Your cough could be from post-nasal drip (PND) or acid reflux (GERD/LPR), as both cause similar symptoms like throat irritation and a chronic cough, but PND often involves feeling mucus drip down the throat and worse in the morning, while reflux (especially silent LPR) might have a bitter taste, lump-in-throat feeling, or worse after eating, sometimes without typical heartburn. It's hard to tell the difference because GERD can even cause PND, so seeing a doctor for proper diagnosis is key.
Postnasal drip occurs due to excessive mucus in the back of the throat. GERD refers to a backflow of the stomach's contents to the esophagus. Sometimes, GERD can cause postnasal drip. Both can lead to similar symptoms, such as a cough.
What symptoms are related to post-nasal drip?
Symptoms of Acid Reflux Headache
The pain may be dull or throbbing and located on one or both sides of the head. In some instances, GERD is related to a hiatal hernia. 7 This occurs when the topmost part of your stomach pushes through the small opening in the diaphragm.
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 (septum) is crooked.
Post-nasal drip can be difficult to cure, and treatment varies according to the cause: Bacterial infections are usually treated with antibiotics, nasal spray, decongestants, and nasal saline irrigations. For chronic sinusitis, surgery to open the blocked sinuses may be required.
If a cough brings up phlegm or mucus it is called a productive cough and could suggest pneumonia, bronchitis or the flu. The color of the mucus can signal a more serious problem. You should see a doctor if your cough brings up yellowish-green phlegm or blood.
It can sound harsh and cause a tickling sensation in the throat, similar to coughs caused by irritation from dust or smoke. Many of us remember the horse-like coughs we've had when sick during childhood, which is quite similar to what acid reflux coughs sound like.
Symptoms of stage 3 GERD may include:
Sore throat. Hoarse voice. Chronic cough.
Along with a medical history and symptom check, a pH test can help confirm acid reflux. If reflux is suspected as a cause of chronic cough, medication to reduce stomach acid may be prescribed. “Along with acid-reducing medications, diet and lifestyle changes can help reduce acid and minimize coughing.
Irritants – Smoke, strong odors, perfumes, and air pollution can irritate nasal passages, leading to excessive mucus. Acid Reflux (GERD) – Stomach acid backing up into the esophagus can mimic post-nasal drip symptoms. Medications – Certain medications, like those for high blood pressure, can increase mucus production.
Your healthcare provider will diagnose postnasal drip mainly through your medical history and symptoms. They might perform a physical exam to check your nasal passages and throat. Allergy testing or imaging could be recommended if allergies or sinus issues are suspected.
Here are some common warning signs that indicate you have an ENT issue that needs medical attention.
Post-Nasal Drip (Upper Airway Cough Syndrome)
Allergies or sinusitis, which is inflammation or an infection in the sinus, can cause post-nasal drip. Sore throat and trouble swallowing are all byproducts of post-nasal drip, as is the incessant need to clear mucus from your throat, which can lead to a chronic cough.
In the context of chronic rhinitis, vitamin D deficiency may lead to an imbalance in these immune processes, resulting in chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa.
Both short-term and chronic post-nasal drip are rarely serious in and of themselves. However, post-nasal drip can cause frustrating side effects—post-nasal drip and nausea, chronic cough, and foul-smelling breath, for example—that can cause fatigue and discomfort over time.
Heartburn-like pain is a common symptom of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), but several other conditions can cause a burning feeling in your chest, including gallstones, stomach ulcer and esophageal cancer.
GERD, singly or in combination with other conditions, is one of the most common causes of chronic cough. In patients with normal chest radiographic findings, GERD most likely causes cough by stimulation of an esophageal-bronchial reflex.