Understanding Polyps, Their Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Polyps are very common and can form on any part of the body. Are all polyps precancerous or worse? Should I be worried about them? Let read our article to get more knowledge about it.
What are Polyps?
A polyp is a clump of cells that grows within your body. Most of them appear as small, flat bumps or miniature versions of mushroom stalks.
Although uterine and colon polyps are the most common, polyps can develop in a variety of locations, including the: cervix, stomach, nose, and throat.
Some polyps are benign and will not develop into cancer. Others, however, are capable. The difference is their location, the cause, the size, and the length of time they’ve been there.
Types of Polyps, Symptoms, and Causes
Colon polyps
They are quite common, and many people have them, especially if you are a man, over the age of 50, obese, or a smoker. Mostly, they are not dangerous. However, some colon polyps can develop into colon cancer over time.
There are two main kinds:
Hyperplastic polyps: They are small and form near the end of the colon and do not progress to cancer.
Adenomatous polyps: They affect more people and likely to become cancerous if they are large, but this usually takes years. The vast majority are noncancerous.
Symptoms
Colon polyps often don’t cause symptoms and you might not know until a screening test is conducted. However, when symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Blood in your poop, in the toilet bowl, or on toilet paper when you wipe: This is rectum bleeding.
- Unexplained anemia or weight loss due to iron deficiency.
- Change in normal bowel movement pattern: constipation or diarrhea that lasts more than a week
- Pain. A large colon polyp can partially obstruct your bowel, leading to crampy abdominal pain.
Causes
A polyp is the result of genetic changes in the cells of the colon lining that affect the normal cell life cycle
Lifestyle factors can increase the risk of these changes. It includes:
- Smoking.
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Not exercising.
- Being overweight.
- Eating processed foods and too much red meat (instead of a mostly plant-based food plan).
Aural Polyps
An aural polyp is a growth in the outside or middle ear canal. They are frequently red and bleed easily when touched. They can occasionally be cancerous.
Symptoms
The most common symptom is bloody ear drainage. Hearing loss is another possibility.
Causes
Aural polyps can be caused by any of the following:
- Cholesteatoma
- Foreign object
- Inflammation
- Tumor
Nasal Polyps
They are soft growths on the lining of your nasal passages or sinuses. Most are noncancerous.
Symptoms
Chronic sinusitis with nasal polyps is characterized by the following signs and symptoms:
- A runny nose
- Stuffiness that persists
- Postnasal dripping
- Reduced or non-existent sense of smell
- Taste sense impairment
- Headache or facial pain
- a feeling of pressure over your forehead and face
- Frequently occurring nosebleeds
Causes
These form when the mucous membranes that line the nose or sinuses become inflamed for an extended period of time or repeatedly. The inflammation causes small growths filled with fluid. Those growths then turn into polyps.
Uterine Polyps
These grow in the lining of your uterus and are also known as endometrial polyps.
These polyps are usually noncancerous (benign), but some can progress to cancer.
Uterine polyps are most common in women who are going through or have completed menopause, but they can occur in younger women as well.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of uterine polyps include:
- Menstrual irregularities
- Bleeding in between menstrual cycles
- Menstrual cycles that are abnormally heavy
- After-menopausal vaginal bleeding
- Infertility
Some women have only light bleeding or spotting; others are symptom-free.
Cause
The exact causes are unknown, but fluctuations in hormone levels may play a role. Estrogen, which causes the endometrium to thicken each month, appears to be linked to the development of uterine polyps.
Vocal Cord Polyps
They typically form on one-half of your V-shaped vocal cords in the throat.
Symptoms
Hoarseness, breathiness, multiple tones, loss of vocal range, vocal fatigue, or loss of voice can all be symptoms of vocal cord lesions.
Causes
Overuse or misuse of the voice, such as excessive singing, screaming, cheerleading, and talking (such as that by a teacher, coach, salesperson, or radio personality) can injure your throat and result in polyps. It can also be brought on by a single incident of verbal abuse (such as yelling at a sports event). Smoking also leads to having polyps in the vocal cord.
Stomach Polyps
They develop on the stomach lining. Most stomach polyps are not cancerous, but some have a higher risk of developing into cancer.
Symptoms
Stomach polyps usually do not cause symptoms. However, when stomach polyps do cause symptoms, a person may experience indigestion, acid reflux, heartburn, stomach pain, feeling full quickly, gastrointestinal bleeding.
According to Mayoclinic, the most common causes of stomach polyps are:
- Chronic stomach inflammation, also known as gastritis
- Familial adenomatous polyposis: This rare, inherited syndrome increases the risk of colon cancer and other conditions, including stomach polyps.
- Regular use of certain stomach medications: Fundic gland polyps are common in people who take proton pump inhibitors on a regular basis to reduce stomach acid. These are typically small and do not pose a threat.
What is the Polyp Treatment?
Some polyps, especially those that are mild or very small, may not require treatment. Treatment for various types of polyps would be determined by factors such as their location, size, numbers, and whether or not they are cancerous.
In the case of colon polyps, the doctor may recommend removing it via colonoscopy to reduce the risk of colon cancer developing in the future. In some cases, the doctor may also recommend a specific medication to help remove them naturally.
How are Polyps prevented?
It’s not always possible to prevent polyps, but knowing and avoiding some risk factors may help prevent some types of them.
Preventive steps include:
- Eating a nutrient-dense diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereals
- Limiting your alcohol consumption
- Avoiding tobacco use
- Exercise regularly to maintain healthy body weight.
- Consult your doctor about additional steps for prevention especially if you have a family history of polyps.
- Take health screening regularly.
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Using MaNaDr, you can also consult a doctor online or make an online appointment booking for your clinic visit if you are showing any symptoms or having any concerns about polyps
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Reference: Mayoclinic, CDC, Celevelandclinic
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