There is nothing more annoying than blowing your nose only to find out that whatever is stuck in there just won’t come out. Not only is it not comfortable, but when blowing fails, you begin to pick at it only to find a small bump that just won’t budge.
It’s never refreshing to discover a growth anywhere on your body and can be very frightening at times. But it’s not time to panic; there is a perfectly normal reason for this bump that you have found in your nose.
The bump that you have found inside your nose is not gold, it’s a nasal polyp, and it’s quite common. Want to know more about? Keep reading!
What is Nasal Polyp: They soft, painless, noncancerous growths on the lining of the nasal passages and sinuses. They hang down like a teardrop or a grape from a tree.
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What Causes Nasal Polyp: The reason why nasal polyp develops is because of chronic inflammation that is usually due to asthma, reoccurring infections, allergies, drug sensitivity, or immune disorders.
NicoletaIonescu/shutterstock.comWho is Most Likely to Get Them: While nasal polyps can affect any person of any age, in most cases adults who are 40 years old and up are most prone to getting them. Also, men are two times more likely to get them than women.
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Symptoms: As mentioned, the nasal polyp is the direct cause of inflammation that has developed on the lining of the nasal passage. The following are symptoms that you may experience if you’ve developed a nasal polyp.
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A Runny Nose: If you have not developed a cold or the flu and are constantly experiencing a drippy nose or postnasal drip, chances are you have developed a nasal polyp.
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Continuously Stuffy Nose: Again, if you have not developed a cold but could be in the vicinity of something that you may be allergic to, chances are you’ve developed a nasal polyp.
Emilyfrost/shutterstock.comDecreased Sense of Smell: If you notice that you’re having difficulties smelling things around you, it’s because your nasal passages have become inflamed and chances are you have developed nasal polyp.
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Facial Pain or Headache: When your nasal passage is blocked or inflamed, it causes you to breathe through your nose with more force. By doing this, you are putting more pressure on the blood vessels to try and pump blood through the blockage, thus causing pain.
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Snoring: There are many reasons why people snore, but the main reason is that there is something blocking the nasal passageway. What could do that more than a giant bump? The inflammation that has caused this bump blocks air from going through, hence the snoring.
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When Should You Contact Your Doctor: If you looked closely at the symptoms, you would notice that they are very similar to the common cold. The unwritten rule is that if you do not see any progress in 10 days, consult your doctor. Throughout those 10 days, you would have been able to get over any allergies or infections.
uzhursky/shutterstock.comRisk Factors: Any condition that will trigger chronic inflammation in the nasal passage increases the risk of developing nasal polyp. Those who have asthma, aspirin sensitivity, allergic fungal sinusitis, cystic fibrosis, and church-Strauss syndrome all increase their risk of developing nasal polyp.
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Complications: Nasal polyps can cause annoying complications because they block the normal airflow and fluid drainage. The following are potential complications.
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Obstructive Sleep Apnea: This is a potentially serious condition. You continuously stop and start breathing when you’re sleeping. This could affect the brain because of the reduced oxygen.
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Asthma Flare-Ups: If you have asthma, the worst thing is when you experience a flare-up. Because of the reduced air flow through your nose, the chances of a flare-up are increased.
wavebreakmedia/shutterstock.comSinus Infections: You become more susceptible to sinus infections that can reoccur and become chronic.
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Prevention: You have a good chance of reducing your chances of developing nasal polyp after treatment with the following strategies. The first thing you need to do is manage your allergies and asthma. Follow the treatment your doctor has provided for you. Practice good hygiene is important because of all the bacteria and viruses that cause inflammation. Using a humidifier is another good strategy. It will help moisten your breathing passage and help prevent blockage and inflammation.
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