Aubrey Bailey, PT, DPT, CHT is a physical therapist with more than 20 years of experience in various healthcare environments.

Benjamin F. Asher, MD, is an otolaryngologist certified by the committee. He has a private clinic in New York City that focuses on natural and comprehensive treatments.

Nasal polyps are soft, harmless growths that can grow in your nose or sinuses. Although these polyps do not usually cause pain, they can cause irritation and potential complications. Learn more about the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and complications related to nasal polyps in this article.

The exact cause of nasal polyps is unknown, but they usually develop from chronic inflammation of the nasal passages and sinuses. They are more common in people with certain diseases. These include:

It is possible to have nasal polyps without even knowing it. However, these increases can be very large and tend to grow in clusters, which can eventually cause problems. Common signs and symptoms of nasal polyps include:

Diagnosing nasal polyps starts with seeing a doctor. Based on your symptoms alone, your doctor may suspect that you have polyps.

Sometimes an otoscope (a device originally designed to look at the ear) can be used to see polyps. There is a light and magnifying glass at the end of the tool, allowing your doctor to look at your nostrils. If your nasal polyps are very low in your nose, you can even see them in the mirror.

During the basic physical examination, the polyps in the nasal cavity or sinuses cannot be seen. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist, such as an otolaryngologist, also called an otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat) doctor.

The next step in diagnosing nasal polyps is a procedure called nasal endoscopy. This involves placing a long, thin tube with a camera and light at its end, called an endoscope, through your nostrils and into your sinuses.

Endoscopy can usually be done in the doctor's office after the doctor has paralyzed your nasal passages. Less commonly, other types of imaging, such as CT (computed tomography) scans or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), are performed to help diagnose nasal polyps.

If nasal polyps are long enough to block your nostrils, it can cause breathing difficulties. You may notice that you have sleep problems or even obstructive sleep apnea. If you sleep with your partner, they may notice your symptoms before you.

Symptoms of sleep apnea may include:

If you have symptoms of sleep apnea, consult your doctor. You may need to perform a sleep study or polysomnogram to record your breathing patterns during the night to test this.

If your nasal polyps cause breathing difficulties or cause symptoms that interfere with your daily life, seek medical attention. The treatment of nasal polyps is initially aimed at reducing the size of polyps or possibly eliminating them altogether.

Corticosteroid nasal sprays are commonly used to treat nasal polyps and are effective for most people with this disease. Sometimes oral corticosteroids are prescribed to help reduce the inflammation that leads to the development of polyps.

A new class of drugs has been used to treat nasal polyps. These are called biological agents. They are usually very effective, but they are also expensive and require a specialist visit before they can be prescribed.

If the medication does not work, you may need surgery to remove nasal polyps. This is done using an endoscopy-the doctor may use the same procedure to diagnose your condition. In addition to the endoscope, tools such as graspers or micro debriders are inserted through your nostrils to remove growths.

Unfortunately, nasal polyps can grow back after medical treatment or surgical removal. Your doctor may continue to use corticosteroid nasal sprays to help prevent nasal polyps from regrowing.

Saline nasal sprays and humidifiers can also keep the nasal cavity moist and help prevent inflammation. Nasal rinsing or rinsing the nasal cavity with a nasal pot can also help remove bacteria and dilute mucus that may cause breathing difficulties.

If your nasal symptoms do not go away or cause breathing difficulties, see a doctor. Even if you have nasal polyps, they may not be the source of your discomfort. More medical interventions, such as allergy testing, may be needed to determine the best treatment plan.

If you have very large nasal polyps, or low growth in the nasal cavity, you may see them in the mirror.

You may feel nasal polyps growing in your nostrils with your fingers. They are usually soft and shaped like teardrops.

Nasal polyps are soft. If you have lumps in your nostrils, it may be due to other causes, such as acne or abscess.

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Cleveland Clinic. Nasal polyps. Updated on February 5, 2021.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nasal endoscopy.

Cleveland Clinic. sleep apnea. Updated on March 3, 2020.

Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nasal polyps.

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