10 Facts About Polyps

3. What Causes Polyps?

Various factors cause polyps to develop and determines where they grow. Throat polyps, for instance, may be the result of excessive shouting or damage to a breathing tube. Though the cause is not always evident, many polyps seem to develop due to inflammation, cysts, tumors, gene mutation of colon cells, or excess estrogen. Polyps may result from disorganized and unregulated cell growth, which is similar to how cancer cells develop and explains why the former can become cancerous in rare instances. Additionally, polyps may be more likely in smokers, obese individuals, those who consume alcohol, and those with a family history of the growths.