Having polyps in your nose is caused by long standing inflammation of the lining of your nose. Small polyps often cause no symptoms but when they become large, they can obstruct your nose, making it difficult to breath as well as causing pressure in your face and head. Often, polyps may cause significant dripping of mucus at the back of your throat and you may loose your sense of smell.
Nasal polyps often occur with inflammatory conditions such as asthma and sensitivity to the effects of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin. If you have asthma, treating your nose often improves the function of your chest.
Nasal polyps often shrink with combination medical therapies which usually include steroids. When polyps do not respond to medical treatment or come back very quickly once the treatment is withdrawn, surgery to remove the polyps and allow the medications to be more effective can make a significant improvement in your symptoms. Surgery is particularly good at improving your nasal airways.
