Are nasal polyps dangerous?

Nasal polyps are benign growths of the nasal mucosa and are not dangerous in themselves. They can cause bothersome symptoms, such as nasal obstruction and a reduced sense of smell. If a polyp is one-sided, further investigation is advisable, as this can point to a different cause.

At what age do nasal polyps occur?

Nasal polyps can occur at any age, but most often between the ages of 30 and 40.

Nasal polyps: cause and treatment | De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen

What are nasal polyps? Do I have nasal polyps? Can nasal polyps be harmful? How do I get rid of nasal polyps? These are just a few of the questions we often…

De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen ENT care Throat & voice Coughing Lump in the throat Swallowing difficulties Tonsillitis Voice complaints Nose & sinuses Nasal polyps Nasal congestion Loss of smell Sinusitis Ears & hearing Ear infection Earache Earwax Hearing loss Tinnitus Focus areas Allergy Sleep & snoring The practice For referrers Contact Request a referral NL EN DE Home / Nose & sinuses / Nasal polyps Nose Nasal polyps: cause and treatment What are nasal polyps? Do I have nasal polyps? Can nasal polyps be harmful? How do I get rid of nasal polyps? These are just a few of the questions we often hear in the practice. On this page we answer the most frequently asked questions. Request a referral Treatment On this page The complaint in short Symptoms and diagnosis Treatment Your care pathway The complaint in short What are nasal polyps? Nasal polyps are benign growths of the nasal mucosa. They usually develop in the ethmoid sinuses, located between the nose and the eyes. Nasal polyps almost always develop on both sides. When a polyp is one-sided, further investigation is advisable, as this can be related to problems with the jaw or upper teeth. Nasal polyps can occur at any age, but most often between 30 and 40 years old. The cause of nasal polyps is still unknown. We do know that certain factors increase the chance of developing them: chronic inflammation of the nasal and sinus mucosa an overactive nasal mucosa a tendency toward allergies asthma, especially combined with an intolerance to aspirin Symptoms and diagnosis Symptoms and diagnosis The main symptom of nasal polyps is nasal congestion. This is often accompanied by a constant cold-like feeling, snoring, and reduced taste and smell. Some people also experience headaches and sleep problems. If you have these symptoms, your GP will assess based on your symptoms whether nasal polyps are suspected. If in doubt, they will refer you to an ENT doctor. The ENT doctor will examine the inside of your nose and will often spot the polyps quickly. If smaller and/or deeper-lying polyps are suspected, the ENT doctor can look a bit deeper into your nose with a small camera. Treatment Medication, and surgery if needed Several treatments are available to help you get rid of your nasal polyps. The best treatment for you depends on your symptoms and your polyps. Our ENT doctor will discuss this with you in detail. First step Medication (corticosteroids) Treatment often starts with corticosteroids. There are different forms of administration; your ENT doctor will discuss which one suits you best. If relief is insufficient Surgical removal Nasal polyps can be surgically removed — so-called polyp extraction, sometimes under local anaesthesia. Usually there are several polyps and the procedure takes place under general anaesthesia in the operating theatre. What you can expect Your care pathway Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your nasal symptoms. The ENT doctor asks specifically about your symptoms to get a clear picture of your problem. We examine the inside of your nose, if needed with a small camera to see deeper-lying polyps. We discuss the best treatment and keep monitoring the effect with you. Who treats you One consistent ENT doctor throughout your care You are guided personally, from first consultation through treatment. dr. Anne-Martine de Heer ENT doctor BIG 19066557501 Make an appointment Had a blocked nose or nasal polyps for a while? For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation. Get in touch Other nasal complaints How to arrange a referral Discuss your symptoms with your GP Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed Get in touch to schedule your consultation De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen Personal, specialist care in Nijmegen and the surrounding area. Feedback & complaints Privacy notice © 2026 De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen · KvK 68663137 · AGB 22221372

Home / Nose & sinuses / Nasal polyps

Nose

Nasal polyps: cause and treatment

What are nasal polyps? Do I have nasal polyps? Can nasal polyps be harmful? How do I get rid of nasal polyps? These are just a few of the questions we often hear in the practice. On this page we answer the most frequently asked questions.

Request a referral

Treatment

The complaint in short

What are nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are benign growths of the nasal mucosa. They usually develop in the ethmoid sinuses, located between the nose and the eyes.

Nasal polyps almost always develop on both sides. When a polyp is one-sided, further investigation is advisable, as this can be related to problems with the jaw or upper teeth.

Nasal polyps can occur at any age, but most often between 30 and 40 years old.

The cause of nasal polyps is still unknown. We do know that certain factors increase the chance of developing them:

chronic inflammation of the nasal and sinus mucosa
an overactive nasal mucosa
a tendency toward allergies
asthma, especially combined with an intolerance to aspirin

Symptoms and diagnosis

The main symptom of nasal polyps is nasal congestion. This is often accompanied by a constant cold-like feeling, snoring, and reduced taste and smell. Some people also experience headaches and sleep problems.

If you have these symptoms, your GP will assess based on your symptoms whether nasal polyps are suspected. If in doubt, they will refer you to an ENT doctor. The ENT doctor will examine the inside of your nose and will often spot the polyps quickly. If smaller and/or deeper-lying polyps are suspected, the ENT doctor can look a bit deeper into your nose with a small camera.

Treatment

Medication, and surgery if needed

Several treatments are available to help you get rid of your nasal polyps. The best treatment for you depends on your symptoms and your polyps. Our ENT doctor will discuss this with you in detail.

First step

Medication (corticosteroids)

Treatment often starts with corticosteroids. There are different forms of administration; your ENT doctor will discuss which one suits you best.

If relief is insufficient

Surgical removal

Nasal polyps can be surgically removed — so-called polyp extraction, sometimes under local anaesthesia. Usually there are several polyps and the procedure takes place under general anaesthesia in the operating theatre.

What you can expect

Your care pathway

Your GP refers you; we schedule a first conversation about your nasal symptoms.

The ENT doctor asks specifically about your symptoms to get a clear picture of your problem.

We examine the inside of your nose, if needed with a small camera to see deeper-lying polyps.

We discuss the best treatment and keep monitoring the effect with you.

Who treats you

One consistent ENT doctor throughout your care

You are guided personally, from first consultation through treatment.

dr. Anne-Martine de HeerENT doctor
BIG 19066557501

Frequently asked questions

Make an appointment

Had a blocked nose or nasal polyps for a while?

For an appointment at De KNO Praktijk Nijmegen you need a referral from your GP. Discuss your symptoms with your GP; they assess whether a referral is needed. With the referral, you contact us and we schedule your consultation.

Get in touch

Other nasal complaints

How to arrange a referral

Discuss your symptoms with your GP

Your GP assesses whether a referral is needed

Get in touch to schedule your consultation