ABSTRACT
The U.S. population has a higher life expectancy than ever before. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, life expectancy at birth was 47.3 years in 1900, and by 2002, it had increased to 77.3 years (1). The U.S. residents over the age of 65 numbered 35 million in the year 2000 and that number is expected to reach 86 million by the year 2050. Persons over 65 will comprise about 20% of the U.S. population (2). A significant number of these people may experience rhinologic problems related to their age that could damage their quality of life.
