Nasal polyps develop as soft and painless, non-cancerous growths in the lining of your nasal passages and sinuses. Nasal polyps hang down from the nasal passage like teardrops. They are usually caused by chronic inflammation associated with asthma, allergies, recurring sinus infections, drug sensitivity, and some immune disorders.
Tiny nasal polyps may not cause any symptoms, but large polyps make it difficult for one to breathe because they block the nasal passages and lead to loss of smell and cause recurrent infections. Nasal polyps are more common in adults. Medication can be used to treat polyps, but surgery is often recommended in severe cases, even though nasal polyps often return. Signs and symptoms of polyps include the following:

1. Runny nose
Excessive production of mucus normally causes a running nose. One may have a chronic running nose and makes patients feel like they always have a cold. Runny noses are a very uncomfortable experience, especially if they occur for an abnormally long period.

2. Persistent congestion
Nasal polyps normally grow into large lumps over time if untreated. Therefore, the patient finds it very hard to breathe through the nose, which often causes breathing problems and disrupts sleeping patterns. Nasal polyps make the nose feel stuffy. And only surgery would solve the polyps by stopping its growth for permanent relief and better breathing.

3. Postnasal drip
Everyday nasal, throat, and intestinal tracts produce mucus. Normally mucus mixes with saliva from the nose and slowly drips down through the back of your throat effortlessly. So when the body produces mucus in excess or even thicker mucus, it may drip at the back of your throat, which is called postnasal drip. Swallowing problems may cause the buildup of liquids in the throat, which may feel like a post nasal drip. Therefore, polyps make a patient feel the urge to keep swallowing. Postal nasal drip often at times causes coughing, especially at night, when you lie down to sleep.

4. Loss of sense of taste and smell
The loss of the ability to identify smells and taste occurs when the taste and smell sensors, located within our nasal passages, are blocked.  In this case, polyps develop and may result in lack of taste and smell, or unpleasant smells and tastes. The loss of taste and smell may not return after polyp removal. A combination of smell and taste is what helps human beings experience the flavor of food. In most cases, your taste buds may function fine, but nasal congestion often causes the impairment of normal taste and/or smell.

5. Facial pain and headache
Severe and frequent headaches affect quality of life. Surprisingly, large nasal polyps may cause frequent headaches and even migraines if the pressure is severe. Frontal headaches are common with nasal polyps as well as pain in the face, ears, and teeth. Tension headaches due to nasal polyps may cause mild or moderate pain that feels like it’s spreading from your neck to your shoulders. You may also feel  pain in your forehead, eyes, cheeks, and in your upper teeth. Therefore, leaning forward may cause increased pain and pressure.