Lump in throat brown mucus. Persistent mucus in the throat - causes and treatment. Causes of constant mucus in the throat

The accumulation of mucus in the throat is a common reason for patients to visit a therapist. This symptom is inconvenient, and may appear for various reasons. You can get rid of it only after eliminating the cause that provoked it.

Mucus is an accumulation of cells that are the end products of metabolism in the form of dead bacteria, viruses and immune cells. It must be removed from the body along with all harmful substances and microorganisms.

The production of mucous secretion is a protective reaction of the body to injury, damage, infection, allergies, etc.

If bacteria, viruses, allergens and other irritants enter the nasopharynx, then the production of mucus increases in volume and any person has a desire to cough it up.

The main reasons why mucus accumulates in the throat:

• The secretion can be observed with prolonged use of vasoconstrictors, against the background of hormonal changes, congenital anatomical features of the nasopharynx.
• Often mucus occurs with seasonal hay fever. Many people are susceptible to contact with certain plants, down, etc. This symptom in this case has a constant relapsing course.
• If vitreous mucus is produced in large quantities and is accompanied by cough, shortness of breath, then these are characteristic symptoms of bronchial asthma.
• In diseases such as gastric ulcer, reflux esophagitis, esophageal diverticulum, the acidic contents of the stomach are released into the esophagus. This is accompanied by a sensation of a lump and accumulation of mucus in the throat.
• Mucus secretion may be due to malnutrition and eating too cold or hot foods.
• If a person lives in a polluted environment and constantly inhales air that is polluted with exhaust gases, dust, sand, then the secret can also accumulate in the throat.

In addition to the accumulation of mucus, other symptoms of varying severity may be observed. Usually there is a burning sensation, a sensation of a lump in the throat.

The patient will constantly try to clear his throat, but this does not bring relief. In addition, there are painful sensations when swallowing, bad breath, bouts of nausea, malaise, weakness.

If the mucus is streaked with blood, its color and consistency changes, then this indicates a serious pathology - tuberculosis or throat cancer.

Therefore, you can not hesitate and let it go by itself, as this is very dangerous and can lead to serious consequences.

Medical treatment

If other symptoms are present along with the mucus, then it is necessary to seek the advice of an otolaryngologist. Then the doctor will determine the cause of the appearance of mucus and prescribe the necessary treatment.

Treatment features:

• If there is a focus of inflammation in the throat, then rinsing is carried out using ready-made pharmacy solutions. You can also use sprays, aerosols and use absorbable lozenges: Oracept, Ingalipt, Septolete, Tonsilotren, etc.
• If it is advisable to use vasoconstrictor drops:, etc. If the runny nose is prolonged, then the use of nasal glucocorticosteroids is indicated: Tafen nasal, Flix, etc. It is also recommended to moisten the nasal mucosa with such means as, Humer, etc.
• If the cause of mucus in the throat is an allergic reaction, then antihistamines are prescribed: Claritin, Suprastin, Telfast, etc.
• With a bacterial infection, antibiotics of local and systemic action are prescribed.
• If the appearance of mucus is associated with bronchitis or pneumonia, then mucolytic and expectorant drugs are used. They stimulate the removal of mucus from the lungs.

All drugs should be used only after the appointment of a doctor and the establishment of the reason why the mucus began to accumulate.

Folk recipes

To reduce sputum production and mucus discharge, medicines can be taken orally.

Popular recipes for eliminating mucus in the throat:

1. Aloe with honey. Grind the aloe leaf and mix with honey. Eat morning and evening.
2. Calendula with honey Mix dried calendula petals with honey and consume between each meal.
3. Onion with horseradish and honey. Grate a small onion, add grated horseradish and a little honey to it. Mix well and use a tablespoon 3 times a day.
4. Infusion of licorice and plantain. Take an equal amount (2 tablespoons) of dry raw materials. Pour a liter of boiling water and leave to infuse. Take orally 260 ml three times a day.
5. Healing drink based on ginger. To prepare the drink, you need to take 250 ml of milk, 10-15 g of turmeric and ginger. Add ingredients to milk and boil. Then cool and add about 40 g of honey. Consume inside in small sips.
6. Radish with honey. Grate the root crop and squeeze out the juice. Add 10 g of honey to it and wait until it dissolves completely. Then you can eat the radish.
7. Mineral water with honey. Dilute honey in warm mineral water and take a drink throughout the day.

More information about the causes of mucus in the throat can be found in the video:

It is useful to do such procedures thin the mucus and improve discharge:

• You can buy at the pharmacy. With this tool, smear the neck with a warm scarf. It is recommended to do the procedure at night. From improvised means, you can use potatoes or cottage cheese.
• Boil potatoes and mash with a fork. After that, wrap in gauze or thin cloth and apply to the throat.
• A curd compress is made as follows: squeeze the curd well, wrap it in gauze and attach it to the neck. Next, apply plastic wrap and wrap your neck with a warm scarf.

