Can nasal polyps cause headaches?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on December 15, 2024
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Nasal polyps can cause headaches. The exact cause of nasal polyps is unknown, but they are generally due to prolonged chronic inflammation that leads to congestion, swelling, proliferation, and prolapse of the nasal turbinates' mucous membrane, resulting in the appearance of polyps. They are also often secondary to allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps cause persistent nasal congestion, which progressively worsens, leading to persistent hypoxia in patients. This can cause symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, and coughing. During examination, congested and swollen nasal mucosa can be found, and in the middle or general nasal passage, pale, abnormal, soft, painless neoplasms may be detected. In terms of treatment, nasal polyps require endoscopic nasal polypectomy and sinusotomy. After surgery, physical exercise and avoiding colds are necessary to prevent recurrence.

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Can nasal polyps be seen with the naked eye?

Nasal polyps can be visible to the naked eye, but this is only in cases of more severe nasal polyp patients. In some severe cases, the polyps grow into and protrude from the nasal cavity, at which point a pale white, lychee-like polyp neoplasm can usually be seen in the nostril. For patients with nasal polyps, blockage of the nasal passages can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, headaches, and runny nose. At this time, functional endoscopic sinus surgery can be used to remove the polyps from the patient's nasal cavity, thereby restoring normal ventilation function of the nasal passages, improving symptoms of sinus obstruction, and achieving a cure.

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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.)

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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.)

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Can nasal polyps be treated with medication?

Nasal polyps can be considered for drug treatment, primarily depending on the severity of the nasal polyps. If the condition of the nasal polyps is not particularly severe, most patients can consider conservative drug treatment. Common treatments include nasal spray medications, and the nasal cavity can also be rinsed with saline. If the patient also has rhinitis or sinusitis, oral medication may need to be considered. However, during the treatment process, regular follow-up examinations are necessary to observe the treatment effects. If the effects of medication are not satisfactory and the condition of the nasal polyps is more severe, surgical removal may need to be considered. After surgery, regular follow-up examinations are still necessary to monitor the effects of the surgery.

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What should I do if nasal polyps recur for the second time?

Nasal polyps are a common and frequently occurring clinical disease, consisting of benign neoplasms in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Clinically, nasal polyps are primarily treated through surgery, specifically functional endoscopic sinus surgery for the removal of polyps under nasal endoscopy. Nasal polyps have a certain probability of recurrence. After a second recurrence, a second surgery is required. Following surgery, it is necessary to regularly follow up with cleaning of the nasal and sinus cavities, and to actively use certain medications, such as corticosteroids and some macrolide anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, during nasal polyp surgery, some tissues should be removed for biopsy to avoid confusion between nasal polyps and papillomas.