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Mar 10, 2025|Nasal Polyps

All About Nasal Polyps: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment Options

Nasal polyps are teardrop-shaped growths in the sinus linings. They are soft, painless, and several treatment options can help treat nasal polyps and manage their symptoms. It can be hard to determine what causes them but some people with pre-existing conditions can be more susceptible.

Nasal Polyps: What Are They?

Nasal polyps are soft and non-cancerous growths that appear in the sinus linings. They are painless and come in a variety of sizes. Nasal polyps can grow in one or both nostrils simultaneously. While they often form in clusters, they can grow on their own.

Nasal polyps can appear in pink, yellow, or gray colors. At first, they appear teardrop-shaped but as they grow, they look more like grapes.

While nasal polyps are painless, they can cause difficulties in breathing through the nose as they grow larger or increase in number. The nasal blockage can potentially lead to increased risks of infections. Sometimes, it can even affect the person’s sense of smell.

Common symptoms of nasal polyps

Here are the most common symptoms of nasal polys you can watch out for:

  • Nasal growths that cause congestion or stuffy nose – making it difficult to breathe through the nose
  • Loss of sense of smell
  • Runny nose
  • Postnasal drip, which is mucus that runs down to the back of the throat
  • Headaches
  • Pain or pressure in the face
  • Pain or pressure in the teeth
  • Itchy eyes or the area around them
  • Snoring
  • Sleep disorders like sleep apnea

Nasal Polyps: What Causes the Growth?

The exact cause of nasal polyps remains unclear. While healthcare professionals have yet to pinpoint a definitive reason, they often develop following a sinus infection. However, it’s still unknown why some individuals experience nasal polyps while others do not.

Pre-existing conditions make people more susceptible to developing nasal polyps. These conditions include:

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Chronic sinusitis
  • Allergic rhinitis
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Sensitivity and/or intolerance to aspirin

Nasal Polyps Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider can diagnose nasal polyps via a thorough physical examination. They will have to look inside your nasal passages with a thin and tube-like medical instrument with a camera and light at one end (the instrument is called a scope). Your doctor might take a small sample of the growth for biopsy.

Your doctor may order a CT or MRI scan to assess the size and location of the polyps. They will also evaluate your symptoms, including their duration and severity, and review your medical history—particularly any history of allergies, asthma, or sinus infections. If allergies are suspected as a cause, an allergy test may be recommended.

How Are Nasal Polyps Treated?

Nasal polyps and growth can be treated and managed in various ways:

  • Oral steroids

    Oral steroids, such as prednisone, are taken like any other medication and can help shrink nasal polyps while reducing inflammation. By decreasing swelling, they relieve blockages and improve breathing.

  • Allergy medications

    Allergies are a common risk factor for nasal polyps. If this is the case for you, your care provider can recommend this treatment option to shrink the growth and reduce the likelihood of regrowth.

  • Steroid nasal sprays

    Steroid nasal sprays are known as effective measures to break down mucus buildup and clear blockages. In some cases, they can aid in shrinking nasal polyps.

  • Antibiotics and antihistamines

    Other medications like antibiotics and antihistamines are also commonly recommended options. If you have sinus infections caused by bacteria, your doctor might put you on a round of antibiotics. On the other hand, antihistamines can manage allergy symptoms, reduce the swelling of the nasal passages, and clear blockages.

  • Balloon sinuplasty

    Balloon sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure where your doctor will insert a small balloon catheter into the nasal cavity. Then, they will gently inflate the balloon to open up the sinuses. While this does not remove nasal polyps, it can clear blockages. Sometimes, nasal polyp removal may be done at the same time.

  • Nasal endoscopy

    If other treatments are ineffective, your provider may recommend surgical removal of nasal polyps.
    A nasal endoscopy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a thin, lighted instrument inserted into the nose to remove the growths, helping restore proper mucus drainage and improve breathing.

For smaller polyps, a polypectomy is performed, while larger or more extensive growths may require functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for more comprehensive treatment.

Jupiter Sinus and Allergy is an Expert in Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps cannot always be prevented. Often, it is a result of other sinus issues like allergies, sinusitis, or asthma. What you can do is follow your doctor’s recommendations to manage and treat them.

At Jupiter Sinus and Allergy, we are experts in treating nasal polyps and managing the symptoms that come with it. Schedule a consultation with us today and finally find relief!

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

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