When using alternative methods of treatment, it is necessary to consult a doctor. Some plants can cause an allergic reaction.It should be remembered that alternative medicine methods are auxiliary and help to reduce the manifestation of symptoms, but do not eliminate the causes of their occurrence.

Inhalation and gargling

To get rid of, which has arisen against the background of acute respiratory diseases or pathologies of the respiratory tract, it is recommended to perform inhalations.

For this purpose, you can use or improvised means. If there is no nebulizer, then you can resort to the "grandmother's method" - to breathe over the steam:

• To do this, boil peeled potatoes in a saucepan, mash and add a pinch of soda. Bend your head over the pan and inhale the vapors.
• You can breathe over the steam of medicinal herbs: a decoction of chamomile, calendula, etc. During the procedure, you should follow safety precautions and do not burn yourself with hot steam.

It is useful to perform rinses with accumulated mucus. For the procedure, you can use:

• Medicines (, Yoks, etc.), decoctions and infusions based on herbs.
• From plants, you should choose chamomile, eucalyptus, oak or pine bark, etc. You can take plants either individually or in combination with other herbs.

To prepare a decoction, pour a teaspoon with a glass of boiling water, leave to infuse in a thermos for 2-3 hours.After the specified time, strain and use for rinsing. You can add honey or a little lemon juice.

It is useful to gargle with soda-salt solution, which has an antiseptic effect.

You need to mix the ingredients in an equal amount of one teaspoon and pour a glass of boiled water. It is important that all components are completely dissolved in water. To enhance the therapeutic effect, you can add a few drops of iodine.Gargling is carried out at least 3-4 times a day. Any solution should be prepared immediately before use so that the therapeutic effect does not decrease.

Prevention

Accumulating mucus in the throat is a sign of a certain pathology, but not an independent disease. With timely treatment to the doctor, the prognosis is favorable.

There are no specific preventive measures, however, you can reduce the risk of mucus formation in the throat if the following recommendations are observed:

1. Timely treat infectious and inflammatory diseases.
2. Give up bad habits - smoking and alcoholic beverages.
3. Maintain the required humidity in the room.
4. Lead a healthy lifestyle.
5. Avoid hypothermia.
6. Visit regularly.
7. Avoid the source of the allergy.

If mucus begins to accumulate and irritate the throat, it is recommended to perform prophylactic rinses as often as possible. Then it will be possible to eliminate the inflammatory process in a short time and avoid the appearance of other symptoms.

You should adhere to a proper and balanced diet, drink more fluids. When symptoms begin, you should immediately consult a doctor.

The accumulation of mucus in the throat is an unpleasant sensation that causes discomfort, especially if sputum is constantly collected. Many people do not pay attention to this phenomenon and do not rush to the doctor, hoping that the mucus will eventually stop accumulating and interfere with normal life.

Why mucus accumulates in the throat, what disease it may indicate and how to get rid of it, read on.

Why is mucus formed in the throat

Mucus in the throat or sputum is a viscous secret that is produced by the epithelium of the nasopharynx, as well as in the trachea and bronchi. This substance envelops the mucous membrane of the ENT organs, preventing them from drying out, injuries, and performs a protective function. Mucus in the larynx and pharynx is a natural reaction of the body to the inflammatory process occurring in it, a response to any irritant, allergen. When viruses, microorganisms, other irritants enter the throat or nasopharynx, the mucous secretion begins to actively increase in volume and a person has a desire to free the respiratory tract from it and cough. In the presence of a respiratory infection in the nasopharynx, this is a natural process, a protective reaction from infection, and after recovery, the mucous secretion returns to normal. But, in some cases, the feeling of mucus in the throat is constantly present and may indicate a chronic disease of the ENT organs or a pathology of the digestive system. The term "postnasal drip syndrome" refers to the presence of mucus clots and a constant unpleasant sensation of a lump in the throat. Mucus flows down the back of the throat and causes discomfort. The flowing mucus contains a large number of microbes, which, getting into the digestive tract, when swallowing sputum, cause an upset and are accompanied by such unpleasant symptoms as:

• Constant sensation in nasopharynx and throat of mucus.
• There is a desire to get rid of it: clear your throat or cough.
• Breathing becomes difficult, accompanied by pain, dryness, itching in the nasopharynx.
• Mucus in throat, desire to cough, clear throat.
• There is constant nasal congestion.
• In some cases, a person suffers from a headache, feels weak.

