Postnasal drip, the feeling of liquid building up in the back of the throat, can be caused by allergies, cold weather, spicy foods, and certain medications. It can also be a warning of other problems such as sinus infections or objects stuck in the nose. However, it is a natural bodily function to produce mucus to cleanse and moisten the nose, prevent particles from entering the lungs, and fight infection. Drinking fluids, warm compresses, and nasal irrigation can help alleviate discomfort.
Everyone knows how miserable it is to be sick or in pain during intense allergy season: your eyes may water and feel itchy or swollen, areas of your face may feel swollen or sore from pressurized sinuses… and then there’s that drip constant in the back of the throat, or a feeling that there is liquid building up back there, causing you to repeatedly try to swallow and get rid of it. That feeling in the back of the throat, whether it’s a drip or a buildup, is called a postnasal drip. Sinus sufferers may know from experience that it doesn’t always take allergies or a cold to cause a post-nasal drip.
Simply going outside in the cold or eating hot or spicy foods can trigger postnasal drip. Certain medications, such as birth control pills and cholesterol-lowering drugs, can also cause this condition. It can mean normal body changes, such as fluctuating hormone levels due to pregnancy or another change in the body. It can also occur when the air is simply too dry.
Postnasal drip can be a warning of other problems. It’s not a bad idea to take a peek after blowing your nose — or your child’s; green or yellow snot that persists longer than the normal amount of time for a cold can indicate the presence of a sinus infection. Parents should also be aware that young children have a tendency to shove small objects up their noses; If one side of your baby’s nose is running incessantly, your baby may have an object stuck in their nose.
Although it seems that post-nasal drip is always associated with a problem, rest assured that this is not the case. It is perfectly natural for the human body to produce one to two liters of mucus per day. The purpose of all that mucus is to cleanse, keep the inside of the nose moist along with the air passing through it, prevent large particles in the air from entering the lungs, and help fight infection. As disgusting as it sounds, you usually swallow most of this mucus without even realizing it.
When your post-nasal drip symptoms are simply the result of the body’s normal operations and don’t indicate more serious problems, there are a few ways to lessen your discomfort. Basically, you want to encourage the mucus to flow faster so it doesn’t build up in your throat. Drinking more fluids can do this if you’ve become mildly dehydrated; drinking warm tea also encourages the flow of mucus. Warm compresses on the sinuses – those silly looking eye masks – also help. A technique called Pulsatile Nasal Irrigation, which flushes the nasal passages with a saline solution, can also be very effective in eliminating post-nasal drip; however, this technique should only be used as directed by your doctor.
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