Post Nasal Drip

What is post nasal drip?

Post nasal drip means you can feel mucus running down the back of your nose and into your throat. Your nose and throat continuously make mucus to keep the tissue moist and trap dirt and germs. 

The glands in your nose and throat make up to two quarts of mucus a day. Normally, this mucus goes unnoticed, and you subconsciously swallow it. 

However, when you produce too much mucus, or the mucus is thicker than normal, you feel it moving down your throat, resulting in post nasal drip. The mucus tickles and irritates the throat, triggering a cough. 

What are the symptoms of post nasal drip?

A persistent cough is the most common symptom of post nasal drip. You may also feel the need to constantly clear your throat or swallow. Post nasal drip may also cause a sore throat or a raspy voice.

If your child has thick or foul-smelling mucus draining from one side of their nose, they may have something stuck in the nostril. 

The ongoing drip of mucus irritates the soft tissue in the throat, causing the throat to swell.

What causes post nasal drip?

Post nasal drip occurs when you produce too much mucus. Common causes of post nasal drip include:

• Cold or flu infection
• Allergies
• Sinusitis
• Vasomotor rhinitis (overly sensitive nose)
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Cold temperatures
• Hormones
• Certain foods
• Medications
• Deviated septum
• Nasal polyps

If your post nasal drip produces thick mucus, then you may have a sinus or nose infection. This is also a common symptom of food allergies. 

If you have thin mucus that becomes thick and turns green or yellow, then you may have a bacterial sinus infection.

What treatments can clear up post nasal drip?

Before making any specific treatment recommendations for post nasal drip, the team at Massachusetts Ear, Nose and Throat Associates performs a thorough health history and physical exam to find the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Treatment for post nasal drip depends on the cause and may include:

• Antibiotics
• Nasal spray
• Nasal irrigation
• Allergy medication
• Decongestant
• Increasing fluid intake
• Humidifier
• Balloon sinuplasty

Though there are many treatment options, there’s no easy fix for post nasal drip. The team at Massachusetts Ear, Nose and Throat Associates works closely with you to develop a plan that eases your symptoms and improves your quality of life.

To get help for post nasal drip, call Massachusetts Ear, Nose and Throat Associates or schedule an appointment online today.