Nasal polyps
Nasal polyps are painless soft growths inside your nose. They're not usually serious, but they can keep growing and block your nose if not treated.
Check if you have nasal polyps
Symptoms of nasal polyps include:
- blocked nose
- runny nose
- constant need to swallow (post-nasal drip)
- reduced sense of smell or taste
- nosebleeds
- snoring
Nasal polyps can sometimes feel like a cold, but colds tend to clear up within a few days, whereas nasal polyps won't get better unless they're treated.
If your polyps block your sinuses (air pockets around your nose), you may also have symptoms of sinusitis.
See a GP if:
- you're worried you may have nasal polyps
- you have difficulty breathing
- your symptoms are getting worse
- you notice changes to your sense of smell
Treatment from a GP
A GP should be able to tell if you have nasal polyps by looking inside your nose.
If you have nasal polyps, you'll usually be given steroid nose drops or a spray to shrink the polyps.
You may be given steroid tablets, usually for up to 2 weeks, if:
- your polyps are large
- nose drops and sprays didn't work
Surgery to remove polyps
If there's no sign of improvement after about 10 weeks, your GP may suggest surgery to remove your polyps.
Most people who have surgery see an improvement, but it's common for polyps to grow back, usually within a few years.
You may need to keep using a steroid nasal spray after surgery to stop the polyps returning quickly.
A pharmacist can help with nasal polyps
After seeing your GP, a pharmacist can recommend:
- steroid nasal sprays that don't need a GP prescription
- salt water washes – called a saline rinse or nasal douche – to help unblock your nose
- In a bowl, mix 1 level teaspoon of salt and 1 level teaspoon of bicabonate of soda in about 1 pint of cooled boiled water.
- Sniff some of the cooled mixture up 1 nostril and let it run out.
- Repeat sniffing at least 3 times up each nostril or until your nose clears up.
- You can gargle any remaining mixture to help clear the back of the nose.
Check the mixture isn't too hot before sniffing. Don't swallow the salty mixture – it may make you feel sick.
These salt water washes aren't suitable for children.
Cause of nasal polyps
It's not clear what causes nasal polyps.
Certain things can increase your risk of nasal polyps, like:
- asthma
- a bad reaction to taking aspirin
Nasal polyps are rare in children.
