Understanding Post Nasal Drip Causes, Symptoms and Treatment
What Is Post Nasal Drip? Glands which are found in the lining of the throat, airways, stomach and the nose produces a substance, thick and wet in nature, which moistens these places and assists in trapping and destroying foreign objects like bacteria and viruses, before causing harm to our body tissues.
Usually, we do not recognize the mucosa in our nose because they are normally mixed with saliva and move unnoticed down the back of our throats and gets swallowed gradually throughout the day.
It is only when these glands produce more of the substance than usual, or when the substance is thicker than normal, the excess of it appears in the front of the nose in the form of a running nose.
If the mucus moves down behind the nose to the throat, it is called post-nasal drip.
Causes Of Post Nasal Drip The condition happens because of several possible causes such as flu, inflammation of the sinuses, allergies, cold, foreign objects sticking in the nose, pregnancy, some medications such as use of birth control pills and treatment of blood pressure.
Deviated septum, which is a condition which occurs when the wall that divides the two nostrils is abnormally placed, is another cause.
Others include changing weather conditions such as excess dryness in the air, certain foods that may trigger the flow of the mucus and fumes from some substances such as perfumes, chemicals, cleaning products, smoke, dust and other irritable materials.
Post Nasal Drip Symptoms Individuals with the following symptoms may be diagnosed with post nasal drip medication:
On many occasions, such treatment can shrink or even eradicate nasal polyps.
In other instances, a tapered one-week course of oral corticosteroids may be needed.
Regrettably, nasal polyps have a tendency to recur if the main irritation, infection or allergy isn't thoroughly controlled.
So, it may very well be essential to keep on using a corticosteroid spray to avoid the nasal polyps from coming back again and undergo occasional medical checkups with a nasal endoscope.
Typically, medications such as decongestants and antihistamines are of little value in controlling nasal polyps.
In some cases, however, your physician may give you antihistamines to help manage allergies, or even a course of antibiotics to manage a hidden infection before beginning any use of corticosteroid therapy.
Usually, we do not recognize the mucosa in our nose because they are normally mixed with saliva and move unnoticed down the back of our throats and gets swallowed gradually throughout the day.
It is only when these glands produce more of the substance than usual, or when the substance is thicker than normal, the excess of it appears in the front of the nose in the form of a running nose.
If the mucus moves down behind the nose to the throat, it is called post-nasal drip.
Causes Of Post Nasal Drip The condition happens because of several possible causes such as flu, inflammation of the sinuses, allergies, cold, foreign objects sticking in the nose, pregnancy, some medications such as use of birth control pills and treatment of blood pressure.
Deviated septum, which is a condition which occurs when the wall that divides the two nostrils is abnormally placed, is another cause.
Others include changing weather conditions such as excess dryness in the air, certain foods that may trigger the flow of the mucus and fumes from some substances such as perfumes, chemicals, cleaning products, smoke, dust and other irritable materials.
Post Nasal Drip Symptoms Individuals with the following symptoms may be diagnosed with post nasal drip medication:
- Continuous clearing of the nose
- Inflammation sensation at the back of the nose
- Coughing and wheezing
- Mucus flow which causes a constant running nose
- Regular spitting and a tickling in the throat
- Stomach discomfort due to continuous swallowing of the substance
- Breathing difficulties, hoarseness and chronic sore throat
- Yellow or white masses formed especially in the crypt of the tonsils, normally called tonsil stones
- Fatigue, nausea, vomiting and frontal cranial pressure
- Bad breath and snorting to remove mucus from the nasal passage which may not be possible to clear by just blowing the nose
- Appearance of the oropharyngeal mucosa
On many occasions, such treatment can shrink or even eradicate nasal polyps.
In other instances, a tapered one-week course of oral corticosteroids may be needed.
Regrettably, nasal polyps have a tendency to recur if the main irritation, infection or allergy isn't thoroughly controlled.
So, it may very well be essential to keep on using a corticosteroid spray to avoid the nasal polyps from coming back again and undergo occasional medical checkups with a nasal endoscope.
Typically, medications such as decongestants and antihistamines are of little value in controlling nasal polyps.
In some cases, however, your physician may give you antihistamines to help manage allergies, or even a course of antibiotics to manage a hidden infection before beginning any use of corticosteroid therapy.