Despite their relatively small size, nasal polyps can have a disproportionate effect on your life. If they become irritated and swollen, you can feel a variety of difficult symptoms, difficulty breathing in your nose with compromised sleep and even a lack of confidence in social circles.
Here are some ways in which nasal polyps can affect your quality of life and your steps that you can take to help control this chronic state of health.
1. Nasal polyps can cause breathing difficulties
Nasal polyps can make it difficult to breathe from your nose, forcing you to breathe from your mouth. Oral breathing may not seem to be a big problem, but it is one of the most common concerns, explains Kanwar Kelley, MD, an Oto-Rhino-Laryngologist in Orinda, California. This is because it can affect everything, to obtain sleep resting to the confidence that you feel confident when you speak with friends or colleagues, he says.
Tips to make it better
In addition to sticking to the treatment plan, maintaining good nasal hygiene is essential if you want to breathe more easily. Ask your doctor what it should include, such as nasal irrigation with a mixture of steroids and / or a spray and frequent hand washing. “The best daily changes that a person can make is to strictly respect a good program for nasal hygiene,” explains Dr. Kelley, who advises to practice hygiene routine twice a day. “This helps reduce the effect of daily allergens to which you are exposed.”
2. Nasal polyps can cause poor or disturbed sleep
“Everything that blocks the nose at night has a chance to disturb sleep,” says Kelley. “This can cause increased oral breathing and an increase in snoring, which can be a sign of sleep and sleep apnea disorders.”
Tips to make it better
Use the hypoallergenic litter and wash it regularly to reduce potential allergens, Kelley explains. You can also try to use a humidifier in your room to maintain humidity and reduce inflammation in your nasal passages while you sleep.
3. You may feel a loss of odor or taste
If you have trouble feeling or tasting things, you are not alone. “Nasal polyps are a very common cause of loss of odor by physical obstruction of the olfactory nerves, as well as inflammatory damage to nerve fibers,” explains Charles Tong, MD, Oto-Rhino-Laryngologist at Lenox Hill and Northwell Health in New York.
Tips to make it better
4. Nasal polyps can increase your risk of infections
If you have nasal polyps, you might find yourself getting sick more often. “The polyps are obstructive and any obstruction in the nose disturbs the air and the liquid moving through the nose and can cause sinus blockages, resulting in congestion and facial pain,” explains Kelley. “When liquid and mucus are blocked, there is an increased risk of developing an infection.”
Tips to make it better
Practice good nasal hygiene, such as the use of spraying or nasal rinsing, to help improve mucus flow. Also avoid known irritants, such as second -hand pollen and smoke, to reduce inflammation and help reduce your chances of infection, says Tong.
5. Nasal polyps can have a social and emotional impact
Tips to make it better
Govering to treatment and management strategies, such as taking medication and using a salin nasal spray, is your best bet to manage polyps and facilitate breathing through the nose.
The point to take away
- Nasal polyps can considerably affect your well-being and your daily quality of life.
- This chronic condition can be wreaking havoc on breathing, sleep and even your senses of taste and smell.
- By gluing yourself to the treatment plan and by making lifestyle and routine adjustments, you can reduce the impact of nasal polyps and improve your quality of life.
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