Causes of constant mucus in the throat

Persistent mucus in the throat can occur due to various factors that are both infectious and non-infectious in nature:

1. Acute respiratory infections (pharyngitis, rhinitis, tonsillitis) lead to excessive formation of mucus in the throat, thereby clearing the airways of germs, viruses, accelerating the healing process.
2. Chronic diseases of the upper respiratory tract lead to inflammation of the larynx, nasal sinuses. The mucous secret is actively secreted and leads to the accumulation of a lump of mucus. Excessive accumulation of the mucous substance in the nasopharynx is dangerous because it leads to the multiplication of pathogenic microorganisms.
3. Chronic pathological inflammatory processes of the lower respiratory organs (tuberculosis, pneumonia) lead to excessive sputum production. The secreted mucus makes it difficult to breathe, a cough with sputum appears, pain in the sternum is felt. This pathology is accompanied by headache, drowsiness, apathy.
4. An allergic reaction of the body to any allergen or irritant is accompanied by the accumulation of sputum in the nasopharynx, the appearance of a coma in the throat. Allergic cough goes away in fits.
5. Mucus constantly accumulates in the throat due to damage to the digestive organs. The cause of excessive secretion of mucus can be peptic ulcer, gastritis, or other factors that provoke the entry of stomach contents into the esophagus.
6. The cause of excessive secretion of mucus may be malnutrition, in which a person consumes a large amount of spicy, fatty, salty foods and spices that irritate the mucous membrane of the digestive tract. In addition, too hot food can cause mucus in the throat.
7. Smokers are more prone to intense salivation and bronchial secretion due to irritation of the throat mucosa by tobacco smoke.
8. A person can experience the feeling of mucus in the goal by inhaling polluted air, dust, being in polluted areas with poor ecology. Residents of industrial areas often complain - constantly swallowing mucus. Thus, the body gets rid of harmful substances through the formation of mucous secretions in the nasopharynx.

Persistent mucus in the throat: symptoms

With a constant accumulation of mucus, patients, as a rule, try to get rid of it by coughing or swallowing. With excessive sputum production, when it becomes thick and viscous, swallowing mucus can cause vomiting or nausea, as well as be accompanied by symptoms such as:

• Feeling of constant burning and perspiration in the throat, nasopharynx.
• Patients feel a lump in the throat that does not go away.
• There is a desire to cough, with no relief when coughing.
• A person experiences discomfort, pain when swallowing or eating solid food.
• There is frequent sneezing and nasal congestion.
• The appearance of an unpleasant sour smell from the mouth associated with the active reproduction of bacteria.
• Perhaps an increase in the cervical lymph nodes, the appearance of a headache, general malaise and weakness.

Treatment of mucus in the throat

Observing the above symptoms in yourself, you need to seek advice from an otolaryngologist and establish the cause of the accumulation of viscous mucus in the throat. After establishing the cause, the doctor will prescribe an effective drug treatment aimed at removing mucus and eliminating chronic infection or inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract. In case of an allergic reaction of the body, consultation with an allergist is necessary. In any case, the treatment of the nasopharynx from mucus should be complex, since the mucous substance secreted by the mucous membrane of the ENT organs is only a consequence, and not a disease.

Methods for treating mucus in the throat

1. Gargling with antiseptic solutions to eliminate inflammatory processes in it. As an antiseptic, antibiotic drugs are prescribed, such as: Miramistin, Yoks, Geksoral.
   Self-administration of these medications is unacceptable, as they have a number of contraindications, especially for pregnant women and children.
2. Sprays or absorbable lozenges against infectious diseases, such as: Kaeton, Ingalipt. It is worth noting that these drugs only temporarily relieve symptoms and require additional medications.
3. Immunomodulators - special drugs to strengthen the immune system and the protective functions of the body.
4. Plant-based preparations that help to separate sputum faster, after taking them, productive expectoration occurs. These drugs are especially effective for dry cough, in which it is difficult to get rid of mucus in the throat on your own. Among them: Tonzipret, Tonsilgon, Sinupret.
5. In addition to taking medication and fulfilling all the doctor's prescriptions, patients should stop smoking and normalize their diet, eliminating foods that irritate the mucous membrane of the throat and larynx from the diet.

How to treat mucus in the throat in an adult

Treatment of mucus in the throat takes place in stages, the doctor may prescribe the following treatment:

• Washing the throat and nasopharynx with baking soda, furatsilin, a solution of potassium permanganate, infusion of chamomile or sage.
• After the mucus is eliminated, a course of antibiotics or other drugs is used to treat the cause of the ENT disease.
• To consolidate the therapeutic effect, physiotherapeutic procedures are used, such as irradiation of the nasal cavity with ultraviolet light.

How to treat mucus in the throat of a child

The presence of mucus in the nasopharynx and throat of a child is quite common. Since the mucous membranes of young children are very delicate and vulnerable, their treatment should be gentle.

• One of the most effective ways to remove mucus from a child's nasopharynx is washing with a light saline solution, which is completely safe for the child's body. Salt solution has a wonderful disinfectant and antiseptic effect, gently cleansing the nasal cavity and throat from clots of mucus and snot.
• If necessary, the doctor may prescribe the baby treatment with topical antimicrobials, observing the required dosage and duration of treatment.
• Another safe and effective method of getting rid of mucus in the throat cavity is an aqueous solution based on protein and silver ions - Protargol. The drug has an active effect on the production of mucus secretion and kills microbes and bacteria, normalizing the normal microflora and metabolic processes in the nasopharynx.

