Do you wake up with a scratchy throat in the morning? Coughing fits keeping you up at night? When your body produces extra mucus, you might feel it drip down or build up in the back of your throat from your nose. This is what is known as post-nasal drip and could be the very reason why you are experiencing such troubles.
The good news is that our certified McAllen physician assistant Jonathan Lerma and his sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group, members of Valley ENT, know all there is to know about post-nasal drip and want to share this information with you--along with a few things you can do at home to help you get some relief.
Post-nasal drip is a common occurrence that has affected almost everyone at some point in their lives. The glands in your nose and throat constantly create mucus in order to combat infections and bring moisture to nasal membranes. In fact, you usually swallow the mucus without even noticing it.
It is likely that you’ve had post-nasal drip if you have experienced the following symptoms:
Several conditions can cause post-nasal drip, but allergies are one of the most common. If you’re an allergy sufferer, it is best you steer clear of your triggers or take medicine beforehand if you know you will be exposed.
Another common cause is a deviated septum, meaning that the thin wall of cartilage between your nostrils (or septum) is displaced or leans to one side. Not only does it make one nasal passage smaller, but it can also get in the way of proper mucus drainage, which results in post-nasal drip.
Other causes of post-nasal drip include:
In particular cases, the issue causing post-nasal drip isn’t excessive mucus, but your throat’s inability to clear it. Swallowing problems or gastric reflux can make liquids accumulate in your throat, which also gives you that post-nasal drip sensation.
There are plenty of options to turn to when it comes to home treatments for post-nasal drip symptom relief:
Set up an appointment with your doctor if your symptoms have not gone away after attempting at-home treatments for more than 10 days, especially if you experience any of these symptoms:
These may be symptoms of a bacterial infection, which require antibiotics. However, if you think GERD, acid reflux, or trouble swallowing could be the source of your post-nasal drip sensation, your primary care physician can run tests and prescribe medications to check for other health issues.
The best way to prevent post-nasal drip is by reducing your exposure to allergens. Here are some additional tips that can go a long way:
Post-nasal drip is not something that shouldn’t be ignored. If you face any other symptoms alongside the post-nasal drip, consider making an appointment with the Glatz Group for treatment recommendations.
We continue to take all necessary precautions to ensure the safety of our patients and staff from the COVID-19 pandemic. With telemedicine, we’ve been able to address most of our patients’ allergy symptoms without meeting face-to-face with a 90 to 95% success rate. We also schedule in-office appointments, book online consultations, and accept phone calls.
Our sinus cavities are intricate structures that protect our nasal cavity from dirt, dust, pollutants, and micro-organisms by producing mucus to, in a sense, help flush them out. While these cavities are usually empty, they can get blocked up to the point where the mucus can’t properly drain, causing congestion with fluid that eventually leads to sinus infections, also known as sinusitis.
Gently touching your face near an infected sinus cavity can be a painful, uncomfortable feeling, but there are specific treatments you can use to alleviate sinusitis before it causes further complications.
Today, our local McAllen ENT Dr. Frank R. Glatz, certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma, and the dedicated team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group are looking into the causes of sinusitis and what you can do to ease your symptoms.
A sinus headache is oftentimes one of the most common symptoms of a sinus infection. When this happens, you can feel both pressure and pain behind your cheekbones and around your eyes. Other telltale symptoms and signs of a sinus infection can be nasal discharge with a yellow or green color, an unpleasant taste in your mouth, and fever.
Sinusitis is often the result of either a viral, bacterial, or fungal infection. Despite it being a common condition, there are certain people that have greater chances of getting it, usually anyone that has:
It is also worth noting that there are two types of sinus infections: chronic and acute sinusitis. These two share similar symptoms, where chronic sinus infections may last for up to 12 weeks and can recur several times a year. Acute sinusitis is normally a temporary infection that most likely came after a cold and can last around 2 to 4 weeks.
Good hygiene, maintaining clear and moist sinuses, and treating symptoms right away with over-the-counter nasal sprays and decongestants can help lessen the severity and time of the infection. At the same time, procedures like a balloon sinuplasty at your McAllen ENT can help open the sinus cavity openings to help your body flush them out more efficiently.
While it may be difficult for you to figure out if your sinusitis was the result of bacteria, virus, or fungus, there are some ways you can relieve some of the symptoms in the comfort of your own home. Some of these methods include:
In the vast majority of cases, sinusitis can go away by itself, but there are definitely instances when you should see your ENT doctor to treat your sinus infection if self-care options don’t do the trick.
It’s best to see a doctor if you’re still facing sinusitis symptoms after a week has passed, if the symptoms worsen, or if they come back to haunt you more than a few occasions within a year. You should also pay a visit to your doctor if your sinus problems are a hindrance to your day-to-day life and the things you enjoy.
