Nasal Polyps and Sinusitis: The Main Differences
Many people struggle with sinus-based inflammation, difficulty in smelling, breathing issues, and frequent risk of infections. Two conditions can cause these symptoms: nasal polyps and sinusitis. So you should know the difference between them to get the proper treatment. Here’s a list of nasal polyps vs. sinusitis differences that you should be aware of. 1. Definition Sinusitis is inflammation of the sinuses – air pockets located under your face. These sinuses are connected to the nasal passage using small channels. They help drain mucus from the sinus to the nasal passage. Nasal polyps, on the other hand, are benign growths in the nasal mucosa. The polyps block the nasal passage and prevent the person from breathing normally. 2. Causes Various factors can cause sinusitis, such as a cold, allergy, change in climate, blocked drainage ducts, and a deviated septum. Nasal polyps are caused because of non-tumor growths in the nasal mucosa. Most times, the condition is genetic. If your first-degree relatives had it, you could develop it too. Otherwise, no clear reasons for nasal polyps can be identified. 3. Symptoms When it comes to nasal polyps vs. sinusitis, it’s challenging to find a clear differentiation in the symptoms. Both conditions more or less show symptoms like a stuffy nose, postnasal drip, the feeling of something blocking the nasal passage, pain around the face, and the constant risk of allergies and other infections.