Nasal polyps are soft (jelly like), non-cancerous (benign) growths that consist of inflamed nasal mucosa and develop on the lining of your nose or sinuses. They grow either singly or in clusters and grow from the paranasal sinuses causing a blockage in the nasal airways which creates difficulties breathing. They may be yellow, grey, or pink in color and can vary greatly in size.
Nasal polyps are not a disease, but the result of inflammation in your nose or sinuses. The inflammation allows fluid to build up in the cells of your nose and sinuses. Over time, as gravity pulls on these fluid-filled cells, they can develop into nasal polyps.
Inflammation that causes nasal mucosa to collect in these polyps can be likened to a stagnant pond, which increases you chance of having sinusitis.
Nasal polyps grow around the edges of the nose or your sinus cavities. Polyps do not usually cause any problems when they are small, but an inflammation in the sinuses from an allergy or a viral or bacterial infection, can make the polyps grow faster.
When your nasal polyps block the ostium (sinus openings), all the excess mucus drips to the back of your throat creating post nasal drip, which may cause you to start snoring. You may also experience some headaches, interfered breathing leading to a diminished sense of smell, and as the polyps increase in size, the shape of your face may slowly start to change. |
