My friend was suffering from a persistent headache on the right side of his forehead. He thought it only had sinus problems, but the pain lingered, refusing to go away.
After some time, his nose became congested, making it difficult for him to detect any smell or to breathe through it. As it happens, the problem was nasal polyps—small, balloon-like growths that can block your nasal passages and interfere with your activities.
If you have been experiencing the same symptoms, that my friend faced, then you are having the same issue. This is not a minor issue—approximately 4% of adults in the United States suffer from nasal polyps. Yes!
This guide covers everything you need to know: what these polyps are, how to deal with them, and more.
What are Nasal Polyps?
Nasal polyps are like little, benign growths that can develop in your nose. They are not aggressive but they can be a nuisance. These polyps develop in the moist mucosal lining of your nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. These polyps can have a spherical shape, but they often resemble small, tear-shaped formations. Depending on their size, they can look like peeled grapes; they are pink, yellow, or gray.
Approximately 40% of the world population have nasal polyps. That’s surprising!
They are more common in men than in women. Although they can develop at any age, they are most common in people aged 30–40. As you age, the chances of developing nasal polyps increases.
These little growths can obstruct your airways through your nose making it difficult to breathe. They can also lead to other issues such as a blocked nose, loss of smell, and a runny nose.
If you have these signs, you should visit a doctor. They can identify this condition and advise on the appropriate management including use of drugs or operation.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Nasal Polyps?
In many cases, small nasal polyps are asymptomatic, meaning that you will not experience any symptoms. However, as they grow larger, they can lead to:
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Nasal Congestion: This is a congestion feeling that makes it hard to breathe through the nose.
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Rhinorrhea: This is a condition whereby the nasal discharge is loose, and is mostly clear in coloration.
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Headaches: These may be mild or severe, and may be due to sinus pressure.
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Loss of Smell and Taste: Polyps can obstruct the olfactory nerves that are involved in these sensations.
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Nosebleeds: Polyps are relatively fragile structures and their mucosa has a tendency to bleed.
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Postnasal Drip: This is the feeling of mucus sliding down the back of your throat.
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Sinus Pressure: It can also lead to pain and tenderness in the region of the face.
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Snoring: Polyps can also be large enough to cause obstruction of airways and therefore cause snoring and sleep disorders.
When to Worry
If left untreated, large nasal polyps can cause more serious problems, including:
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Frequent Asthma Attacks: Nasal polyps may cause asthmatic patients to have more severe and frequent attacks.
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Repeated Sinus Infections: Polyps can obstruct sinuses, making them prone to infection.
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Sleep Apnea: This sleep disorder involves temporary pauses in breathing during sleep, followed by restarts.
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Difficulty Breathing: In patients without asthma, large polyps can equally cause a lot of respiratory compromise.
What Causes Nasal Polyps?
The cause of nasal polyps is not well understood, but it is apparent that inflammation is a major factor. Other factors include; Chronic sinusitis which is often caused by allergies, infections, or asthma.
Risk Factors for Nasal Polyps
Several factors can increase your risk of developing nasal polyps:
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Asthma: Nasal polyps are more common in people with asthma.
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Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever): This is so because allergies cause chronic inflammation of the nasal passage.
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Chronic Sinus Infections: Chronic sinusitis predisposes one to polyp development.
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Cystic Fibrosis: This is a genetic disorder that impacts the lungs and other organs of the body.
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Sensitivity to NSAIDs: Some people are allergic to aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
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Genetics: If you or other members of your family have had nasal polyps in the past, you may also be at risk.
Potential Complications
In rare cases, untreated nasal polyps can lead to serious complications:
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Bone Infection (Osteomyelitis): This can happen if an infection has reached the bone.
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Abscesses: These are areas of infection that may develop in the sinuses.
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Meningitis: This is a severe condition that affects the membranes of the brain and spinal chord.
How Doctors Figure Out if You Have Nasal Polyps
If you go to a doctor, and you want to know whether you have nasal polyps or not, the doctor will first question you. They will need to know about your symptoms such as a blocked nose, inability to smell or have a runny nose. They will also enquire about your health history, whether you are allergic to certain things or if you have asthma.
If your doctor wants to have a better view of the inside of your nose, he or she may use a nasal endoscope. It is a very slim pipe with a light and a small video camera on the end of it. This assists them to determine whether there are any polyps obstructing your nasal passages.
Tests to Confirm Nasal Polyps
If the doctor wants more information, he or she may request some tests. One common test is a CT scan. This is like an X-ray that shows the pictures of your sinuses from different perspectives. Another test is an MRI scan that is a painless scan that uses magnets to take pictures of your sinuses.
Your doctor may also recommend an allergy test. This may help you avoid things that may cause your allergies such as pollen or dander which causes inflammation of the nasal passage and formation of polyps.
You should consult your doctor if you are experiencing some of the signs that mentioned above. It is important to get treatment as soon as you are diagnosed with the disease.
How are Nasal Polyps Treated?
When it comes to treating nasal polyps, it all depends on how bad your symptoms are. Your doctor will likely recommend a mix of meds and, in some cases, surgery. Here’s a rundown of what you can expect.
