Signs And Symptoms Of Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps, like their name suggests, occur in the nose. They are soft growths and are benign. They hang from the lining of the nasal passages, which means they often look similar to teardrops! Many nasal polyps are small and often go unnoticed. However, they can lead to blockages in the nasal passages, which is a major trigger behind many of the symptoms they cause.

Thankfully, they are easily dealt with! Medical over-the-counter treatments for nasal polyps, including corticosteroid nasal sprays, are incredibly helpful. Natural treatments and homeopathic remedies for nasal polyps, such as neti pots and tea tree oil, also exist!

Sinus Infections

Nasal polyps increase the risk of sinus infections since they cause additional irritation in the nose. Thus, frequent sinus infections are key signs of polyps in the nose! People with polyps in the nose can deal with both acute and chronic sinusitis. Acute cases occur frequently but do offer some relief in between each instance. Chronic infections, on the other hand, last for extended periods. Some last for over 12 weeks! Sinus infections do share many similarities with the common cold, but a key distinction is sinus infections cause high fevers. They also involve yellow or green mucus flowing from the nose. There is also often stuffiness and postnasal drip involved with sinus infections.

Stuffy Nose

A stuffy nose makes it difficult to breathe and it may even feel as if it won’t be possible to breathe deeply again. Chronic stuffiness in the nose is a major symptom of nasal polyps. Polyps in the nose are nearly always accompanied by a stuffy nose! Both multiple smaller polyps and a large nasal polyp can block the nasal passages. This irritates the nasal passages as well and triggers swelling, both of which make it feel like a stuffy nose. Nasal polyps are often also the result of chronic sinusitis, which means in addition to a stuffy nose, there are other symptoms.

Frequent Nosebleeds

Frequent nosebleeds are another key sign of nasal polyps. This is especially the case when a nosebleed starts after a few weeks of inflammation in the nose! Nosebleeds due to polyps in the nose are often due to a polyp making a blood vessel in the nose to break. Blood vessels in the nose break quite easily, which is why with irritation and polyps, nosebleeds become incredibly common! Most nosebleeds flow through the nostrils, but some of them can run down the back of the throat. The latter of these can be quite dangerous and should be looked at quickly!