil Fatakia received his Bachelor of Science degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. He later earned his medical degree at the Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. Dr. Fatakia completed a five-year residency program in head and neck surgery at Tulane University, followed by a fellowship in sinus and skull base surgery at the Sinus and Nasal Institute of Florida in St. Petersburg.