How to Diagnose Nasal Polyps

Inflammation of the nasal passage and sinuses is called nasal polyps. A doctor can perform basic screening to test for polyps and other allergies.

Things You'll Need

• Physician
• Family medical history

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Instructions

Diagnose Nasal Polyps

• 1

  Watch for any changes in your sense of smell. Nasal polyps can obstruct the airway and diminish your sense of smell. If you're not able to smell as well as you used to, you may have nasal polyps. If loss of sensitivity to smell is noticed and other nasal polyp symptoms are also present, then odds are high that you have nasal polyps also.

• 2

  Consider nasal polyps as a possibility if you suffer chronic sinus infections. Since nasal polyps are an inflammation of the nasal passages or sinus tissue, chronic sinus infections are a very common symptom.

• 3

  Learn to recognize the most common symptoms associated with this condition in order to diagnose nasal polyps. The most common symptoms are stuffiness in the nose, a constant runny nose, difficulty breathing, sinus infection and headache.

• 4

  Watch out for secondary symptoms that may be harder to notice. A change in snoring is one symptom of nasal polyps that can go unnoticed unless someone else points it out to you.

• 5

  Be careful not to misdiagnose nasal polyps as hayfever. The symptoms are very similar but treatments are not necessarily the same. It is important to accurately diagnose your condition in order to undergo the most effective treatment option available.

• 6

  Keep an eye on your kids. You may need to diagnose nasal polyps for them since they may not have the communication skills necessary to tell you what is wrong with them. In children, nasal polyps often lead to irregular snoring and mouth breathing.

• 7

  Remember that only a doctor is truly qualified to diagnose nasal polyps and to prescribe treatment. You can learn to self diagnose nasal polyps with the help of the Mayo Clinic, but when in doubt, see a doctor (see Resources below).

• 8

  Prepare your family's medical history. This is one of the things your doctor will be most interested in when seeing you for nasal polyps. Be as thorough as possible. Depending on your family's medical history, additional screening may be required to rule out other possibilities.