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- What are nasal polyps?
- Symptoms of nasal polyps
- Causes of nasal polyps
- Prevention of nasal polyps
- Risk factors for nasal polyps
- Complications of nasal polyps
- When to see a doctor about nasal polyps
- Diagnosis of nasal polyps
- Conventional treatment of nasal polyps
- Alternative/complementary treatment of nasal polyps
- Living with nasal polyps
- Caring for someone with nasal polyps
Nasal polyps are small, soft growths in the spaces (or lining) of the sinus cavities in the head / face. Nasal polyps consist of inflamed mucous or other tissue that grows in the sinus passages of the head and they can impede airflow and cause infection.
People who get nasal polyps usually develop many small ones together, which can block the nasal passages and prevent proper airflow. Nasal polyps can cause sinus infection (sinusitis) if they block the sinus passages by growing to a large enough size.
Mostly nasal polyps do not do much damage, but if they get large enough they can impede proper air flow into the nose and also breathing.
Sometimes nasal polyps can get so large they alter the shape of the face (especially around the nasal area where the sinuses are), but this is not very common and only happens rarely.
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Facts about nasal polyps
- Nasal polyps are very common and occur in about 1 person out of every 200 people
- Nasal polyps are generally benign - they are very rarely cancerous
- Nasal polyps are very common in people with who suffer from chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Surgery is recommended to remove the nasal polyps (especially if they impede airflow and cause recurrent infections) but they can grow back and invariably do in about 50% of all cases
- People with chronic upper respiratory conditions such as sinusitis or allergic rhinitis often develop more than one nasal polyp at a time
- People with chronic sinusitis or allergic rhinitis are recommended to use nasal decongestants every day, continuously
- People with chronic nasal polyps can sometimes have sleep apnoea, because of the polyps interfering with the ability to breath properly when lying down (if the nasal passages are blocked and the mouth is also closed, this can cause the person to stop breathing)
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