Ear, Nose & Throat Signs and Symptoms of Nasal Polyps By Elizabeth Yuko, PhD Elizabeth Yuko, PhD LinkedIn Twitter Elizabeth Yuko, PhD, is a bioethicist and journalist, as well as an adjunct professor of ethics at Dublin City University. She has written for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 31, 2021 Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD Medically reviewed by John Carew, MD on February 04, 2021 LinkedIn Twitter John Carew, MD, is board-certified in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. He is an adjunct assistant professor at Mount Sinai Medical Center and NYU Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Are Nasal Polyps? Frequent Symptoms Complications When to See a Doctor Nasal polyps can result in a range of symptoms, including a decreased sense of smell and/or taste, difficulty breathing through the nose, runny nose, postnasal drip, headache, cough, sinus pain or pressure, itching around the eyes, snoring, facial pain, pain in the upper teeth. Grace Cary / Getty Images What Are Nasal Polyps? Nasal polyps are soft, swollen, abnormal, sac-like growths that line the inside of a person's nose or sinuses. They are often teardrop-shaped and grow together in groups. Though nasal polyps themselves are not a form of cancer, it is possible for other growths to form in the nasal cavity that are cancerous—though they are not considered polyps. Frequently, nasal polyps grow where the sinuses open into the nasal cavity and can vary in size. While small polyps may not cause any problems—and may not be noticeable—larger polyps can block your sinuses or nasal airway, making it difficult to breathe. Who Is Most at Risk for Developing Nasal Polyps? In general, nasal polyps are quite common, and anyone can develop them, though they tend to most frequently appear when a person is in their 30s and 40s. Frequent Symptoms It can be difficult to determine if a person has nasal polyps. This is because, in some cases, they don't experience any symptoms at all, and in other cases, it simply feels like a normal—but neverending—head cold. The symptoms of nasal polyps can include a combination of the following: Runny nose Stuffed-up nose Sneezing Feeling like your nose is blocked Loss of smell Loss of taste Headache and pain if you also have a sinus infection Snoring Itching around the eyes Facial pain Pain in the upper teeth Postnasal drip Cough Complications The main complications of nasal polyps are similar to some of the symptoms listed above: namely, having difficulty breathing through the nose, and a loss of taste and/or smell. Loss of Taste and Smell If you lose your taste and smell due to nasal polyps, there is a chance that it will never come back. The other potential complications from nasal polyps would be a result of having them surgically removed. In that situation, complications can include: BleedingInfectionThe possibility of the nasal polyps coming back in the future However, in some situations, nasal polyps can lead to other health problems. The most common of these is sinusitis (a sinus infection), which may require antibiotics if it is caused by a bacterial infection. Other potential, though more serious and less common, complications of nasal polyps may include: Meningitis: Infection of the tissue around the brain and spinal cord Orbital cellulitis: Infection around the tissue around the eye Osteitis: Infection of the sinus bones Obstructive sleep apnea: When large nasal polyps can block nasal passageway during sleep Additional Risk Factors While researchers are still trying to pinpoint the cause of nasal polyps, one theory is that they may be genetic—especially in cases involving genes that play a role in the immune system and inflammatory response. Additionally, if a person has an underlying inflammation of tissue, they may be more likely to develop nasal polyps, along with those who have the following conditions: Asthma Aspirin sensitivity Chronic sinus infections Cystic fibrosis Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) If a person has nasal polyps, asthma, and an allergy to aspirin, it is called Samter's triad (ST). When to See a Doctor If you find that it's more difficult to breathe through your nose than usual—especially if you aren't dealing with a cold or allergies—it's a good idea to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Similarly, if you lose your sense of taste and/or smell, or have what feels like a head cold or sinus infection that never goes away, it's time to seek medical treatment. At the appointment, your healthcare provider will look in your nose and may have to do a nasal endoscopy to get a good look at the full extent of the polyps. Severe Cases In more severe cases, the doctor may need to do a CT scan of your sinuses because older polyps may have broken down into the bone inside your sinuses. A Word From Verywell Because nasal polyps can feel like a range of common upper respiratory conditions, it can be difficult to know when you have them. That's why it's important to pay attention to how long your nose feels blocked or you experience sinus pressure. Talk to your doctor if anything seems out of the ordinary or you notice any sudden changes to your ability to breathe through your nose. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nasal polyps. MedlinePlus. Nasal polyps. Updated August 12, 2019. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Nasal polyps. Updated June 28, 2019. Cedars-Sinai. Nasal polyps.