Major Causes Of Post-Nasal Drip

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Post-nasal drip can be a symptom that manifests in individuals who have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a long-term chronic disorder of the lungs that causes severe inflammation and obstructions in airflow. COPD is the result of an individual's exposure to particulate matter, cigarette smoke, or irritating gases over an extended period. Symptoms typically do not manifest before significant damage has been inflicted on the affected individual's lung tissues. Because chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is characterized by inflammation of the lung tissues, the tubes inside of the lungs become narrowed easily. Additionally, excess mucus production by the lungs causes the airways to become obstructed, producing a hospitable environment for bacteria and other pathogens to thrive. This mechanism makes COPD patients more susceptible to contracting the flu, pneumonia, and common colds. All of these infections can trigger the nose to produce an excess amount of sputum or hypersecretion that may back up in the throat, producing post-nasal drip in affected individuals.

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