Major Causes Of Post-Nasal Drip

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Post-nasal drip can be a symptom that manifests in individuals who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a long-term chronic disorder of the lungs that causes severe inflammation and obstructions in airflow. COPD is the result of an individual's exposure to particulate matter, cigarette smoke, or irritating gases over an extended period. Symptoms typically do not manifest before significant damage has been inflicted on the affected individual's lung tissues. Because chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by inflammation of the lung tissues, the tubes inside of the lungs become narrowed easily. Additionally, excess mucus production by the lungs causes the airways to become obstructed, producing a hospitable environment for bacteria and other pathogens to thrive. This mechanism makes COPD patients more susceptible to contracting the flu, pneumonia, and common colds. All of these infections can trigger the nose to produce an excess amount of sputum or hypersecretion that may back up in the throat, producing post-nasal drip in affected individuals.

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Certain Medications

Certain medications can present with the manifestation of post-nasal drip as a result of their chemical mechanisms in the affected individual's body. Oral contraceptives are taken to induce changes in a female's hormones, which can result in a runny nose and post-nasal drip when starting the medication. Acetylsalicylic acid is known to induce a condition called aspirin-sensitive asthma, which can result in post-nasal drip. Some individuals may have a higher sensitivity to medications containing ibuprofen that can result in a post-nasal drip when starting to take the medication. These sensitivities cause the small blood vessels in the nasal passageways to become dilated and swollen, resulting in congestion that produces post-nasal drip. Several blood pressure medications have been known to produce a post nasal drip. ACE inhibitors cause an accumulation of a bronchoconstrictor called bradykinin in the affected individual's airways. Bronchoconstrictors cause the release of histamine, resulting in increased mucus production and post-nasal drip. Beta blockers, antidepressant medications, sedative medications, and erectile dysfunction medications can all cause blood vessel dilation and swelling in the nose that results in excessive production of mucus and post-nasal drip. Additionally, the body can become somewhat resistant to nasal decongestant sprays, and begin to overproduce in response to the overuse of the medication.