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NASAL POLYP
is a condition
where the person experiences difficulty in breathing, occasional sneezing, the
nose has constant discharge of watery fluid, and there is a reduced ability to
smell than what it used to be earlier. These types of problems are common in
allergies or a chronic sinus infection. But these signs and symptoms may be due
to nasal polyps which is a soft, non cancerous (benign) growth that develops on
the mucous membranes (inner lining of the nose or sinuses). When the nasal polyp
is small in size it gives few problems, but when it’s larger in size it can
affect the breathing and reduce the sense of smell. Sometimes it may produce
headaches and / or snoring. Nasal polyps occur as a result of chronic and
recurrent allergy of nose like frequent colds or recurrent inflammation of inner
mucous membrane of the nose due to allergy of nose or recurrent sinus attacks.
Nasal polyp is common in people older than 40 and in adults and children with
illnesses like asthma, chronic sinus infections, and other allergies of
respiratory tract. Conservative treatment is the best way to manage nasal polyp
with help of medicines but in some cases where the size of the nasal polyp is
very big or clinically the polyp is creating difficulty in breathing then
surgery is and alternative option but if the basic problem of recurrent
inflammation or tendency of recurrent allergy of nose is not taken care of than
the polyps do return in few years. The symptoms of nasal polyp are that one may
single or multiple nasal polyps in a group like a bunch of grapes The polyps are
generally soft to touch, they have color of inner mucous membrane of nose when
not inflamed, but when inflamed they look congested red and are often painful.
The consistency is soft like jelly. The big sized multiple polyps may obstruct
the airways in your nose, making it difficult to breathe. This may lead to mouth
breathing, especially in children. The complains related to nose are
Apart from cosmetic importance the nose plays many
important functions such as filtering the air that we inhale, making the inhaled
air warm and moist. The nose is made up of bone (hard bone), cartilage (the soft
bone) and mucous membrane the inner skin of the nose. . Each nasal cavity has
three to four bony compartments know as turbinate which merges in to the septum
which is a thin, cartilage-and-bone divider that separates the nose in to two
hollow cavities. A mucous membrane envelops these structures in the inner part
of nose. This mucus membrane acts as a filter for bacteria and other dist
particles, which are removed out of the nose with the help of hairs present in
the inner part of nose. When air that is inhaled is cold or dry, there is
swelling of the mucus membrane in the inner part of the nose. This results in to
the narrowing of the nasal air passages which slows down the flow of air so that
it becomes warm and moist before it can reach to the lungs. The nose is also
supplied by a nerve called olfactory nerves which is responsible for smelling
with the help of its connection to the smell center in brain. Without the
nose-brain connection, the nose can’t smell. Nasal polyps can develop in the
mucous lining of the nose or in one or more of nasal sinuses. The nasal polyps
are not the disease in themselves. They are actually the end product of
recurrent allergy and inflammation of the nasal mucus membrane. Chronic
inflammation makes the blood vessels in the lining of the nose and sinuses to
become more permeable, which allows water to accumulate in the cells. Over the
period of few months or years these water logged cells are pulled down as a
result of gravity pulls on these waterlogged tissues, which may result into
polyps. Polyp may some time lead to complications. A single, small nasal polyp
rarely causes complications, but a large polyp or many smaller polyps
(polyposis) may lead to the following complications.
Prevention of Nasal Polyp:
It is difficult
to prevent a nasal polyp. But if you have asthma, nasal allergies or chronic
sinus infections, managing the symptoms asthma or other nasal allergies may help
in controlling the nasal congestion or breathing difficulties. Irrigating the
sinuses with salt water may help relieve mild nasal congestion and eliminate
mucus. It helps cleaning the sinuses and accumulated mucus gets cleared. This
improves breathing difficulties. One should avoid over-the-counter saline sprays
that contain additives, such as benzalkonium, which can actually inflame the
mucous lining of the nose and exacerbate the symptoms. One can use
preservative-free saline sprays. You can make your own saline solution, by
mixing 1/4 teaspoon salt in 8 ounces of warm water. Pour some of the solution
into your cupped hand and sniff into your nostrils. You can also inject the
solution using an ear bulb or syringe. Then gently clear your nose with a
tissue.
Role of Homeopathy in Nasal
Polyp:
Homeopathy has a very significant role to play in cases of
nasal polyp. As we have seen in the discussion above that root cause of nasal
polyp is recurrent allergies and inflammation of respiratory tract. This allergy
could be in the form of recurrent attacks of running nose, sneezing or an attack
of asthma. Homeopathy helps in preventing the nasal polyp from developing and
the nasal polyps which are already there, homeopathic medicines help in
preventing their growth. It is a simple logic that if we are able to control the
allergy part we can control the nasal polyp. Homeopathy by its deep seated
actions on human body brings significant improvement in tendency to have
allergies of respiratory tract. This could be the case in asthma or frequent
colds. Homeopathy improves your immunity and you are less susceptible to
changing climatic conditions, food and other environmental allergies.
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