How to get rid of mucus in the throat: folk remedies

With constant mucus in the throat, folk methods of treatment are widely used, which significantly improve the condition. Treatment of mucus with folk remedies using medicinal herbs takes longer and can take from 2 to 4 weeks.

Gargle for mucus in throat

Among the most effective folk methods of getting rid of sputum are gargling, which relieves inflammation of the mucosa. If there is an infection in the nasopharynx, rinsing prevents its further spread.

1. Rinsing with a solution of soda and salt with the addition of iodine. To prepare the solution, you will need 1 teaspoon of soda and salt per glass of warm water. A few drops of iodine are added to the soda-salt solution. Perform gargling at least three times a day.
2. Chamomile rinse. Chamomile is a natural antiseptic, to prepare a chamomile solution for rinsing, you need to brew 1 tsp of pharmacy chamomile with 250 ml of boiling water and let it brew and strain. Perform rinses every 3 hours.
3. Rinsing with calendula. To prepare the solution, it is necessary to brew 1 tsp of herbs with a glass of boiling water and set aside to infuse for about 30 minutes, then strain. With a cooled solution, rinse the throat every 3 hours.

Inhalation from mucus in the throat

Inhalations are a wonderful, effective way to rid the mucous membrane of excess sputum. To carry out the procedure, you can use a special device - an inhaler, or you can use improvised means - a pan, over the steam of which you will need to breathe, covering your head with a towel.

To perform the procedure, the following folk remedies are used:

1. Inhalation with mineral water. Mineral water Borjomi or Essentuki, which include sodium salts, is excellent for the procedure. Under the action of steam, the mucus quickly separates and relieves the patient's condition. The duration of the procedure is from 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Potato inhalation. To carry out the procedure, you will need a pan in which the potatoes were boiled. After cooking the vegetable, you need to knead it, add soda to the mashed potatoes. Inhale the potato vapors deeply as you lean over the pot and cover yourself with a towel. The duration of the procedure is up to 15 minutes.
3. Inhalations with a decoction of chamomile and calendula. For the procedure, prepare a decoction of medicinal herbs in the manner described above.

Compresses for mucus in the throat

Compresses are an excellent tool for thinning mucus and its subsequent removal from the nasopharynx. Warm vapors emanating from the compress have a therapeutic effect on the nasopharynx.

1. Take dry cottage cheese, if necessary, it can be squeezed through cheesecloth to remove excess liquid. Wrap the cottage cheese in a thin natural cloth and apply a compress to the neck area. Cover with cling film on top and wrap the throat with a warm cloth. It is recommended to perform a compress before going to bed.
2. Another effective and affordable method is to perform a compress using the Asterisk balm. Spread the balm on your neck and wrap it in a warm towel, perform a compress before going to bed.
3. A compress can be made from potatoes, which must be boiled, mashed and still warm, applied to the throat, wrapped in a cloth. After the vegetable has cooled, remove the compress.

Mucus in the throat is a common condition that occurs in both adults and children. There are a huge number of different reasons due to which mucus and a lump in the throat occur, therefore, in order to establish an accurate diagnosis and permanently get rid of an unpleasant ailment, it is recommended to consult a doctor. Only a doctor, after examining and examining all the symptoms of the disease, can provide the correct and effective treatment.

There are many clinical situations characterized by inflammation of the upper respiratory tract, in which snot from the nasal cavity drains into the throat, reflexively causing a cough.

Infectious and viral pathologies such as SARS, influenza, as well as mechanical trauma to the nose, chemical or thermal burns, lead to atrophy of the nasal mucosa, which, in turn, sets in motion a mechanism known as the “postnasal drip syndrome” (Drip - syndrome, English . postnasal drip), when at any time of the day mucus accumulates in the nasopharynx like snot.

This is not an independent disease, but a "syndrome", that is, a complex of specific symptoms that develop under various pathological conditions. It gives rise to such complications as choking, constant night snoring, purulent sinusitis and severe migraines. Let's take a closer look at why it occurs and how to get rid of it.

The cavity of the nasopharynx is lined with mucus-forming epithelium, equipped with a large number of cilia. The movement of the cilia towards the underlying compartments helps to move the muconasal secretion with associated particles of fine dust, microorganisms, to the underlying compartments, where it is either swallowed or eliminated by expectoration.

Even in a healthy person, mucus is present in the throat. From the nasal cavity through the choanae (internal nasal openings), it flows down the back wall of the larynx. The amount of these secretions is significant, about 500 milliliters per day, but a person does not notice them.

With a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic process, mechanical damage to the mucosa, the cells of the nasal epithelium begin to produce more mucus, up to 1000-1200 milliliters and a thicker consistency. As a result, there is discomfort in the trachea, sensation of a foreign body, frequent swallowing, a desire to cough and bad breath.

