| Nasal polyps are the most common tumors of the | | | | Nasal polyps also occur in a majority of people with |
| nasal cavity. Nasal polyposis can impair a person's | | | | Churg-Strauss syndrome, a rare disease that inflames |
| quality of life more than perennial allergic rhinitis. Nasal | | | | the blood vessels (vasculitis). Nasal polyps occur in |
| polyps are soft, jelly-like overgrowths of the lining of | | | | around 1 in 200 people. It appears that nasal polyps are |
| the sinuses. They look like grapes on the end of a | | | | more common in people with non-allergic rhinitis and |
| stalk. Large polyps can bloc the nose and increase the | | | | non-allergic asthma, rather than allergic types of these |
| risk of sinusitis. They may be yellowish, grey or pink in | | | | conditions. Nasal polyps can affect anyone. However, |
| colour. They are common and are not cancerous. | | | | most cases occur in people over the age of 40 years. |
| Nasal polyposis results from chronic inflammation of | | | | They are four times more common in men than in |
| the nasal and sinus mucous membranes. Chronic | | | | women. In general, women are more likely to have |
| inflammation causes a reactive hyperplasia of the | | | | nasal polyps than are men. Nasal polyps are |
| intranasal mucosal membrane, which results in the | | | | uncommon in children. |
| formation of polyps. | | | | Medications are the most common treatment for nasal |
| Nasal polyps can vary significantly in size. There may | | | | polyps. Surgery may be needed to eliminate larger |
| be only one but sometimes several develop like a | | | | growths. Topical nasal steroid sprays, such as Flonase |
| 'small bunch of grapes' on a stem. Polyps usually | | | | and Nasonex, can help decrease the size of nasal |
| affect both nostrils. Nasal polyps can vary greatly in | | | | polyps and prevent polyps from growing back after |
| size. There may be only one but sometimes several | | | | surgery. Use allergy shots in an attempt to treat or |
| grow like a 'small bunch of grapes' on a stem. The | | | | stop nasal polyps from growing back after surgery. |
| cause of the inflammation is certain conditions make | | | | Intranasal corticosteroid sprays reduce the growth of |
| nose inflammation and polyps more likely. These | | | | small intranasal polyps are most effective in the |
| include: asthma, allergy to aspirin, cystic fibrosis, and | | | | postoperative period. Prevention is better than cure. |
| some rare conditions of the nose. Nasal polyps can | | | | Avoid over-the-counter saline sprays that contain |
| occur along with many other respiratory diseases, | | | | additives, such as benzalkonium, which can actually |
| such as allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, asthma, and | | | | inflame the mucous lining of your nose. |
| aspirin allergy. | | | | |