Medication
Medications won’t completely get rid of nasal polyps, but they can shrink them down and make your symptoms—like stuffy nose, difficulty breathing, and loss of smell—a lot easier to handle. Here’s a quick look at the most common treatments:
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Steroid Nasal Sprays: These sprays pack a punch with corticosteroids, which help reduce swelling and shrink those polyps. They’re often the go-to treatment because they’re safe for long-term use without causing major issues.
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Oral Steroids: If things are a little more intense, your doctor might hand you oral steroids like prednisone. These pills are stronger than nasal sprays, but you can’t take them for too long. Why? Because they can cause side effects like weight gain or even make your bones weaker.
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Biologic Medications: For those who don’t get much relief from steroids, there’s another option—biologic treatments like dupilumab injections. These are designed to help your immune system fight the inflammation causing polyps. They can be a game-changer, but they’re also pretty pricey and usually used for more severe cases.
In some cases, if there’s an infection, your doctor might throw in some antibiotics too. A mix of antibiotics and nasal sprays can help in about 60% of cases within a few weeks.
Surgery for Nasal Polyps
Sometimes, meds just don’t cut it, or the polyps are too big to shrink. That’s when surgery might be on the table. Around 20-30% of people with nasal polyps eventually need surgery. Here are the most common options:
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Polypectomy: This is the least invasive surgery. The doctor uses tiny tools—like surgical scissors or snares—to grab and remove the polyps. The surgical snare acts like a lasso, wrapping around each polyp and pulling it out safely. It’s quick, especially for smaller polyps, but may not work as well if you have larger growths or a lot of them.
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Balloon Sinuplasty: Suppose, you have a small balloon that you insert into your nostrils and then blow to remove any blockage in the sinus cavity. That’s what this procedure is all about. Sometimes, the doctor will remove polyps while doing it. It’s pretty low-risk, and the recovery time is quicker than other surgeries. This is perfect for smaller polyps or people looking for faster relief.
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Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS): This one’s a little more in-depth. If you’ve got large polyps or a severe blockage, FESS might be your best bet. The surgeon will use a camera (called an endoscope) to guide tools inside your nostrils, clearing out polyps and any damaged tissue or bone. It’s effective and can give you long-lasting relief, but the recovery time is a bit longer than the other options.
One of the amazing thing is that all these surgical options are minimally invasive. Yes! It’s means they require no visible cuts or stitches. Recovery tends to be faster compared to traditional surgeries. However, nasal polyps can sometimes return after surgery. For this reason, doctors often recommend follow-up care to manage symptoms and prevent polyps from regrowing.
Prevention Tips
It’s not always possible to avoid the formation of nasal polyps, but you can reduce your risk of getting them. Here are some tips that may help reduce your risk:
Follow Your Doctor’s Advice
It is very important to take all prescribed medications in the way your doctor instructed you to. If you try using nasal sprays, oral steroids or any other medicines consider following the guidelines strictly. This can help to keep any inflammation in check and thereby lower your chances of developing polyps.
Avoid Allergens and Irritants
Substances such as pollen, dust, pet dander and smoke are known to cause inflammation of the nasal passages. This irritation can lead to formation of polyps. Therefore, if possible, it is advisable to avoid these airborne irritants.
Use a Humidifier
Dry air will only make your nasal passages feel worse than they are. If you have a humidifier in your home, particularly during winter, you will be in a position to prevent the drying off of your sinuses.
Try a Saline Nasal Rinse
Clearing your nostrils by means of using a saline nasal rinse or spray will help remove allergens, dust and other irritants from your nostrils. This can help clear your nasal passages and may prevent the formation of polyps.
Practice Good Hygiene
Washing your hands frequently and keeping your surrounding clean can also prevent you from getting an infection that may cause inflammation of your sinuses. Nasal polyps may develop from infections, and thus cleanliness is encouraged.
Last Words
If you notice any syptoms menitoned in this guide that last more than 10 days or do not start to get better, call your doctor.
It will not disappear on its own like some people might expect. If you have a single mass on one side of your nasal passage, then it may not be a polyp, it may be a tumor. If this is the case, then it’s recommended that you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.
FAQs About Nasal Polyps
1. Can nasal polyps go away on their own?
In some cases, nasal polyps tend to reduce in size on their own. But most of the time, they will not disappear entirely. If they are big issues, for example breathing issues or smelly, you may require a prescription or operation.
2. Is it possible to see nasal polyps by holding a mirror up to the nose?
Most of the time, you cannot observe nasal polyps with the naked eye when you look up your nose. They are usually too tiny to be seen. Perhaps, a doctor could find them with something called nasoscope which is actually a form of a small torch.
3. Can nasal polyps fall out?
About 12% of people with nasal polyps have them dislodged. If you blow your nose too hard or get hit in the nose, they can become swollen or even fall out. A nasal steroid spray can help reduce the inflammation and allow the polyp to return to where it belongs.
4. Is it possible to take out nasal polyps on my own?
Never attempt to take out a nasal polyp on your own. It’s not safe, and it may cause bleeding, infection or other complications. It is always advisable to consult a doctor if you have any worry relating to your nasal polyps.
