Post Nasal Drip
Post nasal drip is a condition in which the patient describes a feeling of accumulated mucus dripping from the back of the nose into the throat. Glands in the nose and throat continuously produce mucus, as much as two quarts per day. However, the feeling of it being swallowed is typically not noticed and is vital to maintain the health of the body.
Typically, post nasal drip is caused by increased thick or thin secretions in the nose and throat. Thick secretions are often caused by dry conditions in homes that are being heated during winter months. It can also be brought on by allergic reactions from dairy products. Other causes of increased thick secretions can be nose infections or the consumption of very spicy foods.
Thin secretions are typically indicative of colds, flu, cold temperatures, certain medications (such as birth control pills or high blood pressure medications), hormonal changes, a deviated septum, or allergies. If the mucus is thin and has a green or yellow color to it, it has likely been caused by a bacterial sinus infection.
The sinuses are air filled pockets in the skull beneath the eye. These can become infected due to swelling that occurs with a cold or flu. This will generally lead to post nasal drip. If this occurs, it is advisable to see a doctor for medical treatment, which may include the use of antibiotics.
If infections in the sinuses become persistent, they can lead to chronic sinusitis. When a patient has chronic sinusitis, he or she may develop polyps in the nose. These cause irritating, and constant post nasal drip. Surgery is needed to remove these if medications prove ineffectual. To diagnose chronic sinusitis, doctors use fiber-optic scopes, cat scans, or X-rays.
In some places, such as New York and New Jersey, doctors have noted that clients suffer from a condition called vasomotor rhinitis, the condition of a hyper-irritable nose that is not caused by allergies. This can affect people anywhere and causes constant feelings of congestion and blockage.
It is not uncommon for patients suffering from post nasal drip to report problems with swallowing. When liquids or solids accumulate in the back of the throat, the normal process may be interrupted. When this process is interrupted, mucus can spill over into the voice box (larynx) and breathing passages (trachea and bronchi), causing hoarseness, coughing, or the need for throat clearing.
Increasing fluid intake is a good way to combat increased, thick secretions, and draining the nose using nasal irrigations can be an effective means of treating increased, thin nasal secretions. The best fluids to use for this purpose are warm water with baking soda, salt, or an irrigation solution.
Copyright ENT and Allergy Associates, LLP
Physicians:
04/15/2010
