Williamsburg Sun

• Chronic sinusitis affects 28.9 million American adults, or 11% of the adult population. 
• Balloon sinuplasty is the procedure most often recommended for people with chronic sinusitis. 
• There are many symptoms associated with chronic sinusitis, including erectile dysfunction.

Studies show that erectile dysfunction is one of many possible symptoms of chronic sinusitis. According to Dr. John Ditto of Richmond Breathe Free, there is an association between erectile dysfunction and sinusitis. 

"Chronic sinusitis can affect the rest of your health in multiple ways," Dr. Ditto told the Williamsburg Sun. "There's a study that links erectile dysfunction with sinusitis. If your nose is obstructed because of chronic sinusitis, you have sleep apnea, and you can't sleep, then your sleep apnea is going to cause problems with male sexual function."

Erectile dysfunction, which the National Institutes of Health defines as “the inability to attain and maintain an erection of sufficient quality to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse,” affects approximately 5% of men in the United States, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). A study using data from more than one million people from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) found that chronic rhinosinusitis can put patients at increased risk for erectile dysfunction. According to the report, treating rhinosinusitis surgically significantly decreased the risk of erectile dysfunction in patients.

Yahoo Sports reported that men who suffer from chronic sinusitis are as much as 50% more likely to be impotent compared to men who do not suffer from sinusitis, citing a report from Kaohsiung University in Taiwan. The study found that when sinusitis inflames the lining of the sinuses, it causes the blood vessels in men's genitals to restrict blood flow.

While some people might turn to medication to try to alleviate their sinus symptoms, medications such as Sudafed or other cold medications can also cause erectile dysfunction, according to Men's Journal.

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a mix of physical and psychological issues. Often, there are underlying issues associated with erectile dysfunction, and those can be helped by seeing a doctor, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

According to Richmond Breathe Free's website, Dr. John Ditto received his medical degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine, where he earned recognition for his research efforts. He then went on to receive specialized training in ear, nose, and throat disorders at the University of Michigan's department of otolaryngology head and neck surgery.