Thirty-seven million Americans suffer from serious sinus problems or sinusitus each year.
For many patients, sinus surgery- which requires bone and tissue removal - is their only hope for relief.
Now there's a new procedure that keeps your bones and tissue in tact.
It's called the balloon sinuplasty and doctors say it's the first major improvement in sinus surgery in more than ten years.

Carol Olson got her first sinus infection in high school. Since then the problem has only gotten worse.
Carol Olson, "You're really uncomfortable because you can't breathe through your nose, you have a lot of congestion - a lot of drainage."
And with the fatigue and frequent headaches sinus infections often bring - she could barely make it through her work day.
Carol Olson, "I'd try to get through work and I'd come home and take a nap if I had an active sinus infection. So you don't get a whole lot done."
Carol's had two sinus surgeries to fix the problem. But they only brought temporary relief.
So in January, she tried new technology called the Sinus Dilatation Procedure or Balloon Sinuplasty.
Dr. Michael Rapp, "Like having a very bad cold but it never goes away."
Dr. Michael Rapp performed Carol's surgery. He says standard sinus procedures are done with endoscopic tools like this one.
Dr. Michael Rapp, "We look up into the nose and find the natural opening and then we take instruments that cut and tear to make the opening bigger...so that thick mucous can come out and air can get in."
The new, balloon sinuplasty procedure uses the same endoscopes - but there's no cutting.
Instead, doctors thread a guide wire catheter through the nose into the blocked sinus passage.
The balloon is then inflated just enough to open the passageway. Once it's open, the balloon is deflated and taken out - allowing the sinuses to drain.
Dr. Michael Rapp, "The lining has not been torn or violated. It just stretches to go with the bone and it just stays that way.
While, the procedure doesn't involve incisions or cutting - there is general anesthesia.
And the same risks involved in routine sinus surgeries are involved in this one. But doctors say with this procedure patients bleed less and recover faster.
Serese Cole, "Dr. Rapp says his first sinus procedure using the balloon was done in January, since then he's done 10 other procedures and they've all been successful - including Carol's."
Now Carol's feeling and breathing much better.
Carol Olson, "I have so much energy now. Just being able to work out again after work again and doing activities after work and get through the day it's really been good."
She only hopes this relief will last.

Because this procedure is so new, Dr. Rapp is optimistic the sinus relief will be permanent, but not certain.
But if you think you could benefit from the balloon sinuplasty procedure - he says says most ear, nose and throat surgeons have been trained - and a visit to your primary physician is the first step.