Abnormal globular shaped growths found in the nasal passages and sinuses are known as nasal polyps. Usually, they are painless and non-cancerous and can vary in shape and size from person to person. While the smaller nasal polyps rarely cause any major complications, the bigger ones can lead to blockages in your nasal passages or lead to difficulty in breathing. Nasal polyps can also cause major complications like sinus infections, sleep apnea, and asthma flare-ups.

Nasal polyps are usually observed as a result of chronic inflammation from conditions like allergies, immune disorders, or sensitivity to drugs like aspirin.

Here are some early signs and symptoms of nasal polyps:

Postnasal drip
In certain conditions, the body begins to produce excess amounts of mucus to fight infection or moisten the nasal membranes. This mucus can sometimes be felt dripping from your nasal passage into the throat and accumulating there. This is known as postnasal drip. This can be observed if a person has nasal polyps.

Stuffy nose
Nasal congestion or a stuffed and runny nose is caused by excessive buildup of mucus in the nose or the development of nasal polyps in nasal passages and sinuses.

Sleep apnea
Sleep apnea is a condition where a person’s breathing stops involuntarily in the middle of the night. The presence of nasal polyps in sinuses can be one of the reasons for sleep apnea, which, if untreated, may further lead to problems like type 2 diabetes, stroke, or a heart attack.

Snoring

When nasal polyps block the passages in your nose and sinuses, they restrict the flow of air through the airways and may cause people to snore while sleeping.

Decreased sense of smell and taste
Partial or complete loss of sense of smell, also known as anosmia can be experienced as a result of nasal polyps. A person may also find it difficult to taste several foods properly. Both these symptoms can have a serious effect on a person’s quality of life.

Facial pain or headache

If you experience pain in your face near the cheekbones or a persistent headache, along with any of the above signs, it can be due to nasal polyps.

Depending on the underlying cause, nasal polyps can be treated in a variety of different ways. Surgery isn’t usually necessary, and if the polyps are caused due to allergies, they can be controlled and treated with prescribed doses of antihistamines. Once treated, several precautions must be taken to avoid their recurrence. Management of allergies, maintaining good hygiene, and nasal rinsing may be recommended. Getting a humidifier for your room can also be a great way to avoid any possibility of nasal polyps.