Nasal polyps: how they affect breathing at night and when to see a doctor

Nasal polyps are soft growths in the lining of the nose or sinuses that can block airflow, and the blockage tends to show up most at night as congestion, mouth breathing and snoring. They aren't cancer, but they're worth having a doctor look at, especially if your nose has been blocked for more than 10 days or you have trouble breathing.

What are nasal polyps?

Cleveland Clinic describes nasal polyps as soft, painless, noncancerous growths that form in the lining of the nose or sinuses. Small ones are teardrop-shaped, and as they grow they can look like peeled grapes.

Doctors know inflammation causes them, but not why some people get them and others don't. The risk factors Cleveland Clinic lists include asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), chronic sinus infections, cystic fibrosis and sensitivity to certain NSAID painkillers. They're twice as common in men, and many people get them in their 30s or 40s.

The NHS lists the main symptoms as a blocked nose, a runny nose, mucus dripping down the back of your throat, and a reduced sense of smell or taste.

Is it polyps or just a long cold?

Nasal polyps and a long cold can feel alike at first. The NHS points out that nasal polyps can feel like a cold, but colds tend to clear up within a few days, while polyps won't get better unless they're treated. A blocked nose that hangs around for weeks, especially with a fading sense of smell, is a reason to get it looked at rather than wait it out.

Small polyps may cause no symptoms at all. Cleveland Clinic says that as they grow, they can bring on headaches, nosebleeds and sinus pressure as well as congestion. You usually can't see polyps by looking up your own nose, so a mirror and a flashlight won't settle the question. The NHS also notes that polyps are rare in children, so a child with a blocked nose is more likely to have something else going on.

How do nasal polyps affect breathing at night?

When polyps grow large enough, they can block the nasal passages and sinuses. Cleveland Clinic lists snoring as a symptom, and says large polyps can lead to sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, as well as difficulty breathing.

When your nose is blocked, you tend to breathe through your mouth instead. We explain what changes when you switch in nasal breathing vs. mouth breathing.

What does research say about polyps and sleep?

Research links nasal polyps to worse sleep, though most of what we know comes from surveys and small studies.

A 2025 survey in Italy asked 200 people with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, 100 people without it, and 50 family caregivers about their sleep. The people with polyps rated their sleep quality 4.7 out of 10, compared with 6.3 in the control group. They reported a poor night's sleep on an average of 72.1 days a year. Caregivers were affected too, and they named their partner's snoring as the main reason for their own poor sleep.

The same survey found that polyps alone caused 44.9 nights of poor sleep a year, more than any other health problem the participants reported. People with polyps had 47.5 days a year of daytime drowsiness because of them, and their caregivers had 39.4. The authors described it as a disease that affects both people in a couple. About 70% of the people with polyps in the survey reported poor sleep quality. It's worth knowing that the survey was funded by Sanofi, a drug company, and that people answered from memory over the past year.

A 2025 systematic review in Sleep Science looked at sleep after sinus surgery for polyps. It found only 3 studies with 64 patients in total. Sleep quality scores and time spent in REM sleep improved after surgery, but the breathing measures from sleep studies, such as the apnea-hypopnea index and oxygen levels, did not change significantly. That's a small amount of data, so treat it as a hint rather than a firm answer.

When should you see a doctor?

Cleveland Clinic advises booking an appointment if nasal polyp symptoms last longer than 10 days. The NHS says to see a GP if you think you have polyps, if you have difficulty breathing, if your symptoms are getting worse, or if you notice changes to your sense of smell.

Pay particular attention if the blockage is only on one side. Cleveland Clinic says to tell your provider about a single growth on one side of your nose, because it could be a tumor rather than a polyp. One-sided blockage has other causes as well, including a deviated septum, and a doctor can examine your nose to work out which it is.

Cleveland Clinic also notes that ongoing sinus infections linked to polyps can, rarely, lead to serious complications such as infections that spread to the bone or around the eyes. That's uncommon, but it's one more reason not to leave a long-term blocked nose alone.

Snoring with gasping, choking or pauses in breathing is a separate reason to see a doctor. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine calls that combination a reliable indicator of sleep apnea.

What happens at the appointment?

According to the NHS, a GP can often tell if you have nasal polyps just by looking inside your nose. Cleveland Clinic describes a fuller workup that may include looking further in with a scope, a thin tube with a light and camera, and questions about allergies, asthma, sinus infections and how long your symptoms have lasted. If your provider needs more detail on the size and position of the polyps, they may order a CT or MRI scan. Allergy testing can help find triggers that keep the lining of your nose inflamed.

It helps to go in with a few questions. Cleveland Clinic suggests asking whether you need medicine, surgery or both, whether you should see a specialist, and which symptoms should send you to the emergency room. It's also worth mentioning if you snore or if your partner has noticed anything odd about your breathing at night.

How are nasal polyps treated?

According to the NHS, a GP can often see polyps by looking inside your nose. Treatment usually starts with steroid nose drops or a spray to shrink them. If there's no sign of improvement after about 12 weeks, the GP may suggest surgery. Most people who have surgery improve, but the NHS notes it's common for polyps to grow back, usually within a few years.

Cleveland Clinic also lists oral steroids and biologic medicines such as dupilumab injections, and says some people need to stay on steroid medicines or have repeat surgery to keep polyps under control. Which option suits you is a decision for you and your doctor.

Surgery for polyps is done through the nostrils. Cleveland Clinic describes several minimally invasive approaches, including removing the polyps with small instruments and functional endoscopic sinus surgery, and notes there are no visible cuts or stitches. The NHS says you may need to keep using a steroid nasal spray after surgery to stop the polyps coming back quickly.

If your sense of smell has faded, set your expectations with your doctor. Cleveland Clinic says people who have lost their sense of taste or smell may not get it fully back after treatment.

What can you do day to day?

Once you've seen a GP, the NHS says a pharmacist can recommend steroid nasal sprays that don't need a prescription, and salt water washes to help unblock your nose. Our guide on how to use a saline rinse walks through the steps. The NHS notes that homemade salt water washes aren't suitable for children.

Cleveland Clinic's suggestions for lowering the risk of polyps include taking your medicines exactly as directed, avoiding allergens and irritants that inflame the nose, using a humidifier and rinsing with saline. It also warns that blowing your nose very hard can make polyps swell or shift, so gentle is better. You should never try to remove a polyp yourself, as that can cause injury, heavy bleeding and infection.

Night-time habits that ease ordinary congestion, like raising your head and keeping the bedroom free of dust and pet dander, are covered in why is my nose stuffy at night. They can make you more comfortable, but they don't replace treatment.

Is mouth tape a good idea if you have polyps?

No, mouth tape isn't a good idea with polyps while your nose is blocked. Mouth tape relies on you being able to breathe comfortably through your nose all night. If polyps are narrowing your airway, taping your mouth shut removes your backup route. Our guide to whether mouth taping is safe explains why a blocked nose is the main reason to skip it, and the nose test is a quick way to check how your nose is doing.

Until you've seen a doctor, the gentler steps in how to sleep with a stuffy nose are a better place to start. None of them will shrink polyps, so they're for comfort while you get a proper diagnosis.

Once treatment has opened your nose up and you can breathe through it comfortably for a few minutes with your mouth closed, you're in a different position. At that point, talk to your doctor about whether a tool like mouth tape is reasonable for you, and read how to start mouth taping before you try it.

* This content is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or health condition. Talk to a qualified healthcare provider about your health.