You might be surprised to know that we all have some degree of postnasal drip all the time—mucus dripping down the back of the nose into the throat. Your nose makes about a quart of the thick, wet substance a day to help trap and destroy bacteria and viruses before they cause infection. Under normal circumstances, it is barely noticeable.
But: It becomes a problem when there’s too much mucus. Mucus is made up of protein and other chemicals that can irritate the tissues lining the nose and throat. It can collect in places below the throat, such as the esophagus and trachea…and it is particularly annoying when it pools next to your voicebox, causing you to feel like there is a lump in your throat and making your voice scratchy.
Sometimes extra mucus is a temporary reaction to eating a hot food or a spicy meal or when you exert yourself physically…or longer lasting when you have a cold.
Other causes are long-standing—you may have allergies or constantly breathe in dust if you work in construction, for instance. A bacterial infection and acid reflux or GERD also can lead to postnasal drip and should be treated appropriately. Unfortunately, sometimes just getting older is the cause.
Trying to clear out mucus on your own can be challenging, but there are options. You can try all of these at the same time or one at a time to see what works…
Saline nasal rinses and sprays. Products such as the NeilMed sinus-rinse kit and Navage for nasal lavage use water to wash out your nose. How they work: With your head over a sink, water is poured in one nostril and drips out the other, clearing irritants. Important: These products should be used with distilled or filtered water or saline solution, which some people find more soothing. A saline nasal spray such as Ayr also can help clear mucus by moistening the lining of the nose.
Mucus-thinning agents. Mucinex oral tablets or liquid and other mucus-thinning products make mucus easier to clear, especially when you suction it out with a bulb syringe.
Gargling with very warm water can help loosen mucus caught in the throat.
Other over-the-counter medications to reduce secretions are helpful when allergies are the cause, specifically…
Steroid nasal sprays, including Flonase, decrease inflammation and the allergic response.
Antihistamines, such as Claritin, Benadryl, Allegra, Zyrtec and Xyzal, work systemically. The “D” versions, such as Claritin-D and Allegra-D, include a decongestant, which reduces the amount of effort needed to inhale air through the nose. Always follow package directions to avoid overreliance.
Caution: Physicians do not recommend using OTC nasal decongestant sprays such as Afrin because of the high risk for addiction and rebound nasal congestion when the medicine wears off.
If you don’t get relief within a few days, see a doctor—an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist, allergist or speech therapist can determine the true culprit and find a solution.
