Solving Post Nasal Drip | Best to Get Scoped | Dallas

What is Post Nasal Drip?

Post nasal drip is excess mucus that drains from the nose & sinuses backward into throat. 

Post Nasal Drip Symptoms

• Feeling of mucus stuck between nose & throat
• Constant need to clear throat | Bad breath 
• Sore, irritated throat | Hoarse voice
• Cough, often worse at night or morning
• White mucus at the back of the throat
• Frequent throat infections or tonsillitis

Can Chronic Sinusitis Cause Post-nasal Drip? Yes.

• 70-90% of chronic sinusitis patients experience postnasal drip – One of the Top 4 chronic sinusitis symptoms.
• Approximately 25–30% of all chronic sinusitis patients have nasal polyps. ³
• Inflamed sinuses produce thick, excess mucus that can't drain forward due to a blocked nose → drains into throat. 
• Fix the chronic sinusitis, fix the post nasal drip.

Decide for yourself whether (or not) to book a sinus consult. (Take our Sinus Infection Quiz & get an instant score without filling out a form.)

Take Our Sinus Quiz

• Get your sinus answers in one ENT visit
• Skip imaging center (& hospital gown) 
• Save your PTO (1 ENT visit vs. 3 appts: ENT + imaging + ENT follow-up)  
• $150 self-pay add-on with a Sinus Consult (*if insurance won't cover scan.)

Book a Sinus Consult 

Underlying Causes:  A lot to rule out (to focus on a plan)

Not all post nasal drip is caused by sinusitis. Allergies & flawed anatomy are often co-conspirators with sinusitis. 

• Sinus Infections (sinusitis): Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections in the sinuses. See Jammed Plumbing | About Sinusitis.
• Nasal Polyps:  Soft, benign (noncancerous), inflamed growths in the nasal passages or sinuses that often block normal mucus drainage. This nasal obstruction causes mucus to accumulate & drip down the back of the throat. See Nasal Polyps or Stuffy Nose?
• Allergies: Can increase mucus. 
• Medications: Certain drugs can increase mucus production or thicken it.
• Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD): Stomach acid can irritate the throat, leading to increased mucus, without any sensation of heartburn (silent reflux).
• Vasomotor Rhinitis: Overactive mucus production triggered by changes in temperature, strong smells, the act of eating or other causes. (In this case, allergy medication will not help.)

Post Nasal Drip Diagnosis

• Medical History: Discussion of your symptoms, triggers, and lifestyle factors.
• Video Nasal Endoscopy: Quick scope to diagnose with a small, flexible tube & a tiny camera inside your nasal passages. 
• Same-visit In-office Sinus CT Scan: High-quality resolution images to evaluate complex, deep-seated sinus issues such as blockages or structural abnormalities.  (Scan itself takes 20 secs.) Dr. Tannas immediately diagnoses & creates a treatment plan in one visit. 

FAQs Post Nasal Drip (PND)

• Is PND always allergy-related? No, while allergies are common, there are other causes for PND.
• Allergist Referral: Dr. Tannas may refer you to a Dallas allergist.
• Can diet affect PND? Yes, certain foods can exacerbate or alleviate symptoms.