Nasal polyps are soft and non-cancerous growths on the lining of the nose or sinuses. They hang down like teardrops and are painless, but polyps can cause olfaction and nasal obstruction, impairing one’s quality of life. Some signs and symptoms of this condition are nasal congestion, persistent postnasal drainage, changes in the senses of smell and taste, headaches, and facial pain. Let’s look at the common treatment practices for nasal polyps:

• Nasal corticosteroids: A corticosteroid nasal spray is probably the first thing that a doctor will prescribe. It reduces inflammation and irritation and shrinks or eliminates the polyps. A nasal spray is one of the simplest, pain-free, and common treatment practices for nasal polyps.
• Corticosteroid medicines and injections: If a nasal corticosteroid does not provide the desired results, a healthcare practitioner may prescribe oral medicine. The right medicines help shrink even large polyps and remove them over time, and one may be asked to take them in combination with a nasal spray. Corticosteroid injections are used only when in severe cases.
• Medication for nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis: If one is suffering from chronic sinusitis along with nasal polyps, a healthcare practitioner may inject medicine to treat the condition. The medicine may help relieve congestion and decrease the size of the nasal polyps.
• Other medicines: Many times, healthcare practitioners prescribe antibiotics to deal with a chronic or recurring infection and antihistamines to treat allergies. Allergies and infections often lead to long-term swelling in the nasal passages or sinuses, so antibiotics and antihistamines can help. These are also common treatment practices for nasal polyps.
• Surgery: If nasal sprays and medicines do not help eliminate the polyps, a healthcare provider may suggest endoscopic surgery. This procedure not only removes the polyps but also corrects other problems with the sinuses to keep inflammation and polyps at bay. In this surgical procedure, a small tube is inserted with a small camera into the nostrils and the sinus cavities. The polyps are then removed with the help of tiny instruments. The surgery also helps open up or enlarge the sinus cavities for easy drainage. A doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid nasal spray after the surgery to prevent the condition from recurring.
• Exhalation delivery system for steroid rinses: This is one of the more recent treatments for nasal polyps. Exhalation delivery system with fluticasone is one of the latest steroid devices used for spraying fluticasone deep into the nasal cavity, which helps reduce nasal polyp inflammation and the associated discomfort.

While nasal polyps can affect anyone, they are more common among adults in their 30s and 40s. One-sided polyps are often investigated further for sinus or nasal tumors. If one has polyps on one or both sides of the nasal cavity, they should consult a doctor at the earliest.