Can Post Nasal Drip Cause Diarrhea

Treatment For Postnasal Drip Caused By Allergies

Depending on the severity of your symptoms, you may be able to treat postnasal drip caused by allergies on your own. If you are taking prescription medications, check with your healthcare provider before using any new over-the-counter medications to ensure they won’t cause an interaction.

The following treatments may help improve symptoms of postnasal drip caused by allergies:

• Avoid interactions with known allergenss

• Wheezing or shortness of breath

What About Prescription Treatments

If these approaches aren’t effective, prescription treatments may be the next best steps, including:

• A nasal steroid spray
• Ipratropium nasal spray which inhibits secretions

Other treatments depend on the cause of the post-nasal drip. Antibiotics are not usually helpful, so they aren’t usually prescribed for post-nasal drip . For allergies, dusting and vacuuming often, covering your mattresses and pillowcases, and special air filter can help reduce exposure to allergy triggers.

How Sinusitis Causes Nausea

Sinusitis, another name for sinus infections, occurs when the sinuses are blocked by excess mucus and other bodily fluids, preventing proper drainage. The buildup of those fluids is what creates post-nasal drip.

Post-nasal drip causes mucus to accumulate at the back of your nose, which then drips down into your throat, making it sore. This extra mucus ends up reaching your stomach, leading to nausea and vomiting. To make matters worse, post-nasal drip tends to increase late at night and early in the morning, times when youre less likely to have food in your stomach. So, can sinusitis cause nausea? Yes. But what causes sinusitis?

Read Also: Which Probiotic Brand Is Best

How Can I Prevent Post

Whats better than alleviating your symptoms? Keeping them from happening in the first place! Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Stay hydrated. Regular intake of fluids helps to thin mucus.
• Use a humidifier. Extra moisture in your bedroom, bathroom, or office can facilitate breathing and diminish nasal congestion.
• Prop yourself up while you sleep. Placing extra pillows under your head allows mucus to drain instead of collecting in the back of your throat.
• Avoid spicy foods and carbonated beverages.
• Stay away from airborne irritants. Perfumes, smoke, dust, and cleaning chemicals frequently trigger post-nasal drip.

The Common Causes Of Diarrhea

This digestive problem is very common. It can affect anyone in most people, it can occur once or twice each year. However, there are some conditions that put you to have it more often. For example, it is more common in people with IBS .

Its typically characterized by watery and loose stools. Other symptoms are as follows:

Although it can be very bothersome the good news it is usually not harmful, easy to treat, and goes away in a few days. Many times it improves with lifestyle measures. If the treatment is required, the over-the-counter medicines are also available.

While it usually is mild and not serious, in a few cases it may also be associated with particular underlying health condition. Furthermore, sometimes the cause of the problem is not easy to diagnose.

Diarrhea can be attributed by a lot of factors and causes. A mild viral infection in the gut is often to blame. Other causes include:

Also Check: Is Granola Good For Constipation

How To Treat Diarrhea And A Cold

The best way to treat diarrhea caused by a cold or the flu is often with plenty of rest. Diarrhea can lead to dehydration, so its also important to drink plenty of fluids and to replenish lost electrolytes. A few sources of electrolytes that are easy to digest include:

• prepackaged electrolyte mixes

How Can I Prevent Postnasal Drip

One way to prevent postnasal drip is by reducing your exposure to things youre allergic to as much as possible. Ways to prevent the condition may include:

• Taking a daily allergy pill.
• Keeping your house dust-free and clean.
• Using pillow covers and mattress covers to prevent dust mites.
• Changing the air filters on your HVAC system frequently.
• Showering before you go to bed if youve spent time outdoors.

Don’t Miss: What Type Of Collagen Is Best For Leaky Gut

How Long Dosymptoms Last

If you start to feel sick, try not to panic or think the worst.

• Coronavirus shares some of the same symptoms caused by the flu and colds, including fever and cough.
• Remember, its still cold and flu season and seasonal allergies are widespread.
• For most people who are normally healthy, coronavirus does not cause serious health problems.

How to seek care for coronavirus:

If you have a fever, cough, shortness of breath, or loss of smell and/or taste, stay home and isolate yourself from others. To find the best care, take our free COVID-19 risk assessment, or call our 24/7 Health Line at .

If your symptoms are life-threatening, call 911 immediately.

About Atrium Health

What Is Postnasal Drip

Postnasal drip is when more mucus than normal gathers and drips down the back of your throat. You may feel like you have a tickle in the back of your throat. Postnasal drip can be a bothersome condition that can lead to a chronic cough.

The glands in your nose and throat are constantly making mucus. This is normal. These glands produce one to two quarts of mucus per day. Mucus has many important functions, such as:

• Moistens and cleans your nasal lining.
• Moistens the air you breathe.
• Traps and clears whatever you inhale.
• Helps fight infections.

You normally swallow mucus unconsciously. You don’t notice it because it mixes with your saliva and drips harmlessly down the back of your throat. But when you feel like mucus is gathering in your throat or dripping from the back of your nose, it becomes more obvious.

