Nasal polyps are soft and painless teardrop-shaped growths in the sinus or nasal linings. People with pre-existing conditions like asthma, allergies, or recurring nasal inflammation and infections. Some medications and treatment options can help patients manage and treat nasal polyps and relieve symptoms associated with them.
What Are Nasal Polyps?
Nasal polyps are soft, painless, and noncancerous growths in the sinus or nasal linings. They vary in size. They are typically shaped like teardrops but as they grow, they can take on the shape of grapes. They are typically pink, yellow, or gray in color.
Nasal polyps may grow in one or both nostrils at the same time. The growths often form in groups and clusters, but they can also grow on their own. As polyps grow larger or more grow in clusters, it can cause difficulties in breathing and can even go as far as affecting the patient’s sense of smell. Nasal polyps can cause nasal blockage and can ultimately lead to infections.
What Are the Symptoms of Nasal Polyps?
- Nasal congestion, or stuffy nose, makes it difficult to breathe even in people who don’t have asthma
- Runny nose
- Loss of sense of taste and smell
- Postnasal drip, or mucus running down the back of the throat
- Facial pain or pressure
- Pain or pressure in the teeth
- Headaches
- Snoring
- Itching around the eyes
- Sleep apnea or other sleep disorders
What Causes Nasal Polyps?
Healthcare providers and medical experts don’t know what exactly causes nasal polyps. They have yet to find out why some people get nasal polyps while others don’t after sinus inflammation.
There are, however, certain risk factors that can increase the risk of developing nasal polyps. These include:
- Chronic sinusitis
- Allergies
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Aspirin sensitivity
- Allergic rhinitis
How Are Nasal Polyps Diagnosed?
Nasal polyps are diagnosed through a thorough physical examination. Your healthcare provider will look inside your nose with a scope. This medical instrument is thin and tube-like with a camera and light at one end. In some cases, your doctor may take a small sample of the growth for biopsy purposes.
They will also ask about your symptoms – what they are and how long you’ve had them. Additionally, they will also look into your medical history of sinus infections, asthma, and allergies.
A CT or MRI scan may also be performed to determine the size and location of the polyps. If your doctor thinks that allergies may be a contributing factor, an allergy test may also be conducted.
How Are Nasal Polyps Managed and Treated?
There are various ways to manage and treat nasal polyps:
1. Steroid nasal sprays
Steroid nasal sprays can sometimes shrink nasal polyps. Additionally, they can help clear out blockages and moisturize the sinuses. Symptoms will return if this treatment is stopped.
2. Allergy medications
If your nasal polyps are linked to your allergies, allergy medications can shrink polyps and prevent them from growing back.
3. Oral steroids
Oral steroids are pills you swallow, like that of prednisone. These can shrink polyps, reduce swelling, and help improve nasal congestion and blockage.
4. Other medications
Other medications like antibiotics and antihistamines are other common medications for nasal polyps. Antibiotics can treat bacteria-caused sinus infections while antihistamines can reduce nasal swelling and provide relief from nasal congestion.
5. Nasal endoscopy
If medications don’t work, sinus surgeries might be your best option.
Nasal endoscopy is a popular minimally invasive procedure for polyps. The procedure uses a tube-like instrument with lights at the end. The tube is inserted into the nasal passages and allows healthcare providers to remove the polyps. This allows proper mucus drainage and better breathing. This is often an outpatient procedure.
The type of nasal endoscopy surgery will depend on the polyp size. Doctors perform a polypectomy for small polyps while an endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is better suited for larger polyps.
6. Balloon sinuplasty
With balloon sinuplasty, your doctor uses a small balloon catheter and inserts it into your nasal cavity. They gently inflate the balloon to open up your sinuses and get rid of nasal blockages. Your doctor may perform nasal removal at the same time.
Can Nasal Polyps Be Prevented?
You can’t prevent nasal polyps but what you can do is take all your medications as directed by your physician. Nasal sprays can be effective in flushing out allergens from your sinus passages. Additionally, managing and treating sinus infections can help keep nasal polyps at bay.
When to Contact an Expert: Del Rey MD Can Help
Nasal polyps can shrink on their own but this is rarely the case. Seek medical attention if you notice growths and accompanying symptoms that last longer than a week. Severe symptoms will also need immediate medical attention. Schedule a consultation with us at Del Rey MD today!