Samter's Triad: Understanding Aspirin Sensitivity, Nasal Polyps, and Asthma

When someone has Samter's Triad, a condition where aspirin sensitivity, nasal polyps, and asthma occur together. Also known as aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, it affects about 1 in 10 adults with asthma and is often missed because the symptoms seem unrelated. This isn’t just a list of three problems—it’s a chain reaction. Taking aspirin or other NSAIDs like ibuprofen can trigger severe breathing attacks, worsen nasal congestion, and make polyps grow faster in people with this condition.

People with nasal polyps, noncancerous growths in the nasal passages that block airflow and reduce smell often feel like they’re always stuffed up, even without a cold. These polyps don’t go away on their own and usually come back after surgery unless the root cause is treated. In Samter’s Triad, they’re tied to chronic inflammation caused by the body’s abnormal response to certain painkillers. That same inflammation also drives asthma, a condition where airways swell and tighten, making breathing hard. Many people don’t realize their asthma flares after taking Advil or Aleve—until they have a serious reaction.

Managing Samter’s Triad isn’t about avoiding all meds. It’s about knowing which ones are safe and which to skip. Some patients benefit from aspirin desensitization, a controlled process that reduces sensitivity over time. Others need steroid sprays, biologic injections, or surgery to remove polyps. But no matter the treatment, the key is recognizing the pattern: if your breathing gets worse after painkillers, and you’ve got stuffy sinuses and wheezing, this could be it.

The posts below cover real-world strategies for handling this condition. You’ll find guides on avoiding dangerous drug interactions, how biologics are changing treatment, what to ask your doctor about nasal polyp recurrence, and how to track symptoms so you don’t end up in the ER after a simple headache pill. These aren’t theoretical tips—they’re what people with Samter’s Triad actually use to live better every day.