About post nasal drip (Upper airway Cough Syndrome)

Mucus glands in the nose and throat produce mucus to:

•   Keep the nasal membranes moist and clean

•   Trap and clear inhaled foreign matter

•   Humidify inhaled air

•   Fight infection

Usually thin mucus is swallowed unconsciously.   However, when mucus thickens, it causes irritation and swallowing problems.

Post nasal drip is an accumulation or thickening of the mucus.   This occurs due to a mucus production over the normal daily amount of 1-2 quarts or an inability to clear produced mucus, which gives one the sensation of dripping down the back of the throat with its inherent irritations.