Nasal Polyps

Wednesday, September 23rd, 2009 Subscribe To Our Feed

Nasal polyps are teardrop-shaped, noncancerous growths on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses. They are a well known cause of sinus pressure and pain that occur in the nasal and sinus passages of many people. Nasal polyps are one of the most common of chronic sinus sufferers that may have anatomical obstructions in their nasal and sinus cavities.

The nasal polyps can be small or large and can also affect anyone. The small nasal polyps may cause no problems and go unnoticed, while the larger ones can block your nasal passages or sinuses and cause breathing difficulties, a loss of your sense of smell, frequent sinus infections and other problems. Adults are the common people who get the nasal polyps particularly those with asthma, frequent sinus infections and allergies. But, children with cystic fibrosis often develop nasal polyps.

People who get the nasal polyps may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:

1. A runny nose.
2. Watering from the nose (rhinorrhoea).
3. Postnasal drip.
4. Persistent stuffiness.
5. Sense of smell and taste may be dulled or lost.
6. Larger polyps may cause headaches and snoring.
7. Itching around eyes.
8. Voice sound different because of t blocked nose.
9. Sometimes polyps block the drainage channel of the sinuses (this can make more prone to sinusitis or infection of the sinuses).

By using medications, the nasal polyps can often be controlled especially corticosteroid medications like prednisone or steroid sprays. Surgery might be necessary if the nasal polyps cannot be controlled by medication. Even after successful treatments, nasal polyps often return. Nasal polyps are associated with chronic inflammation of the lining of your nasal passages and sinuses (chronic sinusitis). If you have several polyps or large polyps, they may obstruct your nasal passages and sinuses.

Do you need any tests? The nasal polyps from their appearance can usually be diagnosed by an ear nose and throat specialist. To look inside your nose and assess the extent of the polyps, a small flexible telescope may also be used. Sometimes a CT scan of the front of your face is ordered. This may be done to find out how large the polyps are, or if they are also in your sinuses.

See also related information: Nasal Polyps

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