Painless and benign growths that cover the nasal passage lining and the sinuses are known as nasal polyps. They look like grapes or teardrops hanging down. They are caused by chronic inflammation resulting from certain health conditions like allergies, asthma, immune disorders, or sensitivity to any medicine. Read on to know more about the types, symptoms, and diagnosis. 

Types
Nasal polyps  are of two types – ethmoidal and antrochoanal polyps. 

1. Ethmoidal Nasal Polyps
Since they develop from ethmoidal sinuses, they are known as ethmoidal nasal polyps. Ethmoidal sinuses are located between the eyes and the nose.

2. Antrochoanal Nasal Polyps
They are found developing in the maxillary sinuses. These sinuses can be located above your teeth and under your nose and cheeks.

Signs and symptoms of nasal polyps
One might not experience any signs or symptoms if the  nasal polyps  do not grow in size and obstruct the nasal cavity. However, when they grow bigger or start blocking certain areas of the nose, they can lead to several symptoms. These can include:

1. Runny and stuffy nose
A runny and stuffy nose is one of the common symptoms. If you have been suffering from a cold and there is persistent nasal congestion that does not go away even after using over-the-counter medication, it could be because of nasal polyps.

2. Loss of sense of taste and smell
Nasal polyps  can also decrease, or in some cases make you lose, your sense of smell and taste.

3. Headache
Another symptom of nasal polyps is headaches. In some cases, patients can also feel facial pain. Sometimes, you can experience discomfort and pain in your upper teeth, which can also indicate the condition.

4. Snoring and sleep apnea
People suffering from  nasal polyps  can also experience snoring and sleep apnea sometimes. 

Diagnosis of nasal polyps
The condition is diagnosed with the help of a general physical exam (examination of the nose). The doctor can easily see nasal polyps using any instrument with a light. There are some other diagnostic tests that the doctor needs to make an informed diagnosis of the condition. These include the following. 

1. Nasal endoscopy
In this procedure, a thin, flexible tube fitted with a small camera or magnifying lens with light is inserted into the nasal passage to check the sinuses and the nose.

2. CT scan
The results of a CT scan can help the doctor identify the location and the size of the nasal polyps, even when they are deep into the sinuses. This test also lets the doctor know the severity of the swelling and inflammation.

3. Allergy test
Sometimes, the doctor might want to check for allergies which could lead to chronic inflammation. For this, the doctor asks for a series of skin tests.