Answers to the best questions about nasal polyps

ahsan65@gmail.comJuly 1, 2025

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Answers to the best questions about nasal polyps

The diagnosis of nasal polyps can be a long and difficult process. More than half of the people who said they had taken more than a year since the development of symptoms to receive a diagnosis.

Even after talking to your doctor, you will probably have many questions about the management of this chronic condition. Here, two otolaryngologists – specialists in the ear, nose and throat commonly known as ETTS – answer some of the most frequently asked questions about nasal polyps.

1. Are nasal polyps hereditary?

It seems that it is, but other factors can also play a role. Genetics, for its part, has been linked to the development of nasal polyps, but it is not clear which genes in particular are involved.

For people with chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps, he can take place in families, explains Charles Tong, MD, Otolaryngologist at Northwell Health and Lenox Hill in New York.

“Unlike purely genetic disorders, such as cystic fibrosis, isolated nasal polyp or sinus tumors that can imitate the appearance of a nasal polyp, [chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps] is a complex disease with contributions from several genes and environmental factors, ”he says.

2. Does asthma and allergies cause nasal polyps?

Although asthma and allergies do not directly cause nasal polyps, they certainly increase your risk of developing these growths. Chronic inflammation can lead to the development of nasal polyps, for example, which is why people who have chronic sinusitis have a greater risk of developing nasal polyps.

Example: about half of people with nasal polyps also have asthma, depending on the foundation of asthma and America allergies.

“Repeated exposures to allergens and the allergic response can lead to the development of nasal polyps,” said Kanwar Kelley, MD, Oto-Rhino-Laryngologist in Orinda, California, and co-founder of secondary health.

3. Can nasal polyps be dangerous?

The nasal polyps are mild (which means non -cancerous), notes Dr. Kelley. That said, some nasal masses that include the risk of developing in malignant tumors may be confused with polyps. It is therefore essential to be examined by an ENT to confirm the diagnosis.

And even if the polyps are not cancerous, they are associated with other health complications, such as obstructive sleep apnea, asthma and cardiovascular conditions, explains Dr. Tong. Once your doctor knows you have nasal polyps, they will be better prepared to monitor you for these other health problems.

4. Can nasal polyps cause permanent loss of odor?

It is possible to lose your sense of smell, but with treatment, it is not inevitable. “Polyps can affect a person’s smell, depending on the duration of the duration of polyps,” explains Kelley. “”[But] Often there is a certain recovery of a smell after appropriate treatment. »»

Tong says that it should be noted, however, that the more the polyps are present, the more your risk of long -term loss of the smell increases.

5. Can eating or drinking dairy products worsen nasal polyps?

There is no real evidence for this. Although some research has shown that consumption of a diet, including dairy products, can be associated with certain nasal symptoms, such as the increase in mucus secretion, “there is no robust scientific evidence to suggest a link between milk consumption and nasal polyposis”, explains Tong.

6. Can nasal polyps worsen cold or make them last longer?

The cold and flu season could certainly be more intense if you have polyps. “Although it is probably affected the duration of a cold, the presence of nasal polyps aggravates the cold,” explains Kelley. Indeed, the nasal inflammation induced by the disease, combined with the physical polyp itself, can increase symptoms, explains Kelley.

7. Will nasal polyps disappear alone?

Unfortunately, it is unlikely that they resolve without treatment. And although they fluctuate in size, they tend to grow, says Tong. Keep in mind that this does not mean that the effective treatment of polyps should include surgery, explains Kelley. “Medical treatment to control nasal allergies can help reduce the size of polyps over time,” he says. “This includes the washes of saline sinus, nasal steroids, oral drugs and other strategies used to manage allergies.”

The point to take away

Nasal polyps are often associated with other health problems, such as asthma.

Although the effects of nasal polyps can be very varied and affect you in the long term, appropriate treatment can help you manage symptoms.

The search for care at an ot-Rhino-Laryngologist, or ENT, is crucial to exclude similar conditions and ensuring that all aspects of your health are adequately monitored.