Nasal polyps are lumps of tissue that grow within the nose. While polyps themselves are generally harmless, they could cause pain and discomfort – common symptoms of nasal polyps include congestion, headaches, and drainage.
So what ought to be done with these increases? (Tip: you should not attempt to remove nasal polyps yourself.) Read on to search out out easy methods to treat nasal polyps at home and when to see a health care provider.
How one can get rid of nasal polyps?
First, treatment for nasal polyps will not be essential. In case your nasal polyps should not causing symptoms, you need not treat them. It’s possible for nasal polyps to shrink naturally and go away on their very own.
Secondly, you must not attempt to remove nasal polyps yourself as this could cause injury and even infection. But the excellent news is that when you’re concerned in regards to the symptoms of nasal polyps, there are things you’ll be able to do at home to make yourself more comfortable by reducing polyps or getting rid of them altogether. And if home treatment doesn’t give you the results you want, injectable medications and surgery could also be options.
Home remedies to cut back the symptoms of nasal polyps
Polyps are mainly brought on by inflammation within the nose. Controlling inflammation may also help prevent nasal polyps and keep them from getting worse. And when your nasal passages aren’t swollen and irritated, you will feel higher. Listed below are things you’ll be able to do at home to forestall nasal inflammation:
Use a transportable humidifier
The moist air from a humidifier can soothe irritated nasal passages. Try to maintain humidity between 30-50%. For best results, clean the humidifier often and only use distilled water.
Rinse the nasal passages
You should use a neti pot or a bulb syringe to irrigate the nasal passages with a salt water solution. By pushing saline through your nose, you’ll moisturize your nasal passages and remove mucus and allergens that could cause irritation and inflammation. You could find neti pots and saline solutions on the pharmacy or online.
Treat other respiratory diseases
Individuals with allergies or asthma usually tend to have nasal polyps. By managing your allergy and asthma symptoms, you’ll be able to reduce the inflammation that causes polyps or makes them worse. In case your symptoms should not under control, consult with your GP or allergist.
Attempt to avoid nasal irritants
Irritants similar to tobacco smoke, chemical fumes, and dust could cause or worsen nasal polyps, so attempt to avoid them as much as possible. If you’ve got difficulty quitting smoking, your doctor may also help.
Take steps to guard yourself from the disease
Bacteria and viruses could cause inflammation within the nasal passages. So remember to clean your hands, eat a healthy weight loss program and get a flu and booster or COVID-19 vaccine.
Drugs that reduce nasal polyps
If home options don’t provide symptom relief, make an appointment together with your GP. If essential, they’ll refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor for other treatments, similar to injectable medications.
There are numerous medications that may also help reduce the dimensions of polyps or eliminate them altogether. Common medications for nasal polyps include:
Nasal sprays
Corticosteroid nasal sprays are commonly used to cut back the swelling and irritation of the nasal passages consequently of allergies. But nasal sprays may also help shrink polyps or get rid of them altogether. Popular over-the-counter options include Flonase, Rinocort, and Nasacort. Nasal sprays are generally secure, however it’s all the time an excellent idea to consult with your doctor before taking any latest medication.
Oral corticosteroid
If the nasal spray is not working, your doctor may prescribe an oral corticosteroid for nasal polyps. But these drugs can have uncomfortable side effects. So when you take them, it’s just for a short while.
Injectable corticosteroid
If the nasal polyps are severe, another choice is to inject corticosteroid medications into the nasal polyps to cut back inflammation.
Biology for nasal polyps
If you’ve got each nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis, your doctor may recommend an injectable drug called dupilumab to shrink the polyps and reduce congestion. This drug changes the way in which the immune system responds to inflammation.
Surgery to remove nasal polyps
If medications aren’t working, it could be time to consult with your ENT doctor about nasal polypectomy, sinus surgery to remove nasal polyps.
The procedure normally takes a couple of hours and could be performed under general or local anesthesia, depending in your preferences and needs.
Most individuals can go home the identical day as surgery, but some have to stay overnight. Should you can get home you have to someone to drive you so it’s an excellent idea to rearrange transportation upfront.
How are nasal polyps removed?
The procedure depends a bit on the dimensions and location of the nasal polyps.
If you’ve got large polyps towards the front of your nose, your doctor may use a microdebrider, an instrument inserted into your nostril to remove the tissue and pull it out with suction. Your doctor may also remove polyps using small grabbers.
If nasal polyps are deeper within the nasal cavity or could also be tougher to remove, your doctor may recommend functional endoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure that does not require any skin incisions.
Throughout the procedure, your doctor will use an endoscope, which is an extended, thin, flexible tube with a camera at the tip. The endoscope is passed through the nostrils and into the nasal cavities.
Using the camera, the doctor will find nasal polyps and then use small tools to remove them. Your doctor may also make changes to the structure of your sinuses to cut back the likelihood of nasal polyps.
What to anticipate after nasal polyps are removed
Although the nasal polyp removal procedure is kind of minor, the healing process still takes time. To be sure you are healing properly, your ENT doctor will see you many times within the weeks after surgery.
Your doctor offers you specific care instructions, but you’ll be able to expect the next after recovery:
- You must find a way to return to work in every week or less – some people could also be back in a couple of days.
- Your nose will probably be sore and blood and other fluids will probably run out of it for as much as every week.
- Your doctor will prescribe over-the-counter or prescription medications to assist manage your pain. Only take what’s prescribed as some medications could cause problems. For instance, taking aspirin can delay healing since it prevents blood from clotting.
- You could feel like you’ve got a chilly for a couple of days. But you will not find a way to blow your nose for not less than every week – blowing your nose can affect the healing process. As a substitute, you’ll have to make use of saline sprays to loosen the dried mucus that builds up in your nose.
- You could avoid certain behaviors that could cause nosebleeds, including hot baths, long showers, steaming drinks, strenuous exercise, and bending over.
- Smoking and drinking alcohol ought to be avoided as they hinder healing.
Can I prevent nasal polyps from coming back after surgery?
Nasal polyps sometimes recur, and there is not any option to guarantee that your nose will remain growth-free ceaselessly. Nonetheless, taking steps to cut back inflammation in your nasal passages can reduce your risk of developing uncomfortable nasal polyps.
Subsequently, proceed to make use of corticosteroid nasal sprays, saline rinses, and a humidifier. It also helps control allergy and asthma symptoms, quit smoking and limit the quantity of alcohol you drink.
Treatment of nasal polyps which might be positioned on the nose
Home remedies are sometimes enough to administer the symptoms of nasal polyps. But when home treatment doesn’t work, make an appointment together with your GP to debate other options, including medication.
You can even make an appointment with an ENT specialist to learn more about intravenous drugs or nasal polyp surgery – no referral needed.