Major Causes Of Post-Nasal Drip

Irritating Fumes In The Air

When an individual's nose, throat, and airways are exposed to irritating fumes in the air, the fumes can cause them to experience post-nasal drip. In healthy individuals, the airways, nose, throat, intestinal tract, and stomach contain glands that produce mucus. On average, a healthy individual's nose produces approximately a quart of mucus every day. Most do not realize it because the mucus seamlessly blends with their saliva and is swallowed. However, this mucus production becomes much more prominent in the presence of certain conditions such as irritating fumes in the air. The mucous membranes in the nose, throat, and airways are able to detect fumes from perfumes, smoke, minerals, dust, chemicals, cleaning products, and other irritants. When fumes are detected, the immune system signals the production of more mucus in an attempt to protect the body tissues from the irritating fumes by engulfing and expelling the microparticles. An excessive amount of mucus produced by the nose in response to the fumes does not mix very well with saliva. This causes a post-nasal drip or the unpleasant sensation of thick mucus running down the back of the throat.

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