Postnasal drip is an annoying condition where mucus continually drips from your nose to your throat. If you’re experiencing these symptoms, call Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat in Wesley Chapel or Zephyrhills, Florida. The practice’s highly skilled ENT doctors will find the cause of your condition and provide effective treatment. Call Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat today or book an appointment online to find a solution to your postnasal drip.
Postnasal drip is an annoying problem where you have a continually runny nose or mucus running down your throat.
The mucus that keeps your nose and sinus cavity linings moist comes from glands in your throat and nose. These glands continually produce mucus — as much as two quarts a day. Mucus warms and moisturizes the air you inhale. It also traps and kills bacteria and other microorganisms that can make you sick.
Usually, you unconsciously swallow all this mucus throughout the day. But if your glands produce too much of it or the mucus is unusually thick, you can develop postnasal drip.
Postnasal drip has several causes, including:
Pregnancy triggers mucus changes in your nose and throat that can cause postnasal drip.
Constantly clearing your throat is the most common symptom of postnasal drip. You might also experience a tickling feeling at the back of your throat and develop a cough. A sore throat or the sensation of a lump in your throat are typical postnasal drip symptoms.
Postnasal drip increases your risk of developing an ear or sinus infection if it’s left untreated.
Symptoms of postnasal drip are similar to those of other conditions, like sinusitis. To confirm the cause, your ENT doctor at Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat examines your nose and throat, checks your medical history, and goes over your symptoms.
They could also do an endoscopy. This procedure enables your doctor to examine your nasal passages and throat in detail using a flexible tube with a lighted camera on its end.
Following the exam, your doctor prepares a personalized treatment plan for your postnasal drip based on its underlying cause.
You might need antibiotics to clear up an infection in your sinuses. Nasal sprays can help by reducing inflammation and increasing moisture levels in the nasal passages and sinuses.
Cryotherapy can help when postnasal drip doesn’t respond to other treatments. This minimally invasive in-office procedure freezes the nerves that cause the overproduction of mucus.
Call Vitale Ear, Nose & Throat today or book an appointment online to find the cure for your postnasal drip.