The tissues and glands in your mouth and throat produce secretions that soften and help pass food to the stomach. When these glands and esophagus become irritated or swollen (dysphagia), normal fluids and secretions accumulate behind the throat and feels like post nasal drip. When you don't swallow or swallow as little as possible because of swollen glands, the secretions accumulate even more and you'll need to constantly clear them.
These secretions will need to be cleared constantly to prevent them from entering the larynx (voice box) and causing hoarseness in your voice. If not cleared, these secretions may proceed to the breathing passage and cause coughing and wheezing.
Factors that contribute to swallowing problems
Swallowing disorders are very common in seniors because of the increased intensity of muscle spasms and lapses. When we advance in age, our neck and throat tissues shrink and are in a relaxed mode. They become too slow and weary to facilitate proper swallowing and speaking.
Usually, with a swallowing disorder, there appears to be problems with one or of the following disorders:
A great proportions of people who suffer from dysphagia (swallowing problems) also suffer from halitosis (bad breath) and sore throats.
Underlying causes of post nasal drip
Besides the accumulation of secretions due to a swallowing disorders, there is usually several other infections that may cause post nasal drip:
Note that not all forms of post nasal drip will reflect vasomotor rhinitis or swallowing problems. Depending on the cause, you can have post nasal drip without any of the above illnesses. However, if your infection continues with no medical attention sinusitis will eventually develop.
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