Questions You May Have About Nasal Polyps

Anyone can develop occasional nasal and sinus issues, from allergies that cause upper respiratory symptoms to sinus infections from viruses or bacteria. However, chronic sinus symptoms may stem from abnormal growths known as nasal polyps, a condition that may require treatment from an ear, nose, and throat specialist.

You can overcome the breathing blockages, pain, and other distressing symptoms of nasal polyps by learning more about these troublesome growths and the available options for getting them under control. These frequently asked questions about nasal polyps will help you take the right steps and regain your quality of life.

Nasal polyps form in the ethmoid sinuses, the air-filled chambers in your facial bones that lead to the nasal passages. These non-cancerous growths tend to hang downward from the mucous membranes in a teardroplike shape. When these growths appear, they usually appear symmetrically, involving both nasal passages.

Scientists don't know exactly why people develop nasal polyps. Research indicates that they may form due to an autoimmune reaction and/or after exposure to certain types of bacteria. Over time, recurring infections and allergic reactions may trigger the growth of nasal polyps, most commonly during the sufferer's 30s or 40s.

Certain other health problems can increase an individual's risk for nasal polyps. Examples include cystic fibrosis, Vitamin D deficiency, aspirin sensitivity, and a rare blood vessel disease called Churg-Strauss syndrome.

Symptoms of nasal polyps strongly resemble the hallmark symptoms of many other upper respiratory complaints such as the common cold, the flu, hay fever, or sinus infections. You may struggle with facial pain and pressure, a runny or stuffy nose, an impaired sense of smell, toothaches, nosebleeds, and chronic snoring.

Symptoms can worsen as the nasal polyps grow (or swell up during bouts of acute inflammation). In severe cases, you may experience trouble breathing through your nose.

If your symptoms don't go away on their own after 10 days, you should schedule a medical examination to find the root of the problem. Chronic symptoms that last 12 weeks or more often indicate the presence of nasal polyps.

Your ENT can employ a variety of diagnostic techniques to diagnose nasal polyps, from digital imaging scans to the insertion of a flexible tube containing a tiny camera. If you do indeed suffer from nasal polyps, your condition may respond to either non-surgical or surgical treatment.

Medications can often help shrink swollen nasal polyps to help restore normal breathing and sense of smell. You may receive a prescription for a steroid-based nasal spray, oral steroids, or injections of a drug known as dupilumab. To help inhaled drugs enter the sinuses, the ENT may need to place a stent as an outpatient surgery.

Large, stubborn nasal polyps that resist these treatments may call for surgical removal. Your surgeon can perform this procedure using special instruments inside a flexible tube similar to the one used in diagnosis. Full recovery may take a few weeks. If you develop new polyps, you can repeat the surgery as needed.

Your ENT may recommend specific lifestyle changes or preventative practices to help you reduce your risk for nasal polyps. For example, since chronic sinus inflammation seems to trigger nasal polyps, you may need to add a humidifier, nasal rinse system, or comprehensive allergy management plan to your everyday routine. 

Smoking irritates the nasal passages and sinuses, making it a potential factor in nasal polyp problems. In fact, 18 percent of smokers suffer from nasal polyps, as opposed to just four percent of the general population. If you smoke, do everything you can to stop. 

If you struggle with symptoms that point to nasal polyps, you can get an accurate diagnosis and whatever treatment you may need at Wilmington Ear Nose & Throat MD. Contact us to schedule an ENT appointment.