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Nasal polyps
Do nasal polyps have any harm?
Nasal polyps are abnormal tissue structures and pathological in nature, thus posing several risks to human health. Firstly, they obstruct nasal airflow because nasal polyps block the normal respiratory and ventilation passages, causing the primary sensation of nasal congestion and difficulty in breathing through the nose. Secondly, they impair the sense of smell. Nasal polyps obstruct the nasal cavity, preventing odors from smoothly reaching the olfactory area, leading to diminished olfactory perception. Thirdly, if the nasal polyps persist for too long and grow excessively large, they can result in acute changes in the nose, the most common being a "frog-like nose." This condition makes the nose appear flattened and broad like a frog's, lying against the face which is cosmetically unappealing.
Is minimally invasive surgery for nasal polyps painful?
Nasal polyp surgery is performed using endoscopic nasal polypectomy and sinusotomy. It is a minimally invasive surgery that requires general anesthesia and is painless. The cause of nasal polyps is unclear, generally, they are due to repeated chronic inflammation, which can cause diffuse congestion, edema, hyperplasia, and prolapse of the nasal turbinate mucosa. They are also often secondary to allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps usually occur bilaterally and cause persistent nasal congestion that progressively worsens. During an endoscopic examination, pale, lychee-like fresh tumors can be seen in the nasal cavity, which are soft and painless. In terms of treatment, medication is ineffective for nasal polyps; patients need to undergo local surgical treatment for cure.
Do nasal polyps need surgical removal?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological condition, and the treatment methods are generally divided into two categories. The first category is surgical treatment, and the second is conservative medical treatment. Therefore, the choice of treatment mainly depends on the severity of the patient's condition, the patient's own wishes, and their overall health. If the condition is mild and the clinical symptoms are not obvious, medical treatment can be considered first to see the effects. If the condition is severe, the nasal polyps are extensive, and the clinical symptoms are clear, and if there is no effect after standardized conservative medical treatment, surgical removal should be considered.
Can nasal polyps be treated conservatively?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngologic condition. Some patients may consider conservative treatment, particularly when the severity of the nasal polyps is mild. If, after standard conservative medication treatment, the severity of the nasal polyps does not gradually improve but instead worsens, or if the initial severity of the nasal polyps is high, conservative medication treatment may not be effective. In such cases, surgical treatment should be considered. Currently, the most common procedure is endoscopic nasal polyp removal surgery, which is a minimally invasive surgery. Overall, the surgery tends to have good outcomes and relatively minor damage. However, it requires regular check-ups to monitor the effectiveness of the surgery.
What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?
Nasal polyps are benign tumors that occur inside the nasal cavity. Generally, the appearance of nasal polyps is associated with chronic inflammatory stimulation, repeated irritation of the turbinate mucosa leading to congestion, edema, prolapse, and hyperplasia of the turbinate mucosa, which causes nasal polyps. They are also often secondary to allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps can cause bilateral nasal congestion in patients, which tends to persist and worsen, while mucous secretions may also flow from the nasal cavity. In severe cases, patients may experience facial swelling, pain, headaches, and other related symptoms. During examination, pale white lychee-like, soft new growths that are usually painless can be found inside the nasal cavity. In terms of treatment, nasal polyps require endoscopic nasal polypectomy. The surgery requires hospitalization, general anesthesia, and postoperative antibiotics to prevent local infection. Patients can usually recover and be discharged about a week after the surgery. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
What medicine to take for nasal polyps?
There are quite a few methods for treating nasal polyps, and currently, they are mainly divided into two major categories on the clinical level: the first category is surgical removal, and the second category is conservative medicinal treatment. If the extent of the nasal polyps is relatively small and there are no significant clinical symptoms, this situation could be considered for medication treatment. Currently, the first choice is still nasal spray, primarily corticosteroid nasal sprays, which help reduce nasal polyps and alleviate clinical symptoms. If accompanied by sinusitis or rhinitis, it is recommended to combine it with oral medications, commonly used medications include antibiotics or traditional Chinese medicine preparations, and overall, it is a relatively common disease. If the range of nasal polyps is extensive, and the inflammatory response is severe, accompanied by obvious clinical symptoms, this situation might require surgical treatment, as purely medicinal treatment might indeed not be particularly ideal. (Specific medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)
What is the cause of bleeding from nasal polyps?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common clinical disease, with various symptoms. Common symptoms include bleeding, as well as nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headache, and dizziness. The bleeding caused by nasal polyps may be due to the condition of the polyps themselves, with some patients experiencing bleeding polyps that bleed repeatedly. It could also be due to inflammation associated with the polyps, or erosion of the nasal mucosa or small blood vessels in the nasal cavity rupturing and causing bleeding. Therefore, when such symptoms occur, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngology (ENT) department for tests such as a complete blood count, coagulation function tests, nasopharyngoscopy, and a sinus CT scan to determine the specific cause of the condition.
What should I do if nasal polyps keep recurring?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder, and some patients may experience recurrent episodes. This situation is mainly seen in patients with nasal polyps who have an increase in eosinophils or those with accompanying allergic rhinitis. The likelihood of recurrence varies individually. After a recurrence, it is necessary to visit an otolaryngologist. A nasal endoscopy or a sinus CT scan can be done to assess the severity of the recurrence. Some patients may opt for conservative medical treatment, commonly using nasal spray medications. Additionally, rinsing the nasal cavity with saline solution can be helpful. If the nasal polyps recur severely and conservative treatment is ineffective, surgical removal may be necessary. (Please use medication under the guidance of a physician.)
Is the nasal polyps spray effective?
Some patients find nasal polyps effectively treated with sprays, and this largely depends on the extent of the specific lesion. If the nasal polyps are relatively mild, localized, and the clinical symptoms are not particularly severe, most patients could consider using conservative treatments first to see the results. The common conservative treatment is nasal sprays, generally corticosteroid sprays. Their main function is to reduce nasal polyps and alleviate inflammatory responses. Overall, many patients find effective results following standardized medication treatment. If the conservative medication treatment is ineffective and the nasal polyps are extensive, surgery might be considered as a necessity. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Symptoms of nasal polyps
Nasal polyps are mucosal proliferative tissue masses caused by chronic inflammation or physical and chemical factors. Symptoms induced by nasal polyps primarily include nasal congestion, runny nose, nasal itchiness, and sneezing. Some patients may also experience headaches, nasal bleeding, and other related symptoms. For patients with nasal polyps, initial treatment should involve medication to control the growth of the polyps. Subsequently, functional endoscopic sinus surgery can be undertaken to excise the proliferative nasal polyp tissue under endoscopy, restoring the normal physiological environment and function of the nasal cavity, thereby completely alleviating symptoms of nasal congestion.