Nasal polyps refer to noncancerous, painless, and soft growths that appear on your nasal passage lining or sinuses. These growths hang down just like grapes or teardrops. Chronic inflammation can lead to the development of such growths.
They are also associated with asthma, drug sensitivity, allergies, and recurrent infection. Certain immune disorders play a crucial role in causing the development of nasal polyps. Small nasal polyps may not induce symptoms in people.
If nasal polyps are present in groups, they can block your nasal passages and cause issues with breathing. People with these nasal polyps can lose their sense of smell and get frequent infections. Nasal polyps can develop in people of any age, but commonly they occur in adults.
Medications can eliminate or shrink nasal polyps. Sometimes doctors recommend you have surgery for the removal of these nasal polyps. Nasal polyps can recur even after getting successful treatment.
Symptoms
Nasal polyps are linked with the swelling and irritation of your nasal passage lining and sinuses. They can last for more than 12 weeks in case of chronic sinusitis. But you can suffer from chronic sinusitis without having nasal polyps.
They are soft, and you do not feel any sensation in them. You may even not be aware of if you have nasal polyps if they are small. Large polyps or multiple growths can work to block your sinuses and nasal passages.
Common symptoms of chronic sinusitis with the problem of nasal polyps are given below.
- Having stuff persistently in the nose and a runny nose
- Post Nasal drip and loss of taste
- Snoring and facial pain
- Frequent nosebleeds and pain in the area of upper teeth
- A feeling of pressure on your forehead and face
If you are experiencing symptoms for more than ten days, schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional. Symptoms of nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis are similar to other conditions, including the common cold condition.
If you experience serious breathing issues and your symptoms become worse, suddenly call 911 or seek immediate medical care. You may have reduced or double vision and feel unable to move your eyes. In this case, contact your family members to take you to the hospital if you are alone.
Getting severe swelling around the areas of your eyes is also a worse symptom. Having a high fever with a headache is another alarming situation that signs that you need emergency medical care.
Causes
Scientists are not yet sure about the exact cause of nasal polyps and why some people get nasal polyps. However, some evidence suggests that specific immune system responses and chemical markers may be responsible for the development of nasal polyps.
And these responses and chemical markers are absent in people who do not have nasal polyps. Therefore, the group of nasal polyps can appear anywhere in the area of your nasal passages.
Risk Factors
Any condition that triggers the swelling and inflammation in your sinuses and nasal passages can enhance the risk of getting nasal polyps. These conditions can be allergies and infection. The condition of asthma is linked with nasal polyps.
It is a disease that causes the swelling of the airway and makes it narrow. Other associated conditions are aspirin sensitivity and allergic fungal sinusitis that is the allergy to some airborne fungi.
Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disorder that causes abnormally thick mucus and fluids in your body, including your sinus and nasal lining. Churg-Strauss syndrome is associated with nasal polyps that are the inflammation of blood vessels.
Deficiency of Vitamin D can be a risk factor for developing nasal polyps. Another risk factor that plays a vital role in developing this condition is family history. Certain genetic variations linked with the immune system make you vulnerable to developing this condition.
Complications
Nasal polyps can lead to complications because they work to block the airflow and drainage of fluid. However, you can get long-term swelling and irritation from complications. Some potential complications are given below.
- Asthma Flare-Ups: Chronic sinusitis can make the symptoms of your asthma worse.
- Sinus Infection: Nasal polyps can make you vulnerable to getting a sinus infection.
- Obstructive Sleep Apnea: It is a severe condition in which people stop and start breathing during their sleep.
