Gulf Coast Breathe Free offers relief for sinus sufferers: 'You get the procedure and reap the benefits for a lifetime'

Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers' mission is to alleviate the misery of allergy and sinus sufferers.

“I'm a chronic allergy sufferer myself,” the Pensacola clinic’s Dr. Matthew Blair said. “I have had allergy injections, allergy testing and have taken the gamut of medications in the past. So I really empathize with the patients because I deal with it on a daily basis.”

Treatments have advanced dramatically in recent years, the physician said. Blair’s interest in treating different types of sinus conditions means he must stay up-to-date on sinus surgery innovation and technology. 

“When I first started my residency, everything was lumped into the same two categories,” he explained. “You had shots for allergies or over-the-counter medication. For sinus problems, you had surgery.”

Sinus surgery was very painful and had to be conducted in an outpatient surgery center.

Today a procedure known as "balloon sinuplasty" can be performed at the doctor’s office. It can often help patients who are suffering from chronic sinusitis, which is defined as recurring sinus infections over a period of three months or more.

“(Balloon sinuplasty) is almost like going to the dentist,” Blair said. “You get the procedure and reap the benefits, hopefully for a lifetime.”

The minimally invasive procedure can take less than a minute for each sinus, according to Blair.

“We insert a small catheter into the natural opening of the of the sinus, then insert the balloon into the opening of the sinuses and dilate that balloon,” Blair said. “Then we deflate the balloon.”

These and other advanced treatments often can provide fast and long-lasting relief for patients who have been suffering from sinus problems for years.  

“Our practice philosophy is really to tailor our approach to the individual patient as to what kind of sino-nasal symptoms they're experiencing and want to fix,” the doctor said. “If you have any kind of sino-nasal conditions -- whether it's allergies, chronic sinusitis or any nasal symptom --  we listen to see what we can do to help you have a better quality of life.”

If you think you may have chronic sinusitis, take this quick online quiz, and Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers will contact you to discuss the results.

Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers is committed to providing the best sinus and allergy relief in the entire Panhandle area, using the most advanced, proven patient-friendly techniques available. With 29 million Americans suffering from sinusitis and 242,000 annual chronic sinusitis ER visits, our mission is to provide minimally invasive options for needed long-lasting relief so that patients can get back to living. We call this mission Breathe Free and Live Well, and it is the North Star that guides us in each unique collaborative patient interaction. To learn more about Gulf Coast Breathe Free Sinus & Allergy Centers, please visit our website.