All of these areas of the body often can react together to an allergy or infection. It is for this reason that a multi-disciplinary team made up of an allergist and an otolaryngologist can best treat these connected conditions. Nasal Polyps Patients are often told that they have polyps or growths within their nose or sinuses. It should be stated from the outset that polyps in the nose, unlike polyps elsewhere in the body, are rarely associated with any sort of tumor or neoplasm. They typically result from a brisk inflammatory response that makes the swollen nasal lining balloon out into what looks like clusters of grapes.
Nasal polyps can obviously block the sinus openings and precipitate chronic sinus infections.
When patients find it difficult to breathe through their noses, physicians label this condition nasal airway obstruction. This condition can cause discomfort due to the need to breathe through the mouth, leading to a dry mouth and throat irritation. When the problem is a structural one, often surgery is necessary to resolve the problem. The first step in resolving a structural narrowing is defining the precise location of the obstruction. The nose can be compared to a hallway through which air passes from the outside environment on its way in and out of the lungs.