Post-nasal drip – what is it and how do I treat it?
We produce mucus every day. In fact, our noses can produce up to a litre a day! But why do we need mucus?
We need mucus in order to moisten the areas of the nose, throat, stomach and intestinal tract and trap bacteria and viruses before they can cause infection. Ordinarily, we won’t notice the mucus.
However, when our nasal membranes become irritated due to viruses, allergens, infections such sinusitis, dust particles, or airborne chemicals, they respond by producing more mucus which unlike normal mucus, is thin, watery and runny.
This excess mucus can either come out of the nostrils as a runny nose, or run down the back of the throat as a post-nasal drip. Post-nasal drip can cause a sore throat, throat clearing and often a chronic cough.
A prolonged episode of post-nasal drip often presents after a viral upper respiratory infection. So why does a post-nasal drip cause a dry cough? The excess mucus tickles the nerves of the nasopharynx (the space above the soft palate at the back of the nose, which connects the nose to the mouth), which triggers a cough reflex.
Chronic coughing is so common that it is rated as one of the most common reasons for seeing a doctor, and post-nasal drip is actually one of the most common causes of a nagging cough that just won’t go away.
YOU MAY WANT TO READ: Wet cough vs dry cough – do you know the difference?
Coughing can interrupt sleep, cause fatigue and can impair concentration and work performance. Typically, patients with a post-nasal cough will cough more at night.
Home remedies which may assist a post-nasal cough include inhaling steam from a hot shower or kettle. Nasal irrigations by way of saline nose sprays may also help clean out irritating secretions.
At the early stages of a post-nasal drip, over the counter medications that include a decongestant may be used, to unblock the nose and prevent the nagging irritating cough. Should the mucus pool in the lungs a wet cough syrup containing a bronchodilator, expectorant or mucolytic may be used. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions regarding your symptoms or to determine the most suitable treatment for your type of cough.
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