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By Mayo Clinic staffAny condition that contributes to chronic inflammation in your nasal passages or sinuses (chronic sinusitis), such as infections or allergies, may increase your risk of nasal polyps. Conditions often associated with nasal polyps include:
- Asthma, a disease that causes inflammation and constriction of airways
- Aspirin sensitivity, an allergy-like response to aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve)
- Allergic fungal sinusitis, an allergy to airborne fungi
- Cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that results in the production and secretion of abnormal fluids, including thick mucus from nasal and sinus membranes
- Churg-Strauss syndrome, a rare disease that causes the inflammation of blood vessels
Other risk factors include:
- Age. Nasal polyps are more common in adults.
- Family history. There is some evidence that you may inherit a gene or genes that make you more likely to develop nasal polyps.
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