Recommended Reading: Can Constipation Cause Stomach Cramps

What Causes Postnasal Drip

You can get postnasal drip for many different reasons. One of the most frequent causes of postnasal drip is allergies, which is often called allergic postnasal drip.

Another cause is a deviated septum. If you have a deviated septum, it means the wall of cartilage between your nostrils is crooked. The misplaced structure of your nose makes one of your nasal passages smaller than the other. This can prevent mucus from draining properly and can lead to postnasal drip. Other postnasal drip causes may include:

• Chronic acid reflux .

Acid Reflux And The Nose

It actually works the other way around, says Dr. C. Phillip Amoils, MD, a board certified otolaryngologist with SC-ENT Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists in CA.

Chronic GERD can reach up all the way to the sinuses, particularly in young kids who are regurgitating, and that can cause inflammation of the sinuses as its ascending up the esophagus and hitting the back of the nose so thats one of the issues, explains Dr. Amoils.

Postnasal drip, if its severe, can give you this chronic runny nose and can slightly irritate the stomach but its usually the GERD that causes the problems, not the other way around.

Also Check: How To Improve Skin Microbiome

When To Seek Medical Care

See a doctor if you have:

• Severe symptoms, such as severe headache or facial pain.
• Symptoms that get worse after improving.
• Symptoms lasting more than 10 days without getting better.
• Fever longer than 3-4 days.

You should also seek medical care if you have had multiple sinus infections in the past year.

This list is not all-inclusive. Please see a doctor for any symptom that is severe or concerning.

Other conditions can cause symptoms similar to a sinus infection, including:

• Seasonal allergies

What Causes Sinusitis

To reduce your risk of sinusitis-related nausea, take proactive steps to avoid the common causes of sinus infections, which include:

• Stress: Stress and sinusitis often go hand in hand. Stress is bad for your overall health, and managing your stress will make you less susceptible to all sorts of illnesses, not just sinus infections.
• Weather changes: Sudden weather changes affect temperature and air pressure, which in turn affect your sinus health. While you cant control the weather, you can address your symptoms with over-the-counter medications.
• Allergies: Seasonal allergies come with their own set of sinus issues, such as these fall sinus problems. While you can fight symptoms with over-the-counter medications, seeking long-term treatment for your allergies is more likely to provide extended relief.

Recommended Reading: Can Fish Oil Pills Cause Heartburn

How To Diagnose Post

To figure out whats causing your post-nasal drip, your provider will need to walk you through a series of questions and tests.

First, theyll ask about your symptoms. If what youve been experiencing is consistent with a bacterial infection or a virus, theyll prescribe medicine to help your body fight the infection.

If your doctor rules out an infection, theyll look for other causes. Allergy testing will reveal what types of allergies if any are giving rise to your nasal drainage.

Finally, an ENT specialist can examine your nose and sinus passageways, looking for structural issues. Once your doctor has discovered the reason for your symptoms, theyll be able to recommend the right treatment plan for you.

What Is Gas In The Digestive Tract

Gas in your digestive tract is made when:

• You swallow air
• Some foods are broken down by the good bacteria in your colon

Everyone has gas. It may be painful and embarrassing, but it’s not dangerous. Your body gets rid of gas by burping or by passing it through your rectum. Most people make about 1 to 4 pints of gas a day. It’s common to pass gas about 14 times a day.

Most gas is made up of vapors that don’t smell. These include carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and sometimes methane. The bacteria in your large intestine give off gases that have sulfur. These gases have a bad smell.

Don’t Miss: What Can Pregnant People Take For Heartburn

When To Call A Doctor

Sometimes, the symptoms that accompany post-nasal drip cant be treated from home. Get in touch with an ENT specialist if:

• Your symptoms have lasted longer than 10 days.
• Your nasal drainage is accompanied by a high fever.
• Your nasal discharge is yellow, green, or bloody.
• Youre experiencing severe sinus pain.
• You have clear discharge after sustaining a head injury.

Can You Prevent A Post

As a post-nasal drip is a common symptom of a cold or infection, the best way to prevent catching something is by avoiding contact with those who are sick and practicing good hand hygiene by washing your hands often.

If your post-nasal drip is the result of allergies, you should avoid your triggers and look into immunotherapy for long-term treatment.

To learn more about treating or preventing a post-nasal trip or to schedule an appointment with an ear, nose and throat expert, contact PDX ENT today.

Also Check: Do Kidney Stones Cause Constipation

Symptoms Associated With Post Nasal Drip

Post nasal drip is a condition characterized by the sensation of constant mucus dripping from the nose through the back of the throat. This can result in various symptoms, depending on affected structures in the head and neck.

If you are experiencing serious medical symptoms, seek emergency treatment immediately.

