Q Mucus keeps dripping down the back of my throat and the feeling of something stuck won't go away. Is this post-nasal drip?
A Post-nasal drip is when secretions produced in the nasal cavity and sinuses flow down the back of the throat. The most common signs are a sensation of something stuck in the throat, frequent coughing, and hoarseness. Rhinitis, sinusitis, acid reflux, and dry environments are the main causes.
Detailed Answer
Even normally, about 1 to 1.5 liters of mucus is produced in the nasal cavity each day and swallowed into the esophagus. However, when the amount increases or the mucus becomes thicker, you may feel a sensation of something stuck or dripping at the back of the throat. The main causes include allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, gastroesophageal reflux, dry environments, and a state of mucosal hypersensitivity following a cold. Although rare, when blood-tinged secretions are present, the possibility of a malignant tumor must always be ruled out by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist.
Korean Medicine Clinic Perspective
In Korean medicine, post-nasal drip is seen as a state in which Lung qi deficiency (pyegi-heo) weakens the nasal mucosa so that secretions are not processed normally, and phlegm-fluid (dameum) accumulates and flows down the back of the throat. Treatment begins with tonifying the Lung (bo-pye) and resolving phlegm-fluid (hwa-dam).
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