What Is Post-Nasal Drip? By Cristina Mutchler Cristina Mutchler Cristina Mutchler is a Peabody award-winning journalist, specializing in health and wellness content for over a decade. health's editorial guidelines Updated on May 12, 2024 Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Medically reviewed by Jonathan B. Jassey, DO Jonathan B. Jassey, DO, is a private pediatrician at Bellmore Merrick Medical. Dr. Jassey also specializes in treating ADHD, anxiety, depression, OCD, autism and other mental health issues. learn more In This Article View All In This Article Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatments Prevention When To Contact a Healthcare Provider Close Design by Health Post-nasal drip occurs when extra mucus drains from the back of the nose down the back of the throat. Post-nasal drip can be uncomfortable and cause a cough or sore throat. Fortunately, there are a number of diagnostic and treatment options that can help relieve this symptom Post-Nasal Drip Symptoms The most obvious sign of post-nasal drip is the feeling of mucus gathering in your throat or draining from the back of your nose along the back of your throat. You might also experience symptoms like: Coughing Frequent swallowing Raspy or gurgling speech A sore, irritated throat Swollen tonsils that make it feel like you have a lump in your throat Throat clearing These symptoms can come and go throughout the day or consistently stick around, depending on the underlying cause of your post-nasal drip. An irritated throat and accompanying symptoms may feel worse after you've been lying down or talking for a long time. Causes Post-nasal drip tends to happen when your body is fighting off an infection or experiencing another health condition that causes mucus production to increase. Several short-term, sudden, or long-lasting factors can cause this to happen. Health conditions that cause increased mucus production and, in turn, post-nasal drip include: Allergies Bacterial infections Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Hormone fluctuations Overly sensitive nose (vasomotor rhinitis) Pregnancy rhinitis (stuffy nose) Structural abnormalities in the nose, like a deviated septum Viral infections, such as the flu or common cold Other factors that can trigger more mucus and cause post-nasal drip include: Bright lightsCold temperatureSpaces that are heated and drySpicy foodsUse of certain medications, such as birth control pills or blood pressure drugs The length of the post-nasal drip will depend on the underlying cause. If it's related to a common cold, for example, you might expect it to resolve in about a week. A longer-term issue, like allergies, may involve ongoing symptoms until treatment is under control. Diagnosis Post-nasal drip can typically be diagnosed after a healthcare provider reviews your symptoms and performs a physical exam. This usually involves asking questions about other symptoms that could indicate an infection. A healthcare provider will also inspect the back of your throat for any swelling, redness, or phlegm. The healthcare provider may determine that additional testing is needed to pinpoint the cause. Tests may include: Allergy testing: Evaluates whether the post-nasal drip might be related to an allergen (e.g., pollen) or food sensitivity Imaging (X-ray, MRI, or CT scan): Helps discern if there may be a structural issue with the anatomy of your sinuses, like a deviated septum Interventional tests: Uses a scope to examine the upper throat, check for acid reflux, or look at the digestive tract lining if GERD is suspected How To Stop Post-Nasal Drip Treatment for post-nasal drip depends on what is causing the symptom in the first place. Addressing the mucus itself is the key to improving the excess mucus drainage. Home Remedies A healthcare provider may recommend finding relief with home remedies if post-nasal drip is due to a short-term cause, like a common cold or other virus. Home remedies include: Flushing out your nasal passages with a nasal irrigation kit Gargling with saltwater Keeping your living area vacuumed and dusted Staying hydrated Using a humidifier while sleeping or a vaporizer with congestion-clearing essential oils Over-the-Counter (OTC) Medications You can typically manage a scratchy throat and other post-nasal drip symptoms with an over-the-counter (OTC) product, such as: Antihistamines for allergy symptoms Decongestants to reduce swelling Pain relievers and cough drops for a sore throat Saline or glucocorticoid nasal spray Prescription Medications Severe or chronic cases of post-nasal drip might require prescription medications, such as: Acid-reducing medications for a condition like GERD Antibiotics for a bacterial infection Antifungals for a fungal respiratory infection Steroids for asthma-related cases Procedures A structural issue with the sinuses may need one of the following procedures: Septoplasty: Straightens a deviated septum Sinus surgery: Opens blocked sinuses in the case of chronic sinus infection Submucosal resection of the septum: Removes extra tissue from the nose Prevention Post-nasal drip is common and not usually a cause for concern, but it can still be irritating. To prevent post-nasal drip, you'll want to treat what's causing it in the first place. You can start this by following home and OTC remedies to keep your airways moisturized and mucus drained. You can also try avoiding the initial cause of the extra mucus formation, such as by practicing good hand hygiene to prevent colds. When To Contact a Healthcare Provider Many cases of post-nasal drip will go away on their own within a relatively short period of time. Keep an eye on whether your symptoms are actually getting better. It's probably a good idea to check with a healthcare provider if you notice your symptoms worsening or if you still have a runny nose or congestion after three weeks. Seek medical advice if your congestion or runny nose is accompanied by a fever. Talk to a healthcare provider if you notice your child has discharge coming from only one nostril and the discharge smells bad. A Quick Review Post-nasal drip can happen when extra mucus builds up in the nose and drains into the throat. The mucus can irritate the throat, causing coughing, clearing the throat, or swallowing more. Treating post-nasal drip includes addressing the underlying cause. Read more: Health Conditions A-Z Allergies Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit 11 Sources Health.com uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. MedlinePlus. Stuffy or runny nose - children. American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. Post-nasal drip. Yu JL, Becker SS. Postnasal drip and postnasal drip-related cough. Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2016 Feb;24(1):15-9. doi:10.1097/MOO.0000000000000226 Pourmousa R, Dadashzadeh R, Ahangarkani F, et al. 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