If you have nasal polyps, you likely deal with a range of symptoms, including nasal congestion, loss of smell and taste, and facial pain and pressure. To treat those symptoms, your doctor may have prescribed steroid nasal sprays or biologics. They may have even recommended surgery to remove the polyps.
While these are all good strategies, there are also lifestyle changes you can make to reduce inflammation and relieve common nasal polyp symptoms. In some cases, these lifestyle tweaks may even help address the underlying cause of nasal polyps and prevent their recurrence.
Keep reading to learn about five lifestyle changes that may help manage your nasal polyps.
1. Use Saline Rinses
Also called nasal irrigation, saline rinses, which involve flushing saline solution through your nasal passages, are widely recommended by ear, nose, and throat doctors if you have nasal polyps.
“Saline rinses flush the gunk out of your nose,” says William Yao, MD, associate professor in the department of otorhinolaryngology at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. This “gunk” can include irritants like allergens (such as pollen) and other debris from the environment. Its presence in your nose can lead to inflammation in the nasal passages.
There are several different types of saline rinses available over the counter, including squeeze bottles that spray a saline solution up into the nose. You can also use a neti pot that has a spout that pours the solution into the nose. (Always use distilled or sterile water.)
According to Dr. Yao, he’s found that sinus rinses work more effectively than neti pots for his patients, but he notes that choosing the one you’re most likely to use is best.
Although saline rinses won’t reduce the size of polyps, they can be particularly helpful in symptom management after polyp removal, adds Jesse Ryan, MD, associate professor of otolaryngology and communication sciences at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse, New York. He recommends using saline rinses daily, which can be done in the shower or over the sink — whatever you find easiest and most convenient.
2. Reduce Environmental Allergens
Allergies, such as to pollen, pets, or dust mites, are one risk factor for the development of nasal polyps. To maintain a healthy nose and sinuses, it’s a good idea to avoid nasal irritants and allergens, says Dr. Ryan.
That can be easier said than done, since allergens are present both inside and outside your home. However, reducing allergens in your home environment can help lower your exposure, and that can pay off in terms of breathing relief. “Reducing exposure to allergens can help reduce inflammation and polyps in the nose,” says Ryan.
Knowing what you’re allergic to will help you put these practices in place. For example, if you’re allergic to pollen, you might keep your windows closed, run the air-conditioning in warm weather, and take a shower after spending time outdoors. If your issue is dust mites, you might use dust mite–proof covers on your pillows and over your mattress.
3. Avoid Foods and Drinks That Can Trigger Nasal Inflammation
Having an allergy to yeast or mold can trigger an inflammatory response when you come in contact with them via food, says Yao. “It causes swelling, and a lot of people will notice congestion,” he says. Beer and blue cheese can be particularly inflammatory, he says.
One small study found that drinking alcohol, in general, was associated with more nasal obstructions, especially for those who have allergic rhinitis (allergies that cause swelling inside the nose).
Bottom line: Monitoring any reactions you may have to certain foods and drinks, talking to your doctor, and changing your eating and drinking habits accordingly can be helpful when managing nasal polyps.
4. Use a Humidifier
Using a humidifier in your bedroom, especially during winter when the air is drier, is another strategy that can help keep sinuses healthy, says Ryan. Humidifiers put moisture back into the air, helping to keep nasal passages moist and clear, so you can breathe easier.
5. Practice Overall Healthy Habits
Because nasal polyps are linked to inflammation, it’s important to do what you can to avoid inflammatory triggers, says Yao.
For example, while there isn’t a specific diet that will treat nasal polyps or other conditions, there is growing evidence that dietary habits may impact respiratory and sinus health in both positive and negative ways.
Eating more anti-inflammatory foods, such as fruits and vegetables, may be linked to a protective effect against conditions like allergic rhinitis, whereas eating a diet rich in fast food and deep-fried foods may increase the risk of respiratory and nasal conditions.
Other healthy habits, such as getting enough sleep and engaging in regular exercise, can help reduce inflammation in the body and improve your overall health, which may indirectly help reduce nasal polyp symptoms. “We encourage patients to live a healthy lifestyle in regard to diet, exercise, and sleep,” says Ryan.
The Takeaway
Medication and surgery are two of the primary treatments for nasal polyps, but lifestyle habits can also help manage or improve your symptoms.
Using saline rinses, avoiding foods and drinks that trigger symptoms, and living an overall healthy lifestyle may be helpful in managing nasal polyps.
Healthy habits, such as eating an anti-inflammatory diet, exercising, and getting enough sleep, can also help you better manage nasal polyp symptoms — and improve your overall health as well.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
Nasal Polyps: Unassuming Growths With a Powerful Effect. Mayo Clinic. August 30, 2023.
Jessica Lee, MD, practices general otolaryngology at Charleston ENT and Allergy in South Carolina. After several years in clinical and surgical practice, Dr. Lee wanted to learn more about the impact of nutrition, activity, and sleep on general health and ear, nose, and throat health, so she pursued additional training in integrative, lifestyle, and functional medicine topics and became board-certified in lifestyle medicine in 2021.
Her practice centers on first addressing the lifestyle causes of disease and chronic illness, with the understanding and ability to use medical and surgical care for more acute concerns. She is also the co-founder and director of the Keto Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families use the ketogenic diet as medical treatment for epilepsy
Lee enjoys cooking, strength training, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Jessica Migala is a freelance writer with over 15 years of experience, specializing in health, nutrition, fitness, and beauty. She has written extensively about vision care, diabetes, dermatology, gastrointestinal health, cardiovascular health, cancer, pregnancy, and gynecology. She was previously an assistant editor at Prevention where she wrote monthly science-based beauty news items and feature stories.
She has contributed to more than 40 print and digital publications, including Cosmopolitan, O:The Oprah Magazine, Real Simple, Woman’s Day, Women’s Health, Fitness, Family Circle, Health, Prevention, Self, VICE, and more. Migala lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband, two young boys, rescue beagle, and 15 fish. When not reporting, she likes running, bike rides, and a glass of wine (in moderation, of course).
