Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are fleshy growths inside your nose. They're usually oval in shape and may look a little like peeled grapes.

• Nasal polyps are not cancer

• You’re more likely to get nasal polyps if you have allergies, asthma, or family members with nasal polyps

• Nasal polyps can block your nose

• Doctors usually treat nasal polyps with corticosteroid nasal sprays (to lessen swelling), but sometimes they do surgery

Nasal Polyps

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Image provided by Bechara Ghorayeb, MD.

Doctors don't know exactly why people get nasal polyps. However, you're more likely to get them if you have:

• A lot of sinus infections

• Asthma

• Family members with nasal polyps

You may have no symptoms, but if you do, they may include:

• Stuffy nose

• Runny nose

• Sneezing

• Trouble smelling things

Doctors can tell if you have nasal polyps by looking inside your nose.

Doctors first treat nasal polyps with:

• Corticosteroid nasal sprays

If the sprays don't work, doctors may give you corticosteroid pills.

If the corticosteroid treatments don't work, or the polyps are severely blocking your nose, doctors may do surgery to take out the polyps.

To prevent nasal polyps from coming back, doctors may have you keep using a corticosteroid nasal spray.