Mucus in your nose and throat benefits you in many ways. Most of the time, mucus goes about its work unnoticed—until too much of it drains down the back of your throat, a condition known as postnasal drip.
Postnasal drip, in turn, may be a symptom of sinusitis (sinus infection). Treating sinusitis can help turn off the spigot of postnasal drip and get rid of that tickling feeling in your throat.
How Postnasal Drip & Sinusitis Are Linked
As you read this, glands in your nose and throat are making mucus, for good reason. This substance cleans and adds moisture to the air you inhale, among other important functions. If you develop sinusitis, though, mucus can become an annoyance.
When you’re sick, you make more mucus, and it may be thicker than usual. Now, instead of swallowing mucus without noticing, you may feel it dripping down your throat. That steady draining of excess mucus can lead to a cough, sore throat, and other symptoms.
Sinusitis is a common cause of postnasal drip, but it’s far from the only one. Other causes include the common cold and other viral infections, bacterial infections, allergies, dust, fumes, and some medications.
What Does Postnasal Drip Feel Like?
Like many people with postnasal drip, you may feel an irritating tickling in your throat that prompts you to cough or clear your throat frequently.
sick woman with head cold uses nasal spray
You may have other symptoms, too, including:
Feeling like you have a lump in your throat
Postnasal drip can last weeks or months, depending on the cause. If it’s sinusitis, treating it can help postnasal drip and other symptoms clear up sooner.
Get to Know Sinusitis
Sinusitis occurs when the sinuses—spaces around your nasal passages—become inflamed, often due to an infection. Other potential causes include allergic reactions and a deviated nasal septum.
Sinus infections affect 31 million people in the U.S., according to the American College of Asthma, Allergy, & Immunology. Fortunately, these infections aren’t contagious, but the viruses and bacteria that cause many of them can spread from person to person.
Postnasal drip is just one of many symptoms of sinusitis. With this condition, you may also develop a fever, headache, cough, nasal congestion, and facial pain from irritated sinuses. Sinusitis can leave you feeling exhausted.
Different types of sinusitis follow varying timelines, according to the National Library of Medicine.
Acute sinusitis lasts four weeks or fewer.
Subacute sinusitis goes on longer, from one to three months.
Chronic sinusitis lasts longest: more than three months.
Searching for Sinusitis & Postnasal Drip
If you have sinusitis-like symptoms, see your primary care provider. They may diagnose and treat the problem or refer you to an ear, nose, and throat specialist for evaluation. Tell your medical provider about any symptoms you’re experiencing, including postnasal drip. They’ll examine your nose and throat for signs of sinusitis, such as swelling around your nasal passages.
You may need a CT scan or MRI of your sinuses to confirm the diagnosis so your medical provider can see how they’re affected. Your medical provider may also want to collect a sample of mucus for testing. The results can help identify the cause of the infection and, in turn, guide treatment.
Start With Self-Care for Sinusitis & Postnasal Drip
Your medical provider will likely recommend a combination of home remedies and medical treatments to help you manage symptoms and get rid of sinusitis and postnasal drip. Simple steps you can take at home include:
Sick child blows his nose and mother cares for him.
While you focus on feeling better, remember to reduce the risk of spreading sinusitis-causing germs to family, friends, and coworkers. Stay home while you’re sick, wash your hands frequently, cough into your sleeve, and don’t share items with others.
Treatment With Medication
Along with self-care, you may need to take medication to send sinusitis and postnasal drip packing. If, for example, your sinuses are inflamed due to a bacterial infection, your medical provider may prescribe an antibiotic. Antibiotics won’t work on a viral infection. Be sure to finish the entire course of the medication to gain the most benefit and avoid contributing to antibiotic resistance.
If allergies lead to sinusitis, your medical provider may recommend taking an antihistamine to calm inflammation in and around your sinuses. A corticosteroid nasal spray is another option that can improve sinus inflammation. You can complement medications’ work by making extra effort to avoid substances you’re allergic to.
Most of the time, following self-care recommendations and taking over-the-counter or prescription medications can clear up sinusitis and its symptoms. The key is to start self-care as soon as your symptoms begin, and if they last more than seven to 10 days, see your medical provider so you can take treatment to the next level.
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