Symptoms Of Polyps In The Nose (Nasal Polyps)

Nasal polyps are a type of painless, noncancerous, and soft growth that occurs on the sinus or nasal passage lining. These polyps form with shapes like teardrops, and they hang down from the lining of the sinuses or nose like grapes. Polyps occur when there's chronic inflammation of the sinuses or nasal passages. Individuals are unlikely to develop them if they don't have chronic sinus issues. Some of the most common conditions associated with polyps are recurring infections, asthma, drug sensitivities, allergies, and some immune disorders. If the nasal polyps are small, they might be asymptomatic. However, larger groups or growths can lead to blockages of the nasal passages and subsequent symptoms. Get familiar with the symptoms of polyps in the nose now.

Chronic Stuffiness

Chronic stuffiness is one of the prerequisites of nasal polyps, as polyps don't tend to form unless individuals have experienced chronic stuffiness. If an individual's sinuses and nasal passages have been swollen and irritated for at least twelve weeks, they have chronic sinusitis. Individuals might experience symptoms of chronic sinusitis without developing nasal polyps, but nasal polyps are nearly always accompanied by chronic sinusitis. It may be difficult to tell whether ongoing symptoms are aggravated by the growth of polyps or not. If there's a large polyp or a cluster of multiple growths, an individual's sinuses and nasal passages might become blocked. When patients have chronic sinusitis combined with polyps, they may experience persistent stuffiness, a runny nose, facial pain, headaches, pain in the upper teeth, a sense of pressure in their cheeks and forehead, frequent nosebleeds, snoring, and issues with taste and smell. If the symptoms go on for longer than ten days, patients should see a doctor. If patients experience sudden severe problems with breathing, they should seek emergency medical attention.

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Issues With Sense Of Smell

Nasal polyps can cause issues with an affected individual's sense of smell. Conditions that interfere with an individual's ability to smell things are called smell disorders. Several issues can cause smell disorders in addition to nasal polyps. For instance, a patient's sense of smell can become limited or changed if they experience injury, sinus infections, an upper respiratory infection, dental issues, medication side effects, disturbances in their hormonal balance, and exposure to some chemicals like solvents and insecticides. More than two hundred thousand individuals go to a doctor every year to receive treatment for an issue with their sense of smell. If individuals have a smell disorder, they might also notice problems with their sense of taste, as smell and taste are two closely linked senses. An individual's sense of smell is part of the way their body senses chemicals. There are sensory cells in the throat, mouth, and nose to help interpret smells, and these cells can be blocked by polyp growths.

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Postnasal Drip

Postnasal drip occurs when an individual's body produces more mucus than usual and when the mucus runs down the back of the throat instead of the nose. If an individual's nose is blocked by polyps, they might experience higher levels of postnasal drip because the mucus doesn't have any other way to exit their sinus cavities. Mucus is always running down the back of the throat in some capacity. However, individuals usually don't notice it, because the substance mixes with saliva and is easily swallowed. When excess mucus is produced, that's when the dripping becomes noticeable. Postnasal drip isn't always a sign of nasal polyps. However, if individuals are experiencing postnasal drip for long periods, especially without an accompanying runny nose, there may be a blockage in their nostrils. Postnasal drip is most commonly associated with respiratory and sinus conditions like the flu, colds, sinus infections, and allergic reactions. In children, it can also occur when an object has become stuck in the nose and led to a blockage.

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Frequent Nosebleeds

Frequent nosebleeds can be a sign of nasal polyps, especially if they're accompanied by chronic sinus problems. If an individual's nose has begun bleeding more often after a few weeks of nasal inflammation, it's a good indicator of polyps. Nosebleeds are not often indicators of serious medical issues, but patients should pay attention if they start getting nosebleeds more frequently than they have in the past. The nose has multiple blood vessels located near the surface of both the back and front of the nose. Because of how fragile these blood vessels are, they can break and cause bleeding easily. It's common for adults and children between three and ten years old to experience nosebleeds. When the condition is related to nasal polyps, it tends to occur because the polyp or group of polyps has caused one or more blood vessels to be broken. With anterior nosebleeds, the blood vessels at the nose's front break, causing blood to flow through the nostrils. Posterior nosebleeds occur when vessels at the back break, causing blood to flow down the back of the throat. Some posterior nosebleeds are dangerous.