7 reasons for the formation of mucus in the throat

There are at least seven reasons why snot forms in the throat. The treatment of each of them will be different, and universal methods do not exist.

Mucus in the throat can accumulate in the following cases:

• With a viral infection.

Viral particles, falling on the nasopharyngeal mucosa, cause inflammation. The body begins to defend itself by producing a large amount of mucus.

The discharge is usually clear and odorless. The patient may have a fever, later a sore throat, cough joins.

If the pathology is not treated at this stage, bacterial flora almost always attaches, because mucus is an ideal place for its reproduction. A distinctive feature of a viral infection is its high contagiousness (contagiousness).

• Bacterial complications of SARS.

With a bacterial lesion of the ENT organs, the snot always changes its color and consistency depending on the stage of the course of the disease.

The highlights become , green or . If there is no treatment, or it is incorrect, (an analysis of the sensitivity of the flora to the antibiotic has not been performed), the inflammation becomes more extensive, and affects the maxillary sinuses, tonsils, trachea or bronchi.

Often spreads to the middle ear, causing otitis media. The pathology is characterized by the fact that mucus accumulates in the throat like snot, flowing out of the Eustachian tube, while the symptoms of a runny nose are completely absent.

Violation of innervation and blood supply, atrophy of the mucosa, thickening it and closing the nasal passages.

Patients complain of a mucous lump in the throat, choking during sleep, and little or no breathing through the nose. There are frequent dizziness due to a lack of oxygen, nervousness and chronic fatigue are soiled.

• Allergy.

One of the most common causes of a runny nose. At the same time, the discharge is transparent, and does not change either color or consistency. Lachrymation, frequent sneezing, redness of the eyes may additionally join. The temperature remains normal, but the general condition of the person is disturbed. Exacerbations occur during the flowering period of plants or by direct contact with an allergen (dust, animal hair).

• Bruises, fractures, curvature of the nasal septum, Thornwaldt's cyst.

can cause chronic rhinitis in the future. The normal structure of the nose is disturbed, the mucus cannot freely enter the nasopharynx, it accumulates, becomes thick. As a result, inflammation may occur.

• Oncological pathologies.

Patients with this diagnosis turn to the doctor late, confusing cancer with adenomas or a simple cyst. Symptoms of the second and third stages are manifested by malaise, weakness in the body, lack of appetite and migraines. From the side of breathing: through the upper respiratory tract there is difficulty in nasal breathing, mucus in the throat. At the last stage, a trachiostomy is placed on the patient, otherwise he will die from suffocation.

• Incorrect use of vasoconstrictor drops.

Always leads to the development of medical rhinitis. If you exceed the frequency or duration of taking the drug, the body stops responding to it. The amount of snot increases, it becomes more and more difficult to force the nose to breathe.

In addition to the nasal discharge, sputum from the bronchial tree sometimes accumulates in the pharynx. Throwing of gastric juice can also occur in pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract (with gastroesophageal reflux disease, GERD).

Diverticula of the esophagus after emptying give a similar clinic. These conditions do not belong to the postnasal drip syndrome, but require exclusion in the differential diagnosis.

Symptoms of inflammation of the nasopharynx

Each pathology is individually polysymptomatic, but everyone is connected by nasal congestion and accumulation of snot in the nasopharyngeal space. At the same time, there are common signs that indicate the inflammatory process of the nasopharynx.

General symptoms of inflammation of the nasopharynx:

• discomfort in the throat, a feeling of "lump";
• constant desire to swallow. Since the mucus flows along the back wall of the pharynx in large quantities, it irritates the mucous membrane, there is a reflex desire to swallow;
• perspiration, pain in the nasopharynx are characteristic signs of inflammation. On examination, in this case, redness, swelling of the mucosa are found;
• accumulation of snot in the back of the nose, their runoff along the back of the pharynx, while there are often no obvious signs of inflammation of the nasopharynx;
• dry cough that occurs mainly in the morning, immediately after waking up. sometimes the cough is so pronounced that it appears. Wherein not defined;
• frequent discharge of mucous clots, which are sometimes orange-brown in color.

Additional symptoms allow you to determine the nature of the disease, and make the correct diagnosis. These include:

• An increase in temperature, chills, sweating, headache indicates that an extensive inflammatory process has begun in the body. Distinguish between bacterial and viral infections. Often it is difficult even for a doctor to do this without additional research.
• Tearing, sneezing, redness of the eyes, seasonality of the disease against the background of normal temperature indicate an allergy.
• Pain in the forehead, under the eyes when the head is tilted forward is characteristic of inflammation of the sinuses.

The mucous secretion can accumulate in small amounts throughout the day and be immediately coughed up, spit out or swallowed. However, more often unpleasant symptoms disturb the patient in the morning. This is due to the horizontal position of the body during sleep, when the discharge drains more slowly into the throat and is less likely to be swallowed.

