What Causes Postnasal Drip?
The excess mucus production that triggers postnasal drip has a number of possible causes, including: • Colds • Flu • Allergies (called allergic postnasal drip) • Sinus infection or sinusitis (inflammation of the sinuses) • Object stuck in the nose (more common in children) • Pregnancy • Certain medications (including birth control pills and blood pressure medications) • Deviated septum (abnormal placement of the wall that separates the two nostrils) or another anatomical problem that affects the sinuses • Cold temperatures or excess dryness in the air • Certain foods (for example, spicy foods or milk products can trigger mucus flow) • Fumes from chemicals, perfumes, cleaning products, smoke, or other irritants Sometimes the problem is not that you’re producing too much mucus, but that it’s not being cleared away effectively. Swallowing problems can cause a buildup of liquids in the throat, which can feel like postnasal drip. These problems can occur with age, a blockage, or gastroesoph
