Post Nasal Drip
Linings of your nose, throat and airways produce mucus every day to keep these areas moist and trap any dust and foreign material before they can get into the body. However, when excess mucus is produced by the body and when this mucus becomes thick and often coloured (yellow or green), it becomes more noticeable. Sometimes, the mucus runs down the back of the throat, causing postnasal drip.
Postnasal drip occurs due to excess mucus production and hence is a symptom of other nasal disorders, such as the common cold, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis or a deviated nasal septum. It is also triggered in changing weather conditions, or when eating certain kinds of food, such as spicy food. Irritants in the air can also lead to excess mucus production and postnasal drip.
The problem of post-nasal drip is aggravated while sleeping as mucus secretions may gather, requiring vigorous coughing and throat clearing to clear the mucus from the throat. Sometimes gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) disease and age-related swallowing problems can also lead to symptoms that feel like postnasal drip.
