Fast Relief for Nasal Polyps

One of the great challenges in being a sinus specialist is determining which problems require surgical intervention, and which do not.  Human sinuses are tricky structures, given to massive inflammation in some benign cases and minor sniffles in serious ones.  Certain problems resolve themselves overnight, while others can fester for months or even years.  One of the main sources of diagnostic confusion for patients and ENTs alike is nasal polyps.

Nasal polyps can arise for any number of reasons, but the most common is the chronic inflammatory disorder known as sinusitis.  Whether the root cause is viral, bacterial, or allergic in nature, the end result is the same: degraded cell walls that take on water and swell to become pearl-shaped obstructions in your nasal cavities.  For most people, the symptoms begin with mild nasal obstruction, although nasal polyps can eventually swell in size to block entire airways if left untreated.

So what can you do about them?  Strategy one is medical: see an expert sinus doctor for a consult, and you will most likely walk away with a prescription for corticosteroids or antibiotics.  If the problem persists, however, it is time to explore other avenues: consider allergy testing and a more exhaustive sinus workup.  In some cases your polyps may persist even after the root cause has been eliminated.  If so, it is time to speak with your ENT about fast sinus surgery to remove your polyps.

As always, sinus surgery is best handled by contacting a well-credentialed and experienced sinus surgeon in your area.  I work out of the Los Angeles Sinus Institute, but a few quick calls to professional organizations across the country can help you zero in on competent sinus doctors in your area.

Tags: ent, los angeles, nasal polyps, polyps, sinus doctor