Learn more about the relationship between nasal polyps and allergies. This article also examines symptoms, treatments, and when to contact a doctor.
Nasal polyps may develop due to chronic inflammation of the mucosa, the moist tissue lining your nose and sinuses. Allergens can act as a trigger, irritating the mucosa.
Seasonal allergies and perennial allergies, those that occur at any time of the year, can cause nasal polyps.
You are more likely to develop nasal polyps if you have a respiratory condition, such as:
- asthma
- chronic rhinosinusitis
- aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)
Common symptoms of nasal polyps may include:
- stuffy nose
- runny nose
- postnasal drip
- snoring
- headache
- upper teeth pain
- decreased or lost sense of smell or taste
- facial pain or pressure
Treating nasal polyps involves making them smaller or removing them altogether. Your doctor may suggest:
- Saline nose rinse: Performing a saline or salt water nasal rinse can help remove allergens and irritants from your nose. It can also help to make nasal sprays more effective.
- Steroid sprays: Nasal sprays, such as fluticasone (Flonase) or mometasone (Nasonex), are a common first-line medication. They treat swelling and inflammation, shrinking nasal polyps and making breathing easier.
- Steroid pills or shots: Your doctor may prescribe an oral or injectable steroid for harder-to-treat nasal polyps. Due to the potential side effects, they should be used only short term.
- Injection of a biologic medication: Dupilumab (Dupixent) is a newer medication that works by blocking specific proteins that cause inflammation. It’s used to treat nasal polyps that don’t respond to nasal steroids and may decrease the need for systemic steroids and surgery.
If other treatments do not work, your doctor may recommend surgery for nasal polyps. This is a minimally invasive procedure to remove polyps physically.
Your doctor can recommend treatments and whether they feel surgery may be necessary.
Contact your doctor when you have concerns about nasal polyps, chronic congestion, or facial pain. They can perform tests to confirm the diagnosis and recommend treatments.
To reach a diagnosis, your doctor may ask about your symptoms and medical history and perform a physical examination.
Your doctor may use an otoscope, a handheld lighted instrument, to look inside your nose and check for nasal polyps. They may then refer you to an ears-nose-throat (ENT) specialist, who will examine your nose with an endoscope to evaluate the nasal cavity.
Imaging tests such as an MRI or CT scan may also help diagnose nasal polyps.
If allergies are causing your nasal polyps, identifying the trigger is helpful. Allergy testing through a skin prick or blood test may be useful for pinpointing any specific allergens, so you can eliminate exposure to them if possible.
Nasal polyps affect as many as 13 million people in the United States, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Nasal polyps are more likely to occur in people between ages 40–60 years.
Specific factors may increase your risk of nasal polyps. These include:
- having a history of allergies
- an injury to your nose
- having recurrent sinus infections
- having previously had nasal surgery
- having a family history of polyps
- having infections such as staphylococcus infection
- taking specific medication to treat high blood pressure and thyroid problems
Exposure to known triggers may also increase your risk of nasal polyps. These include:
- dust
- debris
- chemical fumes
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
- aspirin
- incense
- tobacco smoke
Contact your doctor if you have concerns about the risk factors for nasal polyps.
Complications of nasal polyps
Nasal polyps can also make breathing difficult. If you usually breathe through your nose while you sleep, you may begin breathing through your mouth instead. This can cause snoring, and it may affect the quality of your sleep.
In rare cases, you may also develop mucoceles if you have nasal polyps. Mucoceles are mucus-filled cysts that can develop in the sinuses. They can cause pressure on the eye structures, potentially resulting in exophthalmos (protrusion of the eyes) and diplopia (double vision).
Contacting your doctor when you have concerns about nasal polyps can help reduce the risk of complications.
It may not be possible to prevent nasal polyps completely.
However, steps to reduce your risk of nasal polyps include avoiding known triggers and following your treatment plan for conditions that may cause nasal polyps, such as asthma.
Allergies can irritate the mucosa, which can result in nasal polyps. Some conditions may increase your risk of nasal polyps, such as asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis, and AERD.
Symptoms of nasal polyps commonly include a runny or stuffy nose, postnasal drip, snoring, headache, and pain in the upper teeth and face. You may also have a decreased sense of taste or smell.
You can treat nasal polyps with a saline nose rinse and nasal sprays. Your doctor may also prescribe oral or injectable medication for nasal polyps that resist other treatments. Surgery may also be an option.
Contact your doctor when you have concerns about nasal polyps. Tests can confirm the diagnosis, and your doctor can recommend treatment.
