Nasal Polyps Removal (Symptoms, Diagnosis, And Treatments)

Nasal polyps are most common in adults over the age of 40. Men are more prone to this condition compared to women. The root cause of it is inflammation of the nasal mucosa. When the nasal mucosa gets infected, it produces fluid that leaks out, over time, this turns into a small cyst that blocks the nasal passage.  At Refine Clinic, their surgeons regularly perform rhinoplasty for Sydney patients, they can also help you in your nasal polyps removal.

 

Causes of Nasal Polyps

Some people without any nasal problems may also develop nasal polyps. There are several factors that can trigger its occurrence such as:

1. Chronic sinusitis. Chronic sinusitis refers to the inflammation between the spaces inside the nose and head. This could continue to get worse for more than 3 months even though the patient underwent nasal treatment already.
2. Asthma. This condition is usually associated with nasal polyps. Although somewhat related, nasal polyps cannot trigger asthma attacks, instead, this could end up in sinusitis which can aggravate asthma.
3. Allergic rhinitis. Severe allergic rhinitis is often caused by inflammation of the nose due to allergen. If this condition is not treated, it could possibly lead to nasal polyps as well.
4. Chronic disease (Cystic fibrosis). Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that contributes to the lungs and digestive system problems. According to studies, people with cystic fibrosis are more prone to nasal polyps.
5. Anti-inflammatory drugs. People who are sensitive to anti-inflammatory drugs can develop nasal polyps.
6. Genes. You will most likely get nasal polyps most especially if your parents have developed the same condition.
7. Age. Nasal polyps are more common in people over 40, however, it is said that anyone can develop this condition. Young and middle-aged adults are at a higher risk as well.
8. Churg-Strauss syndrome. This is a disorder associated with blood vessel inflammation. Most nasal polyps removal surgeries often experience relapse after the procedure.

Some of these causes have almost identical signs and symptoms. If you are suspecting that you need to undergo nasal polyps removal, consult an ENT specialist right away.

 

Nasal Polyps Signs And Symptoms

When your nasal passages start to feel blocked and inflamed for a very long time, you are probably suffering from nasal polyps. Before we proceed to nasal polyps removal, let us find out its signs and symptoms brought to you by the AU Rhinoplasty Sydney clinic.

• Blocked nose. This could cause you to have difficulty breathing through your nose and may even result in sleep problems.
• Runny nose. Along with a runny nose is the feeling of having a cold all the time.
• Postnasal drip. This is when you feel like mucus is falling off at the back of your throat.
• Losing sense of smell and taste. This is a rare symptom but it usually takes place after the removal of the nasal polyps.
• Nasal congestion.
• Feeling pain in the face.
• Extreme headache.
• Mouth breathing.
• Difficulty in sleeping.
• Sleep apnea. This needs immediate medical attention as it may cause the individual to stop breathing while sleeping.
• Double vision. This might occur if the patient has sinusitis or cystic fibrosis.

 

Diagnosing Nasal Polyps

The doctor or ENT specialist will most likely determine your condition by examining your symptoms and nose. But to make the diagnosis more accurate, a series of tests must be conducted:

To determine the correct size, shape, and location of the nasal polyps, a CT scan might be recommended. This will also help the doctor identify other irregularities in the nose and signs of obstruction.

Nasal endoscopy, on the other hand, is the procedure of placing a small and thin tube attached to a tiny camera into the nose. This is normally done to patients with deep and narrow polyps.

Allergy tests are also administered to help the doctors determine the main cause of the inflammation. By figuring out what makes the inflammation take place, it will be easier for them to provide treatments and prescriptions.

Children will most likely undergo a cystic fibrosis test to figure out if their nasal polyps are caused by the said chronic condition.

 

Removal of Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps treatment includes different methods, techniques, and strategies. depending on the actual condition of the individual, the doctor will choose the most suitable and appropriate treatment for their patient.

• Inflammation reducing medications. This is to help reduce the symptoms of inflammation, if effective, the nasal polyps might start to shrink and get smaller.
• Nose drops. Nose drops are often prescribed to patients with tiny nasal polyps that do not necessarily need removal through surgery.
• Steroids. Large nasal polyps need to be shrunken first before removing the nasal polyps. However, steroids are not recommended for long-term use because of its severe side effects.
• Medications. If the cause of the nasal polyps is allergies, the doctor might prescribe medication to ease the allergy symptoms and lessen the inflammation.

Nasal polyps treatment also includes surgical procedures. This is often administered to patients with huge and severe cases of nasal polyps. Surgeries are also recommended if the medication and non-surgical treatments did not work on the patient. The following are the most common nasal polyps removal surgeries around the world:

• Endoscopic sinus surgery. The endoscopic sinus surgery involves a small tube which is inserted into the nose along with surgical instruments. It helps the doctor determine the root cause of inflammation. Once the cause is diagnosed, the surgical instruments will be used to remove the polyps piece by piece. That means that it will not be removed all at once, it will be demolished first so that it would turn into tiny pieces which are easier to remove.
• Polypectomy. One of the most well known nasal polyps treatment is called a polypectomy. During this procedure, the patient will be given an anesthetic to prevent discomfort. Polypectomy involves the use of a long tube inserted into the nose to suck the polyps and other soft tissues that are blocking the passageway of the nose.

 

Home Remedies for Blocked Nose

You may also opt to try home remedies to lessen the uncomfortable symptoms of the nasal polyps temporarily. The following remedies can be effective depending on the reaction of your body. If symptoms persist, it would be best to seek medical treatments.

Also, do not disregard your allergies, if you think that the inflammation is caused by your allergic reaction to certain things, avoid the allergen to prevent the symptoms from developing.

A steam bath is a good way to drain your nose from mucus. If you wish to have faster results, boil 3 cups of water and put it in a bowl. Cover yourself and the bowl with a blanket and inhale the steam as long as you prefer. You can do this up to three times a day.

Keeping yourself updated is a good way to decrease the production of mucus in your nose. If the nose has thinner mucus build-up, inflammation caused by mucus pressure will be reduced too.

Over the counter decongestants are effective aids as well. Decongestants reduce the swelling and pain related to nasal problems. These are recommended for a three-day use only, if the blockage is still severe despite the use of this medication, seek medical attention immediately.

You may also try to incorporate decongestants with antihistamines or allergy medication if your symptoms are caused by allergens. This will help ease the discomfort and provide temporary relief if your condition is not that severe.

Take note that these are not permanent solutions most especially if your nasal polyps are developing rapidly. It would still be best to consult an ENT specialist for adequate nasal polyps treatment.