It’s completely normal for your sinuses to produce mucus, and this mucus typically drains down the back of your throat and you swallow it without noticing. However, as anyone with sinus issues will attest to, sometimes the body begins to accumulate mucus.
This extra mucus can show itself through a runny nose and nasal congestion, leaving you begging for methods of sinus pressure relief. In the middle of your sinus symptoms, this mucus can also accumulate at the back of your throat and even drip down. Sinus specialists refer to this condition as postnasal drip.
Post nasal drip is a very irritating condition, as it makes you feel like you constantly have a tickle in your throat and have to clear your throat. It can also trigger fits of coughing, and this can get worse when you’re trying to fall asleep. It can also make you feel hoarse.
In fact, if you go to a sinus specialist for chronic coughing, they will most likely diagnose you with postnasal drip.
But what causes this irritating condition? Postnasal drip has numerous causes, most of which also affect the sinuses.
Allergies are the most common cause of postnasal drip, and a sinus doctor may be able to offer you immunotherapy solutions to stop your allergies at the source and put an end to your symptoms.
Post nasal drip is also common in those with a deviated septum. You may not even realize that your nasal septum is off-center until you’re evaluated by a doctor, but this condition means that one nasal passage is smaller, which prevents proper mucus drainage, resulting in postnasal drip.
Other causes of postnasal drip include:
- cold temperatures
- a cold or flu
- sinus infections
- pregnancy
- changes in the weather
- dry air
If you are suffering from nasal issues or chronic coughing, see a sinus specialist who can quickly and accurately diagnose and treat your symptoms. We employ award winning doctors with extensive experience, so there’s no better place in LA for sinus relief!
