Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Are Nasal Polyps?SymptomsCommon CausesPhysical Examination
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Are Nasal Polyps?
Symptoms
Common Causes
Physical Examination
Noncancerous growths inside the nasal cavity and/or sinuses, called nasal polyps, often don’t have symptoms—and when they do, the symptoms are very similar to those associated with colds, allergies, and sinus infections.
While it’s not possible to self-diagnose nasal polyps, healthcare providers are able to perform a few different tests to help determine if a person has nasal polyps.
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Nasal polyps are soft, swollen, abnormal, sac-like growths that line the inside of a person’s nose or sinuses. They are often teardrop-shaped, and grow together in groups on both sides of a person’s nasal cavity.
One-Sided Nasal PolypsOne-sided nasal polyps typically trigger further investigation, as they may be malignant nasal or sinus tumors.
One-Sided Nasal Polyps
One-sided nasal polyps typically trigger further investigation, as they may be malignant nasal or sinus tumors.
Though nasal polyps themselves are not a form of cancer, it is possible for other growths to form in the nasal cavity that are cancerous—though they are not considered polyps.
Frequently, nasal polyps grow where the sinuses open into the nasal cavity and can vary in size. While small polyps may not cause any problems—and may not be noticeable—larger polyps canblock your sinusesor nasal airway, making it difficult to breathe.
In general, nasal polyps are quite common, and anyone can develop them, though they tend to most frequently appear when a person is in their 30s and 40s.
Symptoms of Nasal Polyps
In some cases, people with nasal polyps don’t experience any symptoms at all. For others, they may simply feel as though they have a normal (but never-ending) head cold or sinus infection. Thesymptoms of nasal polypscan include a combination of the following:
Common Causes of Nasal Polyps
Because the exact causes of nasal polyps are not yet known, it can be helpful to look at other conditions and symptoms that people with the growths tend to have. For instance, if a person has an underlying inflammation of tissue, they may be more likely to develop nasal polyps.
Frequently, the inflammation of the nose and sinus cavities are a result of chronic rhinosinusitis—which is a very common medical condition affecting approximately 12% of adults worldwide. And approximately 20% of people with chronic rhinosinusitis have nasal polyps.
Similarly, people who have the following conditions may also develop nasal polyps:
There is no way to do a self-check for nasal polyps at home. Instead, if you are having difficulty breathing through your nose, experiencing a prolonged cold or sinus infection, or have lost your sense of taste or smell, it’s a good idea to see your healthcare provider. The first thing a practitioner will do is look inside your nose, using one of the following instruments:
Self DiagnosisThere is no way to self diagnosis nasal polyps at home. You need to see a healthcare provider.
Self Diagnosis
There is no way to self diagnosis nasal polyps at home. You need to see a healthcare provider.
Nasal Endoscopy
An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and a light that, in this case, is inserted into the nose. The healthcare provider then guides the tube through a person’s nasal and sinus passages, allowing them to see images of the area that can only be seen through the endoscope.
Imaging
In order to diagnose nasal polyps that are deeper in the sinus cavities or aren’t clearly seen during the nasal endoscopy, your healthcare provider may order some type of imaging test to help get a clearer picture of the problem. These procedures may include:
A Word From Verywell
A nasal endoscopy may be uncomfortable, but it will help your healthcare provider determine if you have nasal polyps, and if so, how best to treat them. For example, they may come across polyps that are quite large and, once removed, should result in your ability to breathe better.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.Chainansamit S, Chit-Uea-Ophat C, Reechaipichitkul W, Piromchai P.The diagnostic value of traditional nasal examination tools in an endoscopic era.Ear Nose Throat J. Published online September 23, 2019. doi:10.1177/0145561319875711Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.Chainansamit S, Chit-Uea-Ophat C, Reechaipichitkul W, Piromchai P.The diagnostic value of traditional nasal examination tools in an endoscopic era.Ear Nose Throat J. Published online September 23, 2019. doi:10.1177/0145561319875711Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.Chainansamit S, Chit-Uea-Ophat C, Reechaipichitkul W, Piromchai P.The diagnostic value of traditional nasal examination tools in an endoscopic era.Ear Nose Throat J. Published online September 23, 2019. doi:10.1177/0145561319875711Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.Nasal polyps.
MedlinePlus.Nasal polyps.
Chainansamit S, Chit-Uea-Ophat C, Reechaipichitkul W, Piromchai P.The diagnostic value of traditional nasal examination tools in an endoscopic era.Ear Nose Throat J. Published online September 23, 2019. doi:10.1177/0145561319875711
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Nasal endoscopy.
Cedars-Sinai.Nasal polyps.
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