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Runny Nose

A runny nose can sometimes be an indicator of nasal polyps, but it can also be an indicator of many other conditions. The nose runs when excess mucus forms in the throat and nose. In normal conditions, the nose can produce about a quart of mucus a day. But when an individual is fighting an infection, the mucus becomes thicker and more prominent. The purpose of mucus is to trap and kill viruses, bacteria, and other foreign invaders to keep them from causing or worsening an infection. Runny noses can occur when individuals are infected by nearly any illness, particularly respiratory illnesses. Individuals may get them if they have a sinus infection, allergies, the flu, or a cold. If a patient's nose runs for more than three weeks, it may be serious enough to cause nasal polyps.

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Headaches

One of the possible symptoms of nasal polyps is frequent headaches, which are often accompanied by some level of facial pain. Individuals might feel like there's pressure behind their forehead and cheeks or their ears and along their jaw. The headaches tend to be related to chronic sinusitis that occurs alongside the nasal polyps. The cause is generally due to infections in the sinuses or a buildup of mucus in the sinuses. Many different conditions can cause headaches, not all of which are related to the sinuses. Sinus headaches tend to be felt toward the front of the face rather than in the back of the head. They're more likely to present as throbbing, pressure, and aching than as sharp pain. However, if the sinuses are inflamed or impacted enough, the headaches might become strong enough to feel like stabbing pain.

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Snoring

Snoring is another symptom most likely to occur if individuals have chronic sinusitis alongside nasal polyps. This can be a difficult symptom to pinpoint, particularly if individuals live and sleep alone. When asleep, individuals aren't aware of whether or not they're snoring. But if their partner has found they've suddenly developed a loud snore when they didn't previously have one, there might be an underlying cause. This might be sinusitis and nasal polyps, or it might be related to their respiratory system or overall sleep quality. Snoring is a harsh or hoarse sound caused by airflow through relaxed tissues in the throat. When the air moves past these tissues, they vibrate, causing sound to erupt. Most individuals snore at some point in their lives, but sudden and ongoing snoring can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

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Loss Of Sense Of Taste

One of the more unusual symptoms of chronic sinusitis occurring alongside nasal polyps is a loss of the sense of taste. This doesn't tend to be permanent, but it can be confusing and potentially alarming. The reasoning behind the taste loss is the senses of smell and taste are intrinsically linked. When the nose is having trouble taking in and interpreting scents, individuals aren't able to taste foods as fully. The medical term for a decreased sense of taste is hypogeusia. If an individual completely loses their sense of taste, the medical term is ageusia. Loss of taste isn't always related to problems with the sense of smell. Some medications can decrease a patient's sense of taste as a side effect. In addition, it's normal for individuals to lose some taste bud sensitivity as they age, so elderly individuals might find they are no longer able to taste food as well as they used to. When the loss of taste is related to a loss of smell, individuals are likely to notice their nose is often stuffy or difficult to breathe through.

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Frequent Sinus Infections

Frequent sinus infections can be a sign of nasal polyps. If individuals have sinus infection symptoms that last for more than twelve weeks, the condition is called chronic sinusitis. When the infection lasts for shorter periods, it's called acute sinusitis. Patients might have several bouts of acute sinusitis with brief periods of relief between them. Sinus infections can feel like a terrible cold, but they have some key symptoms that set them apart from a traditional viral cold. When the sinuses are infected, individuals will typically develop a fever of at least 101 degrees Fahrenheit and have green or yellow mucus that discharges from the nostrils. Some patients might have an ongoing cough because of the postnasal drip down their throats. If individuals have cold symptoms that last longer than ten days, there's a good chance they have a sinus infection. Pain, congestion, pressure, and aching around the face and head are also common.

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Facial Pain

Facial pain can be an indicator an individual is dealing with chronic sinusitis caused by nasal polyps. This pain might come in a variety of different forms, and it's equally likely to vary in intensity. Some patients also experience feelings of pain in their upper teeth, which they may misconstrue as a dental or gum-related problem. In actuality, the pain comes from pressure in the sinuses located above the upper teeth. Affected individuals might experience pain in their sinuses, and some find the pain radiates to other parts of their face and head. The pain might present as a dull throbbing, aching, or pressure that's impossible to ignore. Some patients experience sharp stabbing sensations due to the pressure and inflammation inside the sinuses. If the pain is severe enough that it's interfering with an individual's ability to function, it's important to talk to a doctor to determine whether there's a treatable underlying cause.