Most of us choose not to spend our days contemplating our mucus. But every once in a while, we have no choice but to recognize the truth: We’re basically walking, talking goo factories. It’s particularly unavoidable when you’re experiencing postnasal drip, and all that gunk from your nose or sinuses drains down the back of your throat.
You’ve probably heard of the term “postnasal drip.” But what exactly is it, and can it make you sick to your stomach? We asked family physician Simon Hodes, MB ChB. He explains the relationship between postnasal drip and nausea, how to address it in the moment and when it’s time to see your healthcare provider.
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How postnasal drip and nausea are related
Our mouths, throats and sinuses produce a lot of mucus to keep things moist and protect against bugs and irritants. We’re talking one to two liters of the stuff a day. We make about the same amount of saliva in a day, too.
“The mucus and saliva our body generates drains from our nose, mouth and sinuses into our throat, helping to lubricate it,” Dr. Hodes explains. Drainage is a good thing, and — on a good day — the mucus mixes with your saliva and you swallow it without realizing you’re doing it.
“Normal throat drainage does not make us feel queasy, in fact, you typically don’t notice it at all,” he continues. But that can change if the amount of drainage increases and starts to drip down the back of your nose — hence the term “postnasal drip.”
Common causes of postnasal drip-related nausea
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Mucus drainage is crucial to our health, but it can make us nauseated when we have conditions that increase throat drainage, causing postnasal drip.
You may end up with a mucus-induced crummy tummy if you:
- Have a deviated septum.
- Have a sinus infection.
- Have a cold, flu or any other respiratory virus.
- Are experiencing allergies.
- Are taking birth control pills or medication to treat high blood pressure (antihypertensives).
- Consume spicy foods.
- Are exposed to irritating fumes or environmental triggers.
- Are pregnant.
But conditions that increase drainage aren’t the only reason throat drainage could bother your stomach.
“What’s often overlooked is that conditions that inflame or irritate the throat can also make us aware of normal drainage,” Dr. Hodes clarifies. “If swallowing food or drink becomes difficult, drainage can take longer to go down, which can bother your stomach.”
Common causes of throat irritation and inflammation include:
- Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
- Dehydration.
- Sore throat (pharyngitis).
- Bacterial infection.
- Tonsillitis.
- Mouth breathing.
Dr. Hodes also points out that certain medications — like the antihistamines you take when you’re feeling drippy — can change the character of our drainage, heightening our awareness of it. That’s right: Treating your postnasal drip may be counterproductive and make you more nauseated. Ironic.
Remedies for nausea from postnasal drip or throat irritation
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As you can probably tell, it can be hard to determine the underlying cause of postnasal drip-induced nausea. Is postnasal drip really what’s causing your nausea or is throat irritation from an underlying condition making typical drainage feel … well, gross?
There’s good news. Not having a cause or treatment plan pinned down doesn’t mean you can’t treat your symptoms. You can. Dr. Hodes walks us through some home remedies that are worth considering.
- Take over-the-counter antihistamines, decongestants or expectorants. If you’re pretty sure your postnasal drip is the result of allergies, a cold or a virus, it’s beneficial to try clearing the congestion yourself before dialing the doc. Yes, there’s a chance that you’ll feel worse before you feel better tummy-wise, but the sooner your congestion gets cleared, the sooner the nausea will lift.
- Sleep with your head elevated. Basically, you’re giving your body more time to drain the excess congestion from your system. Bonus: This is also a common home remedy for acid reflux.
- Drink lots of water. The more hydrated you are, the thinner your mucus will be. While you’re at it, avoid caffeine and alcohol: They can both cause dehydration, which can make your symptoms worse.
- Enjoy soups or teas. It’s another great way to stay hydrated, and the heat and steam will help further thin and clear out excess mucus. If you don’t have soup or tea on hand, hot water will help, too!
- Gargle with saltwater. This is a great trick for both postnasal drip and a sore or irritated throat, so you can’t really go wrong.
- Take hot showers or put your head over a steaming pot of water. In addition to loosening up the mucus, steam therapy can open up and moisturize your nasal passages. The faster you’re able to drain the congestion, the less likely it is to make you nauseous.
- Use a saline nasal spray. This is an especially good option if you’re dealing with allergies because it can help flush pollen and other irritants from your nasal lining.
- Give a neti pot a try. If you decide to give nasal irrigation of this sort a go, be sure to follow all the instructions. It can provide lightning-fast relief. Dr. Hodes says that ear, nose and throat specialists (otolaryngologists) highly recommend these devices. But if you don’t take proper safety and hygiene precautions, you’ll be worse off in the long run.
- Sleep with a humidifier. Humidifiers can be especially helpful if cold, dry air is irritating your nasal passages and throat. Just be sure to keep the humidifier clean. Like the neti pot, it can make you sick if you aren’t using it hygienically, so be sure to follow all the operating instructions.
- Don’t smoke or vape — and avoid secondhand smoke. Not only does exposure to smoke increase mucous secretions, but smoking also aggravates conditions like acid reflux and GERD that make you feel drippy, even when you aren’t.
- Be careful what you eat. Steer clear of spicy, greasy, acidic foods. They can make acid reflux worse and, in the case of spicy foods, dial-up mucus manufacturing.
When to see a healthcare provider
“If you’re experiencing nausea, you should see your primary care provider,” Dr. Hodes advises. “They can help determine the cause of your nausea and, if necessary, refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist.”
Most of the time, postnasal drip-induced nausea and vomiting, while unpleasant and inconvenient, aren’t the kind of things you need to be seen for the same day. But there are exceptions to every rule. Contact a provider promptly if you:
- Are running a fever.
- Are wheezing or having difficulty breathing.
- Notice that your mucus has a foul-smelling odor.
- Have blood in your mucus (or your vomit).
- Are feeling short of breath and have a cough.
Drop the drip
“Postnasal drip” is the term we use for an overproduction of mucus that drains down the back of your throat. That additional drainage can bother your stomach, causing nausea and vomiting. Sometimes, you actually don’t have postnasal drip, but throat irritation or inflammation makes you more sensitive to (and queasy over) the drainage process.
Remember, if you’re experiencing postnasal nausea, lots of home remedies can potentially help. The key things to think about are staying hydrated, opening up your nasal passages and limiting foods or other triggers that promote irritation or mucus production.
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