What are Nasal Polyps?
Nasal polyps block the flow of air through the nose. As a result, nasal congestion occurs. Nasal polyps do not go away on their own after they form.
Depending on whether there is another accompanying disease, it may cause discomfort such as runny nose, difficulty in smelling, headache, snoring, sleep apnea, and throat sensitivity. Discharges flowing down the nose can also trigger asthma attacks.
Nasal polyps are pathological flesh tissues that develop due to a disease outside the nasal concha, which are normally found in the nose.
What Causes Nasal Polyps?
There can be many reasons for the formation of nasal polyps. The most common cause is allergic inflammation. Apart from this, polyps that develop due to sinusitis are also seen. There are also nasal polyps that can be called neoplasms, tumors. Nasal polyps, called tumors, are usually benign. Rarely, malignant ones can also be encountered.
How to Tell If You Have Nasal Polyps? What are The symptoms?
In nasal polyps, the patient feels that his nose is blocked because there is an extra tissue that takes up space in the nose. Although it does not mean that there is a polyp in every nasal congestion, one of the causes of nasal congestion is nasal polyps. With detailed examination of the inside of the nose, it is understood whether there is a polyp in the nose.
The appearance of normal nasal concha and abnormal nasal concha are different from each other. It can be difficult to tell from the appearance of the polyps whether they are due to allergies, developed as a result of inflammation, or whether they are malignant. In these cases, the polyps are surgically removed and the questions of why they arise are answered as a result of the necessary pathological examinations.
How to Treat Nasal Polyps?
In nasal polyps, the patient’s history is taken in detail. If there is a situation that may be due to allergies, such as non-bleeding and periodic growth and contraction, drug treatment can be planned first. After a few weeks of drug therapy, the disease can be completely healed. Drug treatment is planned for two purposes.
If the polyps have not completely disappeared after drug therapy, surgery is planned. As a result of the drug treatment given, the meat in the nose is in a tougher state, allowing an easier, healthier and more effective surgery to be performed. Therefore, there may be an approach such as planning drug treatment before the surgery and performing the surgery afterwards.
In the treatment, either only medication, or medication and surgery can be applied. Rarely, if the information obtained from the patient and the result of the examination do not suggest allergy or inflammation, and if cancer is suspected, direct surgery can be planned without wasting time with drug treatment.
What Happens If Nose Polyps Are Not Treated?
Nasal polyps can have dire consequences if left untreated. If the neoplasm is a structure, it can lead the patient to loss of life since cancer formation occurs.
If benign nasal polyps due to allergies or inflammation are not treated, they gradually grow in the nose and begin to take up space. When it takes up space, it compresses the surrounding tissues. It prevents the trapped tissues from getting blood. When these tissues cannot receive blood, they rot because they cannot receive nutrients and oxygen. Thus, deformations begin to occur on the patient’s face.
When viewed from the outside, images such as the patient’s face expands, his cheeks swell, his eyes begin to be pushed out as if they are going to pop out, and the forehead becomes more prominent. Nasal polyps create deformations in the area closest to whichever area they are in.
If the nasal polyps are not treated, it can be seen that they protrude out of the nostrils, down the nasal passages, and into the pharynx. These overflows can cause shape and image distortions. Inflammation may occur in overflowing areas. If it is overflowing, there may be difficulty in swallowing, breathing problems and suffocation.
Is Nasal Polyp Surgery Risky?
All surgeries have risks. Where the disease is located is very important. In nasal polyps, the surgical field is very close to the eye. There is a tissue of bone as thin as paper that separates the eye from the nose. This bone forms a wall between the eye and the nose. If there is a polyp developing from the sinuses near it and the integrity of the bone is not taken into consideration, it may cause risks for the fat tissues around the eyes and even the eye muscles.
Which Nasal Polyps Are Dangerous?
Polyps, more commonly called inverted papillons, are dangerous. However, all of them are dangerous when left untreated and grown.
Nasal Polyps: Frequently Asked Questions
What are nasal polyps and what do they feel like?
Nasal polyps are soft, painless, noncancerous growths on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses. They hang down like teardrops or grapes.
Small polyps may not cause any symptoms. However, larger growths or groups of polyps can block your nasal passages, leading to a persistent “stuffy” feeling, a decreased sense of smell, and a feeling of pressure in the face.
What are the primary symptoms of nasal polyps?
Nasal polyps are associated with chronic inflammation of the lining of your nasal passages (chronic sinusitis). Common symptoms include:
- Runny nose and persistent stuffiness.
- Postnasal drip: Mucus dripping down the back of your throat.
- Anosmia: Decreased or absent sense of smell.
- Facial pain or headache.
- Snoring: Caused by the obstruction of air flow during sleep.
Can nasal polyps go away on their own?
Nasal polyps rarely disappear entirely without treatment. While they may shrink if the underlying inflammation or allergy is controlled, they typically persist unless treated with medication or removed surgically.
If left untreated, they can lead to complications like obstructive sleep apnea or frequent sinus infections by trapping mucus in the sinus cavities.
What causes nasal polyps to form?
The exact cause is unknown, but they result from chronic inflammation. Factors that increase the risk include:
- Asthma: Inflammation of the airways often extends to the nose.
- Aspirin Sensitivity: Some people develop polyps as part of a reaction to aspirin or other NSAIDs.
- Allergic Rhinitis: Hay fever and other environmental allergies.
- Cystic Fibrosis: A genetic disorder that often produces thick, sticky mucus in the sinuses.
What are the best treatment options for nasal polyps?
Treatment focuses on reducing the size of the polyps or eliminating them. Options include:
- Nasal Corticosteroids: Sprays to reduce inflammation and shrink the polyps.
- Biologics: Newer injectable medications (like Dupilumab) for severe cases.
- Endoscopic Sinus Surgery: A minimally invasive procedure to remove polyps and clear the sinus openings if medication fails.
Do nasal polyps grow back after surgery?
Yes, nasal polyps have a high tendency to recur even after successful surgical removal. Because surgery fixes the blockage but not the underlying inflammatory tendency, long-term medical management is essential.
To prevent recurrence, doctors usually recommend continued use of steroid nasal sprays, saline rinses, or allergy management after the procedure.
