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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Nasal Polyps
Answered by
This forum is for questions and support regarding lung and respiratory issues such as: Allergies, Asthma, Bronchitis, Colds - Flu, Chronic Cough, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Emphysema, Fibrosis, Lung Abscess, Nasal Polyps, Pleurisy, Pneumonia, Sarcoidosis, Sinusitis, Tuberculosis
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Dec 14, 2004 12:00AM
, Dec 14, 2004 12:00AM
Nasal polyps are fleshy growths of the lining of the nose and sinuses. Their roots are found in the upper part of the nose and in the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. On a sinus x-ray they may look like clouding of the ethmoid and maxillary sinuses. A developing polyp is teardrop-shaped. A mature polyp looks like a peeled seedless grape. They can get large enough to block the opening of the sinuses and the nasal passage. Some people have problems with a stuffy nose, sinus infections, or loss of their senses of taste and smell. Surgery to remove the nasal polyps may be suggested. While it is impossible to say if the nasal polyps will reoccur later in life, this is not an uncommon occurrence.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease your postnasal drip and lessen your stuffy nose and sinus pressure. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases the mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent postnasal drip and shrink nasal polyps. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If the nasal polyps are small this may be all the treatment that is needed to relieve your symptoms. If they are large, this treatment may shrink them enough that surgery is more likely to remove the entire root of the polyp so that it doesn’t grow back. Following surgery, indefinite routine use of a nasal steroid spray may keep nasal polyps from growing back. Your doctor will need to let you know how long you’ll be off work.
A nasal wash helps remove mucus and germs from your nose and sinuses. This can temporarily decrease your postnasal drip and lessen your stuffy nose and sinus pressure. A prescription nasal steroid spray decreases the mucus production by decreasing the inflammation of the nose and sinuses. This may prevent postnasal drip and shrink nasal polyps. To get the most help from a nasal steroid spray use it after doing a nasal wash. A nasal steroid spray does not provide immediate relief of symptoms. It may require several weeks of routine use to become effective. Please read our Nasal Wash MedFact at http://www.nationaljewish.org/medfacts/nasal.html for more information about this technique. Share this information with your doctor to see if you would benefit from this daily treatment.
If the nasal polyps are small this may be all the treatment that is needed to relieve your symptoms. If they are large, this treatment may shrink them enough that surgery is more likely to remove the entire root of the polyp so that it doesn’t grow back. Following surgery, indefinite routine use of a nasal steroid spray may keep nasal polyps from growing back. Your doctor will need to let you know how long you’ll be off work.