Diagnostic methods

Effective treatment is impossible without determining the cause of the disease. Only a doctor can make a diagnosis on the basis of an examination of the patient, additional tests.

The diagnostic process includes:

• Interrogation of the patient. An important role is played by the time of onset of symptoms, their duration, the nature of the discharge, which provokes and which reduces the runny nose.
• The mucous membrane is examined, the condition of the septum, the presence of growths, tumors, polyps is determined. Next, the ENT moves to the oral cavity. If the doctor notices yellow or yellow snot in the throat, this indicates a bacterial infection. Transparent discharge can be observed with viral or allergic rhinitis.
• Endoscopy. It is almost impossible to examine the deeply located structures of the nasopharynx without special tools. For this purpose, an endoscope is used. At the end of the device there is a video camera and a lighting element, therefore this research method is the "gold standard" for diagnosing diseases of the ENT organs.
• Bacteriological culture of secretions from the nasopharynx allows you to determine the pathogen, check the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics.
• X-ray examination of the sinuses is necessary for suspected sinusitis, frontal sinusitis.
• In particularly difficult situations, CT or MRI is indicated.
• A complete blood count is needed to assess the degree of inflammation.

Consultation of narrow specialists (allergist, dentist, pulmonologist) may be required for differential diagnosis.

This is necessary to exclude or, on the contrary, detect pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract, lungs, and problems with teeth. The latter are an indirect cause of many respiratory diseases, since carious cavities are a source of constant infection, the fight against which weakens the immune system.

General principles of treatment

Treatment should be comprehensive: taking medications, using folk methods and physiotherapy procedures in the absence of contraindications.

Basic principles:

• Etiotropism (identification and elimination of the cause of the disease).
• Compliance with the terms of treatment. You can not stop the procedures prescribed by the doctor with a slight improvement in the condition.
• Drinking large amounts of warm liquids.
• Timely ventilation and humidification of the room, the air in the room should not be dry.
• Hygiene of the mouth and nose.

Medical therapy

The choice of patient management tactics depends on the cause of the disease, the severity of symptoms. The frequency of taking drugs, the duration of the course of treatment is determined only by the doctor. Independently increase the dose or terms of use is prohibited.

• If a bacterial infection is confirmed, antibiotics are prescribed. The results of the smear allow you to determine to which drug these microorganisms are sensitive. Doctors prefer penicillins (Amoxil, Flemoxin, Augmentin, Amoxiclav, Flemoclav), azithromycins (Zitrox, Sumamed, Ormax).
• In case of a viral infection, symptomatic therapy is indicated: nasal lavage with saline (Aqua Maris, Humer, Aqualor), vasoconstrictor drops (Knoxprey, Evkazolin, Nazol), lowering the temperature if necessary.
• If the runny nose is of an allergic nature, antihistamines (Loratadin, Cetrin, Telfast), glucocorticosteroid sprays (Avamys, Fluticasone) are used.

• an elevated position of the head during sleep (mucus will flow more easily into the lower sections, into the pharynx, subsequently being inactivated by gastric juice);
• drinking plenty of water (in order to thin the mucus, which contributes to its easier expectoration);
• You can remove snot from the throat and carry out local disinfection by rinsing with Hexoral, Furacilin and saline solutions.

Folk remedies

It is impossible to completely get rid of snot in the throat in adult patients with the help of folk remedies. Herbs cannot replace antibiotics for a severe bacterial infection.

Alternative medicine should be resorted to only after consultation with the attending physician. This implies that the patient receives basic treatment based on the principles of evidence-based medicine.

Below are the most effective means:

• Saline nasal wash very easy to prepare. A teaspoon of salt should be dissolved in a glass of warm water, then the solution should be used for its intended purpose. It is necessary to wash the nose 3-4 times a day.
• Throat gargle solution: baking soda, salt, sugar, a teaspoon of each ingredient and 1 liter of hot water + 20 drops of iodine. After cooling, gargle with a solution 3-4 times a day.
• Decoctions of sage, oak bark, chamomile. It is necessary to bring water to a boil (about 1 liter), add 4-5 tablespoons of dry leaves and flowers of the above plants, cover with a lid, let it brew. The decoction can be used to wash the nose and gargle.
• Aloe juice. Mix with a salt solution (3 drops of aloe juice, salt on the tip of a knife is added to 5 ml of water), or with a solution of honey (a teaspoon of honey is dissolved in water and 3-4 drops of juice are added to the solution. Provided there is no allergy to honey and aloe .
• Inhalations. They are used to moisturize the mucosa, like saline solutions. In numerous traditional medicine recipes, chamomile and other herbs with antiseptic properties are added to them. It should be remembered that you can not breathe over boiling water, due to the risk of developing a mucosal burn. This is especially true for the use of inhalations in children!

Prevention

By following simple rules, you can strengthen your immunity, prevent the development of a runny nose, nasal congestion.

