That ever-present sensation of mucus dropping into the back of your throat, the one that causes you to clear your throat every few minutes, that’s precisely what causes people to look up what causes postnasal drip in the first place. Postnasal drip is a common question for Dr. Raj Bhayani from patients, mainly because postnasal drip feels minor compared to other health concerns. But it’s seldom random, and Dr. Raj Bhayani explains that knowing what causes postnasal drip actually changes what you do about it.
What Is Postnasal Drip?
Your nose and sinuses produce mucus constantly, usually around a quart a day under normal conditions, way more than people honestly realize. Most of the time it just gets swallowed without being noticed, mixed into your spit during the day. Post-nasal drip is often the result of a change in that balance, either an increase in production, or the mucus becoming thicker, and all of a sudden you realize it is running down the back of your throat instead of just disappearing quietly like it is supposed to.
The mucus isn’t really anything new, it’s been going on the whole time. What changes is either the volume going up or the consistency thickening enough that your throat registers it as something to react to, and that is really the core answer to what causes postnasal drip for most patients Dr. Raj Bhayani sees.
Common Causes of Post-Nasal Drip
Allergies are probably the most common answer to what causes postnasal drip and are constantly missed because people assume drip only happens with a cold. This is a direct answer to what causes postnasal drip for allergy sufferers. Dust, pollen, pet dander, any of it can ramp up mucus production as part of the allergic response. That mucus has to go somewhere, often straight down the back of the throat.
Another big cause of post nasal drip is general sinus problems. Chronic sinusitis is when the lining of your sinuses is always inflamed. Inflamed tissue just makes more mucus than it should, usually thicker too, and that makes it harder to drain normally through the nose.
Colds and viral infections are common causes of post nasal drip that clear out within a week or two after the infection resolves itself. Nothing unusual, just the body’s normal reaction to fighting something off.
Another answer to what causes postnasal drip that messes with things more than people expect is dry air. In particular, cold winter air or excessively heated indoor air can actually lead to overproduction of mucus as a compensatory response of the body trying to keep nasal passages from completely drying out.
Some foods are less well known as post nasal drip triggers too, especially spicy foods, which directly stimulate the mucus glands. Some people notice dairy does something similar. The science on that particular answer to what causes postnasal drip is genuinely mixed and probably varies person to person.
Post nasal drip also deserves to be mentioned in relation to acid reflux. Reflux that travels up to the throat can be mistaken for post nasal drip, but it is a very different process that creates the same dripping sensation. That’s exactly what Dr. Raj Bhayani is looking for when sinus issues aren’t the entire story.
- Seasonal or year-round allergies, a frequent response to what causes postnasal drip
- Chronic or acute sinus problems that affect the lining of the sinuses
- Viral infections e.g. common colds
- Air, dry, indoor or outdoor
- Certain foods, especially spicy foods
- Post nasal drip symptoms mimicking acid reflux
Symptoms Other Than Mucus in Throat
The throat-clearing, repetitive almost automatic urge throughout the day, is usually the most obvious sign of what causes post nasal drip. Many people also get a persistent cough, especially at nite as laying down causes mucus to pool in the throat more than sitting upright. Sore throat is common too, from all that mucus in throat and clearing all the time irritating the tissue over time. Nobody wants to talk about bad breath either, but it’s a real symptom linked to what causes postnasal drip, as bacteria can build up in that trapped mucus in the throat. Sometimes nausea can be a feature, particularly if enough mucus is swallowed to genuinely upset the stomach a bit, which is yet another illustration of how diverse what causes postnasal drip can be.
- Sensation of mucus in the throat, especially when swallowing
- A chronic cough that is often worse at nite
- Throat pain from repeated irritation
- Bacteria in trapped mucus causing bad breath
Post Nasal Drip When It’s More Than Annoying
Most of the time, postnasal drip will resolve in a couple of weeks, especially if it’s related to a cold or temporary allergy flare. There are a few signs that it’s worth having Dr. Raj Bhayani determine what causes postnasal drip instead of just waiting it out.
It is important to determine the cause of postnasal drip that has not improved in more than ten days. That time frame usually rules out a simple cold and points to something more chronic, allergies or sinus problems. Thick, discolored mucus (yellow or green instead of clear) is often a sign of an actual infection and not just irritation. Having facial pain or pressure with post nasal drip indicates sinus problems that need to be dealt with separately. If you’re coughing so much it’s disturbing your sleep nite after nite, that’s reason enough to stop just managing symptoms and actually get looked at by Dr. Raj Bhayani.
- Drip over ten days in duration
- Mucus that is thick or discolored
- Other symptoms with face pain or pressure
- Cough waking from sleep
How Dr. Raj Bhayani Diagnoses and Treats Post Nasal Drip
The treatment really depends on what causes the postnasal drip in the first place, and guessing at over-the-counter remedies for weeks rarely solves anything long term, notes Dr. Raj Bhayani. Allergy induced post nasal drip responds to antihistamines or nasal steroid sprays, sometimes allergy testing to identify the specific trigger. Treatment for postnasal drip caused by sinus problems often involves looking inside the nasal passages, sometimes with imaging, to rule out polyps or structural sinus problems that are contributing to the problem. Cases related to reflux need an altogether different approach involving dietary changes and reflux medication rather than anything aimed at the nose itself.
Saline rinses help with pretty much all of these causes, thinning the mucus and flushing out irritants regardless of what causes postnasal drip in that particular case. Keeping hydrated is also important because thin mucus is easier to move and clear than a thick, sticky drip.
Postnasal Drip Diagnosis with Dr. Raj Bhayani in Brooklyn
Board-certified ENT specialist Raj Bhayani, MD, has more than 25 years of experience treating chronic sinus and nasal conditions. Dr. Bhayani diagnoses the causes of postnasal drip at the New York Institute of Otolaryngology & Esthetic Surgery in Brooklyn and Rego Park, Queens.
You can learn more about Dr. Raj Bhayani and his ENT services through the following resources:
Dr. Raj Bhayani ENT Specialist
Rather than trying to guess whether it’s allergies, sinus problems or reflux, a proper exam from Dr. Raj Bhayani can help narrow down the real cause so treatment is aimed at what is truly going on rather than managing symptoms indefinitely.
This postnasal drip has been something that you have been dealing with for weeks, or even months, but it is worth figuring out what causes postnasal drip in your situation. Rather than just living with postnasal drip, Dr. Raj Bhayani can help you figure out what causes postnasal drip.
Fed up with that incessant throat-clearing and drip that just won’t quit?
Schedule an evaluation with Dr. Raj Bhayani or book online today.
Call the New York Institute of Otolaryngology & Esthetic Surgery at
(347) 342-1331.
Postnasal Drip: Frequently Asked Questions About the Causes
How to get rid of post nasal drip fast at home?
Saline nasal rinses tend to work quickly, thinning mucus and washing out irritants. It’s also helpful to stay hydrated and use a humidifier if the air is dry.
Can post nasal drip cause bad breath?
Yes, in fact more often than you would think. The accumulation of bacteria in trapped mucus in the throat is a real contributor to bad breath that mouthwash alone will not fix fully.
Are allergies always the cause of postnasal drip?
No, could be sinus issues, colds, dry air or even acid reflux. As Dr. Raj Bhayani frequently says to patients, allergies are common but not the only cause to be considered.
When should I actually see Dr. Raj Bhayani for this?
If it’s been more than ten days, if the mucus is thick or discolored, or if it’s associated with facial pain, then that’s usually when an actual evaluation makes more sense than doing home remedies.
