Nasal polyps are benign growth in the nasal cavity or the sinus. These non-cancerous growths can cause complications like sleep apnea and asthma, among others. The article explores the symptoms and warning signs of nasal polyps that can help in early detection and successful treatment of the condition.

Detecting Nasal Polyps
There are various symptoms and warning signs of nasal polyps to help in detection. The problem is that these are seen if the polyps are small. As the polyps increase in size, some early signs and symptoms tend to become apparent, and the condition can be detected through numerous methods.

Signs and Symptoms
The condition starts showing symptoms when the polyps grow large and obstruct the nasal passage. Some of the common early signs and symptoms of nasal polyps include:

• Congestion or blockage in the nose. This happens because of the presence of polyps.
• Runny and watery nose.
• Postnasal drip, where the mucus from the nose falls into the throat.
• Problems with the sense of smell. This happens when the polyps grow significantly large, reducing the sensitivity of the nose.
• Difficulty in breathing through the nose due to congestion, which makes a person breathe through the mouth.
• Pressure in the forehead or face due to the presence of polyps in the sinuses.
• Snoring due to the obstruction caused by the polyps.

Any of these early symptoms that appear and repeat for several days could be because of nasal polyps. It is advisable to visit a doctor in such cases.

Advanced Symptoms
As the polyps start growing in size, other symptoms start developing, including the ones given below.

• Serious difficulty in breathing, accompanied by a tight feeling in the chest.
• Swelling around the head that leads to pain.
• Difficulty in moving the eyeball due to pain.
• Severe headache, which may be accompanied by fever.
• Sleep apnea, where the person has difficulty breathing while sleeping and wakes up gasping for breath.
• Nosebleeds.

These are serious symptoms, and in case any of these are experienced, one must visit an ENT specialist immediately.

Complications
If left untreated, nasal polyps can grow large to block the flow of air in the nose. They can also prevent fluid drainage. Complications as a result of large nasal polyps can include:

• Inflammation in the nasal cavity with severe pain.
• Severe asthma attack or wheezing.
• Frequent infections in the sinus cavities.
• Obstructive sleep apnea that leads to severe breathing problems while sleeping and can even be fatal.
• Complete loss of the sense of smell.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis is done by viewing the nasal passage with a nasoscope or through nasal endoscopy. In some cases, an MRI scan may be required. Nasal polyps can be treated through medication in the form of sprays. In serious cases, surgery can be done to remove the polyps, but that is no guarantee they won’t develop again.