(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- You are not in the clear if you suffer from rhinosinusitis (CRS), an inflammatory condition involving the paranasal sinuses. Those who are affected by CRS are more likely to suffer from other chronic illnesses.

A new study suggests patients who suffer from CRS also tend to suffer from asthma, arthritis and asthma-like illnesses. Researchers studied 1,970,695 patients to determine if such a relationship existed. The analysis shows an especially high incidence of CRS in patients with asthma, who are also more likely to have nasal polyps.

Researchers also noted that patients with high blood pressure and arthritis have high incidences of chronic sinusitis. Results of the study suggest these chronic illnesses and chronic rhinosinusitis may share certain mechanisms that influence how they arise or progress.

More than 37 million Americans suffer at least one episode of acute sinusitis each year, according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery. Researchers suggest the prevalence of the condition has risen in the last decade because of urban sprawl, pollution and increased antibiotic resistance.

SOURCE: (AAO-HNSF) Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO, October 4, 2009

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