Should You See A Doctor

Usually, a post-nasal drip is more bothersome than serious, and will often resolve on its own. You should, however, make an appointment with your ear, nose and throat doctor if your post-nasal drip is getting worse, has lasted for longer than ten days, you develop a fever, have difficulty breathing or your mucus has a strong odor.

You May Like: Can Too Much Sugar Cause Diarrhea

Dehydration Constipation & Medications

If you are healthy, mucus in your stool is typically white or slightly yellow, so it often goes unnoticed. Two of the most common causes of mucus in stool are dehydration and constipation. Both of these causes can produce excess mucus which can result in more mucus in the stool. Certain medications such as antibiotics can also cause heightened mucus production.

How Do I Take Care Of Myself If I Have Postnasal Drip

There are many things you can do at home to help clear up your postnasal drip. You may need more fluids to thin out your secretions. Home remedies may include:

• Drink more water.
• Cut out caffeine.
• Avoid diuretics, if possible.

You can also try a mucus-thinning medication such as guaifenesin . These may make your secretions thinner. Saline nasal irrigations lessen thickened secretions. Saline nasal sprays can help moisten your nose.

Recommended Reading: What Foods Cause Leaky Gut

When Should I Call My Healthcare Provider

In most cases, having gas in your digestive tract is not serious. But you should call your healthcare provider if:

• Your symptoms increase or change
• You have new symptoms such as constipation, diarrhea, or weight loss
• You are vomiting
• You have blood in the stool or black, tarry stool
• You have pain that does not go away
• Treatments you tried before dont work now

What Causes Gas In The Digestive Tract

Gas in your digestive tract is caused by 2 things:

• Swallowing air . This can happen when you eat or drink too quickly, chew gum, smoke, or wear loose dentures. Having postnasal drip can also cause this. Most air that you swallow leaves your stomach when you burp or belch. Some of the gas that is left is absorbed into your small intestine. A small amount goes into the large intestine. It’s passed through your rectum.

• Breaking down of some undigested foods by good bacteria found in the large intestine . Carbohydrates are nutrients found in sugar, starches, and fiber. Some carbohydrates are not digested or absorbed in your small intestine. When food is not digested, it passes into your large intestine. The undigested food is then broken down into small parts by good bacteria in your colon. This process makes hydrogen and carbon dioxide. In some cases, it also makes methane gases. These gases are passed through your rectum.

Don’t Miss: Can Uterine Polyps Cause Bloating

When To See A Healthcare Provider

If you experience postnasal drip a few times per year, then there is probably nothing to worry about. It rarely requires medical attention and often goes away on its own.

But if you seem to have postnasal drip frequently or for more than a few weeks, you should talk to your healthcare provider about it. This could suggest an infection or other medical issue that requires treatment.

Also see your healthcare provider if you experience any of the following:

• Difficulty swallowing, trouble breathing, or a choking feeling
• Blood in your nasal secretions

• GERD, or chronic acid reflux
• Allergies to mold, dust, or dander
• Anatomical abnormalities such as a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates
• Medications such as birth control and drugs to lower blood pressure
• Rebound congestion due to overuse of pseudoephedrine nasal sprays
• Swallowing problems

Key Points About Gas In The Digestive Tract

• Everyone has gas in their digestive tract.
• Gas in your digestive tract is created when you swallow air. It’s also caused by the breakdown of some foods by good bacteria in your colon.
• Your body gets rid of gas by burping or by passing it through your rectum.
• Most foods with carbohydrates cause gas.
• The most common symptoms of gas are burping, passing gas, belly or abdominal bloating, and abdominal pain.
• You can reduce gas pain by changing your diet, taking medicines, and reducing how much air you swallow.

Recommended Reading: How To Get Rid Of Constant Bloating

Is It Possible For The Drippy Mucus That Comes From Your Nose To Leak Down Into Your Esophagus And Cause Gerd

You may already know that acid reflux can get kicked up as high as the nasal cavity, causing burning in the nose.

But now the question is the reverse: whether or not mucus from your nose can drip down the back of the throat and get into the esophagus or food pipe, and trigger acid reflux or heartburn.

Symptoms Of Postnasal Drip

Postnasal drip results when you have excess mucus production in your nose or sinuses. This causes the mucus to accumulate at the back of your throat. The condition triggers a set of reactions that cause irritation and discomfort.

Common symptoms of postnasal drip include:

• A feeling of mucus dripping down the back of your throat
• Frequent swallowing
• The sensation of a lump in the back of your throat
• Swelling of the tonsils or other throat tissue

In addition to having more mucus, the quality of your mucus may change with postnasal drip. For instance, mucus that is thicker than usual can add to the discomfort of having a higher than normal quantity of the substance.

Don’t Miss: How To Relieve Period Bloating

Q: Does Postnasal Drip Make You Queasy

A: Our bodies make a fair amount of mucus and saliva. These fluids drain from our nose, mouth and sinuses into our throat, and help to lubricate it. We are typically unaware of this drip, and normal throat drainage does not make us feel queasy.

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services.Policy

However, certain conditions increase throat drainage and may cause queasiness, including: