Runny nose down the throat

Normally, our runny nose flows outwards, but sometimes it also flows into the throat, which is called reflux. There are many reasons for this reflux. If reflux only happens occasionally, it is a normal physiological phenomenon; if it happens frequently, it is related to rhinitis, nasal polyps or drug allergy. In addition, if chronic pharyngitis occurs, postnasal drip may also occur, which should be treated promptly.

What causes postnasal drip?

Diseases that cause postnasal drip include acute and chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, allergic rhinitis, nasal polyps and drug-induced rhinitis. Some people sneeze and have a runny nose when they are exposed to cold air or sunlight. A bent or abnormal nasal septum can also cause postnasal drip. Because these diseases increase nasal secretions or make mucus thicker, you can feel it passing through your throat. Therefore, changes or abnormalities in nasal secretions must not be ignored.

What symptoms can long-term postnasal drip cause?

a. Chronic pharyngitis: If chronic nasal postflow does not enter the esophagus but flows into the throat, it will cause chronic throat pain and a feeling of foreign body in the throat. Even if there is no infection, it still looks quite swollen. As long as the problem of postnasal drip is treated correctly, the discomfort in the throat can be effectively improved.

b. Gastrointestinal disorders: If the tissue fluid in the nose cannot flow forward for a long time and flows backward, in addition to flowing into the throat, it may also flow into the esophagus. Since these tissue fluids are full of bacteria and carry bad pathogens, when they enter our stomach and duodenum for a long time, they will cause gastrointestinal disorders. Common symptoms for this type of patients include abdominal pain, diarrhea, colic, and bloating.

c. Coughing and wheezing: Due to postnasal drip, the dirty tissue fluid is full of bacteria that erode the patient's trachea and bronchi for a long time, causing coughing or wheezing problems. Therefore, in clinical experience, many patients will also relieve their coughing and asthma problems after their nasal diseases are cured.

d. Atopic dermatitis: The tissue fluid secreted by the nose or the pus in the sinuses cannot be discharged forward due to the swelling of the nasal concha. When it flows backward, problems will occur because these tissue fluids contain many toxins. When they flow into the gastrointestinal tract, problems will occur. In traditional Chinese medicine, the stomach is the main muscle. These histamines flowing into the stomach and intestines will cause symptoms of eczema on the skin.