Post Nasal Drip Cough: Causes and Effective Treatments

Did you know that post nasal drip is ranked as one of the leading causes of night time and lingering cough?¹ Let’s dive into what post nasal drip cough really is, it’s causes and what you can do to find relief.

What Is Post Nasal Drip and Why Does It Cause Cough?

Understanding Nasal Drainage

Your nasal passages are constantly producing small amounts of mucus to keep the airways moist and comfortable for you to breathe. But sometimes, certain conditions can cause the amount of mucus to exceed normal levels. That’s when mucus begins to drip down from the nasal passages – down your throat. This is the slightly irritating feeling you experience, we call ‘post nasal drip’.

Common Causes of Post Nasal Drip

Causes of post nasal drip and cough could be simple or a medical concern. Post nasal drip itself may be caused by different conditions such as:² 

• Allergic/non-allergic rhinitis
• Sinusitis
• Nasal polyp
• Diseases of the nasopharynx such as laryngopharyngeal reflux (silent reflux) disease
• Pregnancy or
• Other conditions

Cough caused by post nasal drip occurs when the cough receptors in lining of the throat (pharynx) are triggered by various irritants. Excess and constant dripping of mucus is one of the cough triggers that results in post nasal drip cough.³

Symptoms of Post Nasal Drip Cough

Research shows that symptoms of post nasal drip cough can vary, however some of the reported recurring symptoms are:³

• Sensation of nasal secretions at the back of the throat
• Need to clear the throat
• Nasal stuffiness and/or nasal discharge
• Hoarse voice
• Chronic cough
• Sore throat
• Night time cough

Recognizing a Post Nasal Drip Cough

The key symptom that indicates post nasal drip is the sensation of nasal secretions at the back of the throat. This sensation causes irritation of the throat and can sometimes lead to a build-up of mucus in the throat.

But there are no objective or definitive symptoms or tests for diagnosing post nasal drip cough, so it is important that you consult a registered medical practitioner, especially if you experience persistent dry cough or nonproductive cough.

How It Differs from Other Cough Types

Cough caused by post nasal drip is also known as Upper Airway Cough Syndrome (or UACS). It differs from other forms of cough in that it is one of the most common forms of chronic coughs.

• Duration: This means that it potentially lasts for over eight weeks, especially if left untreated.⁴
• Main symptoms: Other forms of cough such as GERD, Asthma, bronchitis, sinusitis coughs present themselves without the feeling of a nasal drip. Post nasal drip cough is almost always a dry cough, while others tend to be wet or productive coughs.⁴
• Medication: post nasal drip cough (UACS) is caused by irritation of the mucosal linings of the throat and accumulation of mucus in the throat. So any medication that reduces mucus production will help relieve UACS. Other forms of cough like asthma responds to broncho-dilators and antihistamines. Coughs accompanying the flu or common colds, respond to expectorant, while GERD cough is only relieved with medications that reduce stomach acid like proton pump inhibitors.⁵

Effective Remedies for Post Nasal Drip Cough

When you need a full night’s rest and feel ready to face a new day, but have that nagging sensation of mucus dripping down your throat, accompanied by a dry cough and perhaps a sore throat, here are some simple remedies you can safely use.

Home Remedies and Self-care

Home remedies for post nasal drip cough are similar to that of a cold or flu. Start with:

• Staying hydrated helps thin mucus
• Check your environment for potential irritants (or allergens)
• Steam inhalation and humidification
• A hot bath can also help clear the nasal passages
• Sip warm fluids
• Keep your head propped up to keep mucus from collecting

When to Seek Medical Advice

When post nasal drip cough won’t go away and you feel drained by the persistent cough disrupting your daily routine, it’s time for a visit to your local medical doctor. 

If you notice anything out of the ordinary such as:

• Blood in your mucus
• Shortness of breath
• Fever
• Persistent symptoms over 8 weeks despite OTC medicines

You must consult your doctor at the earliest, so you can get the right medication and care you need. While you’re on your journey to recovery, remember that post nasal drip cough relief can take weeks (and in a few cases even months), but it is a still a treatable and temporary condition, so be patient, you will recover with self care and a good medical doctor.

At the end of the day, you need to recover as quickly as possible so you can live your best life now.

References

1. Hirai K, Kaiga C, Otomo T, et al. Effect of Post-nasal Drip on Overnight-cough Frequency and Cough Pattern in Children with Asthma. Tokai J Exp Clin Med. 2022;47(2):79-84. Published 2022 Jul 20.
2. Cheong TY, Choi IS. Clinical Aspects of Chronic Idiopathic Postnasal Drip: An Entity Not to Be Overlooked. In Vivo. 2024;38(4):2058-2063. doi:10.21873/invivo.13664
3. Sylvester DC, Karkos PD, Vaughan C, et al. Chronic cough, reflux, postnasal drip syndrome, and the otolaryngologist. Int J Otolaryngol. 2012;2012:564852. doi:10.1155/2012/564852
4. Alhajjaj MS, Sankari A, Bajaj P. Chronic Cough. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; October 7, 2024.
5. Macedo P, Saleh H, Torrego A, et al. Postnasal drip and chronic cough: An open interventional study. Respir Med. 2009;103(11):1700-1705. doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2009.05.005