post nasal drip asthma
If you suffer from chronic and severe cough, in fact, this factor will cause the accumulation of secretions from the respiratory tract at the back of your throat, and doctors say that you have postnasal drip.
In this article, we want to talk about the relationship between asthma (which is a chronic and coughing disease) and postnasal drip.
The relationship between postnasal drip and asthma
In all of our bodies, the mucous cells of the walls of the sinus and nose as well as the pharynx fall off on a daily basis.
These cells fall off along with the secretions of the respiratory tract, which are necessary to moisten and lubricate the respiratory tract, and in fact, they are considered natural secretions that will leave the body through natural ways and we don't notice it.
In some pathological cases, the above secretions will become thick and voluminous, and we notice the presence of these sticky and annoying secretions at the back of our throat.
Severe and chronic coughs due to the obstruction of the respiratory passages below the larynx and in the lungs are among the serious underlying factors for suffering from postnasal drip.
When a person has a prolonged cough due to lung disease, a lot of lung secretions come to the pharynx and this accumulation causes postnasal drip.
In short, lung disorders and diseases with chronic and prolonged cough make you susceptible to the formation of phlegm in the back of the throat.
One of these chronic cough disorders is asthma, which is one of the most important and common causes of postnasal drip.
Postnasal drip
every time we breathe (inhale), a large amount of allergens, viruses, dust, environmental pollutants, etc. enter the respiratory tract and mucous cells that cover the walls of the respiratory tract, which are from the nose and sinuses to the throat and to the lower parts of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and ducts inside the lungs, keep the passage of air moist due to the secretions they have.
You can see that these secretions are necessary and vital in themselves and we do not notice the presence of secretions in a normal state because if the secretions are balanced and normal, they are eliminated and discharged naturally and we do not feel them.
Why do we get postnasal drip?
If we have inflammation or irritation in any part of the respiratory tract, from the nose to the lungs, respiratory secretions increase and these secretions enter the pharynx and accumulate in it.
Causes of postnasal drip
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Respiratory infections:
If a simple viral cold or covid-19 disease and also respiratory viruses such as influenza, infects you, it will lead to the unwanted production of phlegm in your respiratory tract and make you suffer from postnasal drip.
This phlegm is created to fight pathogens and facilitate their elimination.
Whenever the respiratory infection is eliminated, the phlegm will be eliminated and controlled by itself.
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lung diseases that are accompanied by a lot of coughing:
- One of them is chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is very common in smokers.
- Acute Viral Bronchitis
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Cigarettes and Hookahs:
Smoking causes dust to accumulate on the respiratory mucosa, with each puff of cigarette, smoke enters your body and prevents the re-supply of water to the respiratory mucosa for up to three hours.
As a result, to compensate for dryness, phlegm secretion increases.
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Respiratory sensitivities and allergies:
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Air pollution:
smoke and environmental pollutants in the air of densely populated cities irritate parts of the respiratory mucosa, which is accompanied by increased postnasal drip.
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Asthma and hay fever:
In asthma and hay fever, the inner lining of the airways below the larynx, i.e. the trachea and bronchi and the narrow airways inside the lungs, become inflamed and actually cause inflammation in the airways of the lungs, thus stimulating the production of phlegm.
It is said that asthma is one of the common and important causes for postnasal drip.
Symptoms of postnasal drip:
Among its signs and symptoms, the following can be mentioned:
- unpleasant breath
- bad breath (halitosis)
- difficulty in swallowing
- vague pain and discomfort in the throat for more than three months
- feeling of a foreign body in the throat
- congestion and ringing in the ears, and ear pain
- Voice change and hoarseness due to the effect of throat phlegm on the vocal cords
- the need to clear the throat frequently
- increased nausea and vomiting
In what cases is it necessary to see a doctor?
If the following symptoms are present, it is necessary to see a doctor:
- Severe and prolonged coughs
- Fatigue, headache and night sweats, fever and chills
- Body muscle pains
- Sneezing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Nasal congestion
- Runny nose
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Dry throat and enlarged tonsils
- Sore throat
Postnasal drip and asthma
Asthma can start from childhood.
Asthma is associated with the narrowing and inflammation of the lower airways of the larynx, and the increased production of secretions from the mucous is one of the results of this swelling and chronic inflammation.
Asthma is a chronic and long-lasting disorder and disease that can harm the affected person for years and make him suffer from annoying postnasal drips. Therefore, some people experience post nasal drip for years due to asthma.
So, to control the long-term symptoms of asthma and post nasal drip that may happen after it, it is better to be in touch with your specialist doctor regularly and in a specific plan to control and reduce the symptoms.
Symptoms of asthma:
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Problem during sleep caused by shortness of breath, cough or wheezing.
- A whistling sound when exhaling
- Chronic or paroxysmal cough or wheezing that is exacerbated by viral respiratory infections such as colds and flu.
Symptoms that indicate worsening asthma include:
- Difficulty breathing
- The need to use more asthma spray
the importance of paying attention to asthma and postnasal drip
inflammation and obstruction of the lower airways of the larynx can be so severe that it prevents oxygen exchange and prevents oxygen from reaching the bloodstream.
So, these people will experience severe symptoms and asthma attack and need emergency care.
What factors cause the exacerbation of asthma and postnasal drip?
- Viral infections
- Hormonal changes
- Obesity and overweight
as well as:
- Allergies and sensitivities can increase postnasal drip.
- Also, smoking and environmental factors such as air pollution, both indoors and outdoors, all have an effect on asthma and postnasal drip.
Diagnosis:
Getting a history and doctor's examination including auscultation of the lungs and using the results obtained from spirometry are the most important ways to diagnose asthma.
And x-ray chest imaging to rule out acute viral bronchitis, allergies, and inflammation of the sinuses and nasal mucosa (rhinosinusitis).
Treatment:
first treatment group)
- Bronchodilators or airway dilators:
These bronchodilators are divided into two categories:
- Short-acting types such as albuterol
- Long-acting types such as salbutamol
second treatment group)
These inhaled corticosteroids relieve inflammation and swelling of airways.
the third treatment group)
Fourth treatment group)
In addition to medical treatments, it is also necessary to observe the following points:
- Reducing exposure to stimuli such as environmental pollutants
- Avoiding viral respiratory infections such as colds, covid 19 and flu
- Staying away from polluted air and avoiding exposure to dust, allergens, and household allergens such as insect eggs, perfumes, and even the dust of some plants.
- Avoiding emotional stress and all emotional reactions that may lead to asthma attack
- Avoiding cold
- Avoiding intense sports
Also, it is better to know that genetics is one of the main factors for increasing the risk of asthma and as a result, postnasal drip.
Final word:
In general, any factor that causes inflammation of the airways and is accompanied by inflammation increases postnasal drip.
Asthma is one of the most important disorders that involves both inflammation and obstruction.
Controlling the triggering factors in addition to taking medications prescribed by the doctor, staying away from environmental stimuli and recording symptoms daily and following up on changes and regular communication with the doctor is the key to successful management of asthma and postnasal drip caused by it.