Ever felt like your sinus and nose congestion never seems to go away, no matter what the season is? Well, it is likely that you may suffer from nasal polyps.
Nasal polyps are a chronic condition that develops in the air gaps connecting to the nasal cavity. They are the growth of the lining tissue of your nose, also referred to as Mucosa. Nasal polyps are often soft and do not cause any pain but do tend to hang down your nostrils.
While one may not know they have nasal polyps, the good news is that proper diagnosis and treatment can help you to keep this condition under control.
What Causes Nasal Polyps To Grow?
Nasal Polyps develop when mucous films covering the nose or sinuses transform. The layers become puffed up for quite a while or keep on kindling every once in a while. This inflammation causes the layer of fluid on the linings to swell and redden up. The liquid soon starts dripping out of the nostrils and changes into a polyp.
Specialists have found out that certain sensitivities and diseases cause irritation. This was concluded after the tissue of the nasal polyps was concentrated and examined deeply. While Nasal Polyps mostly occur in individuals unexpectedly, some people can also expect it if they have gone through illnesses such as hay fever or asthma.
What Are The Symptoms Of Nasal Polyps?
As we already referenced, Nasal polyps are soft and painless structures so they don’t show up much in the beginning. However, as they grow, they start showing some mild symptoms such as the following:
- Nose Blockage
- Mucus running down your throat (postnasal drip)
- Congestion in nose
- Not being able to smell properly
- Headaches
- Sleep Apnea
- Additional pressure on your face especially your forehead
- Increased snoring
- Having to breathe through your mouth
If the polyp continues to develop and comes in contact with any kind of infection then you might feel pain where your cheekbones meet your eyes.
Are Nasal Polyps Hereditary?
Many people might be unaware of it but nasal polyps are hereditary. Many studies have shown the same. A study by Rugina et al concluded that 50% of those suffering from nasal polyps showed family relations.
Another study suggested nasal polyps to be heavily influenced by certain hereditary elements.
Apart from this, some researchers also found the environment and a patient’s lifestyle to be the core element for the development of nasal polyps.
Do Nasal Polyps Bleed?
Many patients are often curious about whether nasal polyps hurt severely or bleed. The answer is no. Since nasal polyps are soft, they have very low sensations.
Nonetheless, there are other harmless and carcinogenic masses that might fill in sinuses and nasal sections and mask themselves as nasal polyps, like an altered papilloma or sinus malignant growth.
On the off chance that you are encountering unexplained torment and draining in your nose, don’t disregard it, particularly in the event that it’s simply on one side of your nose. Your ENT might have to play out a biopsy assuming the development looks dubious.
What Are The Treatments Available For Nasal Polyps?
Nasal polyps are treated through two mediums. That is either by medication or by surgery.
Medicines are usually used as the first line of action as they decrease aggravation and might assist with diminishing the size of the polyp along with getting rid of the clog. Some types of medicinal therapies are as follow:
- Nasal Steroid-Showering nasal steroids into the nose can decrease your runny nose and blockage by contracting the polyp. However, once you quit taking them, side effects may rapidly return.
- Injectable/oral steroid-One of the oral or injectable steroids, prednisone, might be a choice if nasal steroids don’t work. However, it is not always preferred because of its genuine secondary effects, including fluid development, expanded pulse, and raised tension in the eyes.
- Allergy medicines or antimicrobials- They may also treat sensitivities or sinus contamination brought about by aggravation in the nose.
In case none of the medical therapies works and your side effects do not improve, surgical procedures depending upon the size of polyps are then suggested to help eliminate them. An example of one such surgery is polypectomy. It is a short-term medical procedure done using a microdebrider that cuts and eliminates delicate tissue, including the mucosa.
How To Prevent Nasal Polyps From Forming?
Although nasal polyps can sometimes be inevitable, a few things that can help avoid nasal polyps from growing again:
- Keeping up with a good hygiene
- Using nasal sprays
- Using a humidifier for your surrounding
- Stay away from soaring substances.
- Using distilled water.
Final Word
All in all, nasal polyps are soft and non-sensational growth of your mucosa lining which can cause serious pain and irritation if not prevented early. Good hygiene along with proper care can do wonders in preventing them from forming, helping you live a contented peaceful life.