However, be on the lookout for fever, an increase or spread of pain, ineffective over-the-counter pain medications, and an increase in nasal discharge, as these are all signs of your sinusitis worsening. Should this happen, visit your sinus relief specialists at Glatz Group as soon as possible. There, we can help guide your sinusitis treatment and explore if balloon sinuplasty can help you overcome this type of infection in the future, especially if you suffer from chronic sinusitis.
When you or a loved one’s allergies are all out of whack, you can’t help but search for solutions to help resolve your sinus situation.
However, if you happen to be one of the 30 million Americans that suffer from chronic sinusitis, it can be a challenge knowing who you should turn to. It is critical that you choose the right doctor to help you deal with your situation; one that is comfortable with and fully capable of performing the procedure known as balloon sinuplasty.
Let McAllen ENT, Dr. Frank R. Glatz, and his team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group provide you with some insight on how to choose the right sinuplasty doctor, and why you can expect nothing short of the ‘Glatz Guarantee’ from us!
The first step we recommend you take before making any decision on a doctor is gathering as much information as possible about the procedure. While your doctor should provide detailed information about the treatment, it never hurts to do a little bit of investigation yourself so that you can ask questions or raise any concerns during your consultation.
A generally safe operation, balloon sinuplasty is meant to reshape the blocked sinus openings in your nasal cavity with a small medical balloon. This helps to open up the sinus cavities without having to remove any bone or tissue, ultimately making for a safer procedure.
An ENT doctor makes this happen by using a tube-like contraption that inflates a small balloon inside one, several, or all sinus cavities, thus helping to optimize their drainage function.
The balloon sinuplasty procedure can provide long-term relief compared to traditional nasal surgeries. Click here to learn more about the benefits of balloon sinuplasty and how it compares to traditional nasal surgery.
When it comes to finding the right balloon sinuplasty surgeon, you want to evaluate 3 things:
Board certification is one of the most imperative factors to consider when you’re in the process of picking an ENT. It indicates that the doctor has the necessary training, skills, and experience to offer healthcare in otolaryngology.
In terms of experience for balloon sinuplasty, experience matters when you’re looking to prevent or treat a health condition such as chronic sinusitis. The more experience an ENT has treating a condition or performing a procedure, the higher the chance that everything will go exactly as it should.
It’s important to ask if your surgeon has done the fellowship training related to your diagnosis.
Dr. Glatz brings 20 years worth of experience to the Valley Ear, Nose, and Throat team and was among the first ENT’s to utilize cutting-edge technology when performing balloon sinuplasty and has successfully performed countless procedures.
As for patient care and experience, review patient satisfaction surveys to read what people have experienced in terms of the ease of scheduling an appointment, wait times, office environment, and the office staff’s amicability.
Our McAllen ENT has the experience, skillset, and reliable staff to deliver an outstanding patient experience, while providing outstanding care for individuals of all ages.
Schedule an appointment with the McAllen ENT at the Glatz Group today to see if you’re an eligible candidate for balloon sinuplasty and the Glatz Guarantee! If eligible, this procedure can be safely administered by our ENT doctors in our very own office.
Knowing just what causes sinus infections is the key to finding lasting relief through relevant treatment, especially for a condition that affects over 30 million Americans a year. While the most common symptoms are short term, they can eventually evolve into long-term complications if not treated correctly.
Our experienced McAllen otolaryngologist, Dr. Frank R. Glatz, and his team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group firmly believe that sinus health is important to your overall wellbeing and it is their responsibility to share their knowledge with you on how your sinuses properly function, what the most common causes of sinus infection are, and how they can be treated.
Your sinuses are an intricate system. There are eight total sinus cavities that lie behind your nose, cheeks, and lower forehead. These air-filled cavities are responsible for producing mucus, which helps defend you from unwanted particles such as dirt, pollen, and dust while keeping your inner nasal passage moist.
So whenever there’s something interfering with the mucus production, your sinuses are unable to drain out, leading to a number of temporary, or even long-term, health issues.
When the sinuses are blocked, they eventually become clogged up with fluids, which then leads to unwanted bacterial grow within these chambers.
Some of the symptoms may include:
Individuals that have a weaker immune system are more likely to develop sinus infection from bacteria or mold.
The causation of sinus infections varies depending on its root cause. Listed below are several variants with recommended treatment options:
Other potential factors may also include:
It can be caused due to allergies, repeated infections, or immune disorders. Nasal polyps may affect your ability to breathe and smell and may even lead to more nasal infections.
Seek advice from Dr. Glatz if any of these affect your way of living. Surgery might be required if necessary.
Upon scheduling an appointment with our McAllen otolaryngologist at the Glatz Group, Dr. Glatz and our staff will carefully evaluate your symptoms in order to diagnose your condition and recommend applicable treatment designed to provide maximum sinus relief.