1. Regular airing of the room, wet cleaning.
2. Hygiene of the oral cavity, nose.
3. Proper, balanced diet with enough vegetables and fruits.
4. Drinking at least 1.5-2 liters of water daily.
5. During epidemics, avoid crowded places.

But the most effective prevention of postnasal drip syndrome is seeking qualified medical help in case of the first signs of the disease and its timely treatment.

Mucus in the throat (postnasal drip syndrome)

In contact with

The human larynx is lined with a mucous membrane that performs a protective function, protecting the throat from dirt and injury. But with inflammatory processes in the body, the production of mucus increases and it accumulates in the throat.

A lump in the throat and mucus is not a disease, but a symptom of a disease. Only a qualified specialist can find out the reason. Therefore, if you feel a lump in your throat, you should consult an otolaryngologist.

Regardless of why mucus is collected in the throat, it should be remembered that the cause of this symptom may be associated with a disease that, if not properly treated, can harm your health.

There are symptoms that indicate the accumulation of mucus in the throat, these include:

• feeling of tickling and / or;
• sensation of a lump in the throat;
• discomfort when swallowing;
• regular desire to clear your throat.

As a rule, mucus is a protective mechanism of the respiratory organs, and begins to be produced in response to any irritant. So it is logical to assume that irritants are infectious and non-infectious.

Non-infectious irritants

It:

1. Frequent consumption of salty, spicy, or spicy foods, which irritate the lining of the throat and cause large amounts of mucus to be produced. In such cases, you need to adjust your diet.
2. Smoking causes accumulations of mucus in the throat, which cause. In this way, the body reacts to the harmful substances contained in cigarettes. Subsequent symptoms will be: the appearance of a spasmodic cough, mucosal atrophy, and the lower respiratory tract may become inflamed. In this case, to get rid of the above symptoms, you need to quit smoking.
3. Inhalation of allergens leads to irritation of the mucous membrane, which can be manifested by swelling of the nasopharynx, runny nose, in which copious amounts of mucus flows down the throat, coughing and sneezing. For allergies, antihistamines are used for treatment, and in the case of a sharp edema, therapy consists of hormonal and antispasmodic drugs.
4. With impaired nasal breathing and low fluid intake, there is also a feeling that mucus stagnates in the throat. This may be due to drying of the mucosa in case of insufficient moisture, polyps in the nose, adenoids, or curvature of the nasal septum.
5. Gastritis reflux esophagitis is manifested by throwing the contents of the stomach into the throat, the walls of the throat are irritated by enzymes and hydrochloric acid and become inflamed. In response to inflammation, an accumulation of mucus appears in the throat, and heartburn and changes in tooth enamel may also disturb.

Infectious irritants

A variety of viruses, bacteria, and fungi cause inflammation in the nose, throat, and throat, resulting in mucus. Mucus during illness is distinguished by the content of a large number of immune cells, which absorb and kill microbes.

Mucus collects in the throat in case of such diseases:

1. Viral or bacterial rhinitis. Viral rhinitis is manifested by burning and dryness of the nasal cavity, swelling of the nasal mucosa, sneezing and clear liquid discharge. Most often, this type of rhinitis is a complication of measles, influenza or diphtheria. Bacterial rhinitis appears as a result of hypothermia and is accompanied by headache, swelling, nasal congestion, feeling unwell and profuse yellow discharge from the nose.
2. Sinusitis manifested by nasal congestion and runny nose, which lasts more than 7 days. In addition, the discharge from the nose has an abundant purulent character, mucus flows down the back of the pharynx, pain and heaviness are felt in the area of ​​the inflamed nasal sinus. Body temperature rises to 38 ° C, cheeks and eyelids swell, photophobia and tearing are noted, a person quickly gets tired and is prone to irritability.
3. Sinusitis considered one of the most severe types of sinusitis. During the illness, the maxillary and maxillary cavities become inflamed, the mucous membrane swells so much that it blocks the opening from the sinus into the nasal cavity. As a result, mucus accumulates in the sinus space and pathogenic bacteria multiply, which causes the accumulation of pus. Sinusitis is manifested by a headache that radiates to the forehead, teeth or bridge of the nose, increases when the head is tilted and if pressure is applied to the sinus. The sense of smell is disturbed, because. the nose is stuffed up due to copious discharge, photophobia, lacrimation appear, a feeling of fullness is noted in the forehead and cheeks.
4. Pharyngitis occurs as a result of inhalation of cold air, under the influence of chemical irritants or viruses, microbes and fungi. Quite often, pharyngitis can develop as a complication of an already existing infectious disease in the oral cavity or nasopharynx. When pharyngitis is characterized by dryness and sore throat, pain when swallowing, sometimes the temperature rises slightly. With atrophic pharyngitis, the mucous membrane of the throat is thinned and dry, covered with dried mucus, which from time to time accumulates in the throat, and reddened vessels are also visible on the mucous membrane.
5. Tonsillitis, caused by fungi, is the cause of the accumulation of mucus in the throat. Sore throat is not as pronounced as with viral or bacterial forms of the disease. In addition, a sore throat is accompanied by a headache, a slight rise in body temperature, redness and swelling of the tonsils, which may be covered with a white or grayish coating (see). But the main difference between this form of angina and all the others is that plaque is more often localized not on the tonsils, but on the tongue, palate and in the oral cavity, and is also accompanied by the accumulation of mucus, mostly white (if the causative agent of angina is Candida fungus).

