Small teardrop-shaped growths known as polyps form in many parts of our body like the colon, bladder, nose, and sinuses. While the colon and bladder polyps can become cancerous, the nasal polyps are common and noncancerous. They can form in any part of the nasal passage and the sinus. However, they are more commonly found in the sinuses close to our eyes, nose, cheekbones, which drain into the nasal cavity.

1. Causes of nasal polyps?
Doctors have not been able to establish a definite cause for the formation of nasal polyps. However, doctors say that if the nasal passages get inflamed and remain so for more than three months or more, nasal polyps may form, normally occurring in clusters. Such inflammation can be triggered by asthma, allergies, acute sinus infections, cystic fibrosis, and some small objects stuck in the nose. The fact that polyps form as an immune response is a consensus arrived at by research to ascertain more precise causes of nasal polyps.

2. Types of nasal polyps
Sinuses are pockets of air in our faces, and they are connected to the nasal package through a small tube. Sinuses allow airflow from the nose to the sinus. Sinuses also help in draining the mucus from each sinus into the nose

3. Ethmoidal polyps
Ethmoidal sinuses are the air pockets between the nose and the eyes. Any polyps that develop in that sinus are called ethmoidal polyps. These are the most commonly occurring polyps. Except for children under the age of 10, all of us could develop ethmoid. The ones that develop in the sinuses between the nose and eye are called ethmoidal sinuses.

4. Antrochoanal polyps
Sinuses or air pockets above our teeth and below our cheeks and nose are called maxillary sinuses. Nasal polyps which develop in this sinus are called Antrochoanal polyps. These are not common.

5. Signs of nasal polyps
The early warning signs of nasal polyps are similar to that of a bout of a common cold. Severe headache, fatigue, runny nose, sneezing, and coughing are typical common cold and nasal polyps symptoms. If you hear complaints of unusual snoring from you during sleep, it could be nasal polyps. A cold attack that doesn’t go away could be the reason for your polyps too.

6. Symptoms of large nasal polyps
Nasal polyps, by nature, are painless, and we don’t notice them initially. But if they grow bigger, they can block the nasal passage and give out more symptoms different from those of the common cold. Continuous nasal congestion without a cold, runny nose is a common symptom of nasal polyps. You will feel as if mucus is dripping down the back of your throat. You will find some difficulty in breathing and feel added pressure or pain in your face and forehead. Disturbed sleep, sleep apnea, and snoring are other symptoms that indicate that nasal polyps have grown larger. Frequent sinus infections are also symptoms of nasal polyps.