Balloon Sinuplasty: A 2-Minute Self-Injection Technique to Relieve Coughing, Chest Tightness, and Sore Throat
If you’ve ever had a sore throat or a cough, you’ll understand how annoying they can be. Coughing and sore throats are usually caused by excessive accumulation of mucus in the airways. When this happens, the mucus production is stimulated which leads to coughing and soreness. Medicines for treating the condition include anticholinergics such as codeine and botanical medications like eucalyptus oil or peppermint oil. However, if these do not work for you, another option that you might consider is balloon sinuplasty.
Balloon sinuplasty is an easy-to-do self-injection technique that uses medical-grade rubber balloons to alleviate coughing, tightness in your chest, and soreness in your throat.
What is Balloon Sinuplasy?
Balloon sinuplasty is a procedure where a balloon is injected into the sinus cavity to drain excess mucus. The balloon fills with mucus and is then gently squeezed to release it into the nose again. This procedure can be used to treat chronic nosebleeds, chronic sinus infections, middle ear infections, and post-surgery nosebleeds.
There are two types of balloon sinuplasty. In the first, a balloon is placed through the nostril into the sinus cavity. The balloon is inflated and gently squeezed to drain excess mucus. Then the balloon is deflated and removed. The second type follows the same procedure, but instead of a nostril, the balloon is accessed through the ear.
How does Balloon Sinuplasty help with coughing, tightness in the chest, and sore throat?
Coughing is caused by the spasmodic contraction of the respiratory muscles. When you cough, you inhale and then exhale, producing several contractions that break up the mucus so that it can flow out of your lungs. Coughing can be a helpful way to expel mucus, but it can also be a cause of excessive coughing if it is done too much.
A cough can be caused by many different things, including a cold, allergies, asthma, bronchitis, or an infection. If you cough because of a cold or other upper respiratory infection, it is best to take care of these things so that excess coughing does not occur. While coughing can be a symptom of various ailments, excessive coughing can also be a result of anxiety, depression, or stress. Excessive coughing can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as certain narcotics. If excessive coughing occurs when you are taking these medications, it may be worth speaking with your doctor about other treatment options.
Pros of Balloon Sinuplasty
There are countless benefits of using medical-grade rubber balloons for sinus infections. They are relatively safe, easy to administer, and can be done at home. And because balloon sinuplasty is done with a hollow needle, there is no risk of infection. The procedure is quick. It takes about 10 minutes to complete, and you can go about your day afterward. The procedure is also portable, as you can do it while sitting down. Balloon sinuplasty is also cost-effective. The cost of the balloons is usually covered by the American Health Care Association, which means that the procedure is almost free.
Cons of Balloon Sinuplasty
While balloon sinuplasty has many benefits, it also has a few drawbacks. On average, patients report seeing a 30% reduction in symptoms after balloon sinuplasty. However, as is the case with most procedures, each patient might experience different results. After the procedure, there might be some mild discomfort in the ear for up to 2 days. Because balloon sinuplasty requires a hollow needle, some patients might experience anaphylaxis or skin reactions, especially if they are allergic to latex. Most patients who have balloon sinuplasty report that their symptoms completely resolve after the procedure. However, some patients report that their symptoms worsen after the balloon is removed.
Final Words
It is important to note that there is no “one size fits all” treatment for any health issue. Therefore, it is important to consult your sinus doctor if you have persistent coughing, chest pain, or a sore throat. A sinus doctor can examine you and recommend the best treatment options for you. As you can see, balloon sinuplasty is an effective and quick procedure that can be done. It is relatively safe and can be done for a variety of ailments, including chronic post-surgery nosebleeds, chronic nosebleeds, and chronic sinus infections.
