You may already know that the ears, nose, and throat are all interconnected. Air moves freely between all three. That’s why you can plug your nose, close your mouth, and “pop” your ears. But air, regrettably, isn’t all that moves between your nose, ears, and throat. So can mucus.
Under normal circumstances, your throat is where mucus most easily travels. When this occurs, it’s called “post-nasal-drip”. This symptom can occur due to lots of different conditions, including the common cold, allergies, or sinus infections. Usually, post-nasal drip is relatively harmless (though uncomfortable). But in some cases, it can cause related sicknesses. And that’s what can happen with a condition called bronchitis.
Understanding the connection between post-nasal drip and bronchitis can help you better recognize your symptoms (and how to prevent them).
Post-Nasal-Drip – What is it?
Even when you’re not ill, about one quart of mucus is produced by your nose every day. Thankfully, most people’s bodies are well-equipped to deal with that amount of mucus. However, when you’re sick, that changes, and you begin to produce more mucus than your body can ordinarily handle.
Excessive mucus will simply follow gravity and drip down into your throat. Some of this post-nasal-drip will inevitably find its way into portions of your respiratory system. It isn’t really anything you want to occur. Does post-nasal drip get into the lungs? Definitely. Post-nasal-drip can bring about a number of conditions, from a soar throat to pneumonia, for that reason.
Once the inherent cause of post-nasal-drip has resolved, it clear itself up.
Bronchitis – what is it?
Bronchitis is an irritation and inflammation of the bronchial tubes. The bronchial tubes are, essentially, the tubes that carry oxygen to and from your lungs. When they get infected or inflamed, it can grow harder to breathe. Sore throat, coughing, and chest congestion are all symptoms of bronchitis.
Bronchitis comes in two forms:
- Chronic bronchitis: This is bronchitis that won’t resolve. Chronic bronchitis can’t be cured but it can be controlled. This type of bronchitis is not caused by post-nasal-drip (and is usually instead caused by long-term exposure to hazardous toxins or chemicals). However, chronic post-nasal-drip, known as post-nasal-drip syndrome, can result in chronic bronchitis.
- Acute bronchitis: This is when a bacterial or viral infection is the source of bronchitis. Normally, it will only take a few days for bronchitis to clear itself up.
Does post-nasal-drip cause bronchitis?
As phlegm and mucus move through your body, it doesn’t always do so harmlessly. Other parts of your body will frequently have an immune response to the presence of these fluids. That’s certainly the case with regard to the bronchial tubes.
This immune response typically results in inflammation, or swelling, and irritation. This creates discomfort in your bronchial tubes. This leads to coughing, chest tightness, and other bronchitis symptoms. In this way, post-nasal drip causes bronchitis in some individuals.
You might be wondering: how do I know if my sinus infection will develop into bronchitis ahead of time? Well, you often can’t. But there are a few things that can make experiencing bronchitis from post-nasal-drip more likely. For instance, your risk profile may increase if:
- You have allergies or asthma: You will experience post-nasal-drip more frequently if you have a runny nose triggered by allergies. And if that happens, you may develop bronchitis more frequently.
- You’re a smoker: Your entire respiratory system, including your bronchial tubes, will be more vulnerable to infections. Better respiratory health can result in better mucus drainage.
- You experience chronic sinus infections: You are increasingly more likely to experience bronchitis the more you experience post-nasal-drip and sinus infections.
- You’re immune system is compromised: If your immune system is weakened, your body will be less able to fight off infections, leading to more post-nasal drip (and, as a result, a higher risk of developing bronchitis).
How to reduce your risk
You can try decreasing your risk of developing bronchitis by:
- Utilize a humidifier when humidity is low.
- Drink lots of fluids and remain hydrated.
- Use throat lozenges when you get sick (this can help with inflammation and discomfort).
- When you aren’t feeling well, get plenty of rest.
- Get relief from symptoms like coughing by making use of over-the-counter remedies.
Schedule an appointment with us if you experience persistent, or recurring bronchitis symptoms and we can discuss treatment options. Bronchitis and other related conditions can be avoided by getting your post-nasal-drip under control.