Important! If, when trying to remove plaque, the mucous membrane bleeds, this means that the fungal infection is very strong and requires more effective treatment.

In addition, in diseases such as pneumonia, obstructive bronchitis and bronchial asthma, sputum can move from the lungs up the airways and accumulate in the throat, after which it is coughed up.

Symptoms

Usually patients complain of a lump of mucus in the throat that does not go away. They feel burning and itching,. In this case, there may be a severe runny nose, suffocating cough, bouts of nausea and vomiting.

If you have these symptoms, you should visit a doctor. Self-medication can lead to serious complications.

Diagnostics

The otorhinolaryngologist will examine the patient, analyze the complaints.

Then you need to do laboratory tests:

• biochemical and general blood test,
• radiography,
• throat swab
• bacteriological analysis of sputum

In addition, you may need to visit doctors of narrow specialties - an allergist, a gastroenterologist, an endocrinologist. Then, in accordance with the clinical picture, the attending physician will make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Treatment

The doctor will explain how to get rid of the lump of mucus in the throat and suggest the necessary medicines.

When a lump appears in the throat and mucus accumulates, therapy should be comprehensive. Along with symptomatic treatment, treatment of the underlying disease is necessary. For example, suppression of infectious agents or elimination of an allergen.

The complex therapy includes the following components:

• drug treatment;
• physiotherapy;
• diet;
• treatment with traditional medicine.

During the treatment of diseases with similar symptoms, the diet should be sparing. Do not eat fried, spicy, salty, sour foods.

It is better to reduce portions and eat warm cereals, vegetable purees, chopped lean meat, fish. During the entire period of illness, it is necessary to abandon the use of alcoholic beverages.

Medical treatment

Pharmacies have a large selection of medicines that will help to cope with such an unpleasant symptom as mucus and a lump in the throat. Their prices may vary, so it will not be difficult to choose the most affordable one.

Table. Medicines to eliminate the causes and alleviate the condition with a feeling of a lump in the throat:

Each drug package has an instruction with which it is easy to calculate the required dose of the drug.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy is prescribed by a doctor to alleviate the patient's condition.

With diagnoses such as sinusitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis - a lump in the throat, mucus will help eliminate the following procedures:

1. . This device completely irrigates the sore throat with the drug, moisturizes the mucous membrane, the steam softens the cough and helps to remove sputum.
2. Quartzization. Ultraviolet rays have an antimicrobial effect. Reduce inflammation, eliminate perspiration and pain.
3. UHF affects the inflamed mucosa, improves microcirculation, accelerates recovery.

You can learn more about the effect of physiotherapy methods from the video in this article.

Treatment with traditional medicine

Home treatment must be approved by a doctor. Since folk remedies are mainly aimed at symptoms, they can be used as an additional therapy and only after the acute period of the disease has been eliminated.

Nevertheless, home treatment is quite effective, the means are easy to prepare with your own hands. In a particular case, rinsing will help. During this procedure, mucus, infectious agents are washed out, and healing herbs heal the throat, eliminate unpleasant symptoms and speed up the healing process.

Here are some simple yet effective recipes:

1. Pour a teaspoon of eucalyptus, chamomile, calendula herbs with a glass of boiling water and leave for 2 hours. Add honey and a few drops of lemon juice. Gargle with this infusion 3-4 times a day. These herbs can also be inhaled to help loosen phlegm.
2. Pour a large pinch of dry coltsfoot raw materials with half a liter of hot water. Boil over low heat for 2-3 minutes. Let it brew and strain. Gargle every hour. If you add honey, you can drink this decoction instead of tea.
3. Boil a teaspoon of chopped oak bark for 10 minutes in half a liter of water. Cool and gargle every 3 hours. Use this remedy with caution in children and pregnant women.

In addition to rinsing, inhalations, frequent rinsing of the nose, and various compresses on the throat will help reduce the accumulation of mucus.

In order to avoid serious consequences, you should not try to cure such a symptom as a lump in the throat and mucus on your own. Only a specialist can establish the causes, make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment. Therefore, there is no need to postpone a visit to the doctor. Only under this condition can we hope for a speedy recovery.

Often we are faced with such a phenomenon as the accumulation of mucus in the throat, which flows down the back of the throat and is often very badly expectorated. Nothing hurts, there may not be other problems either, but snot in the throat causes discomfort and discomfort, especially since it can be difficult to get rid of them. Although we may not feel other manifestations, there is still a reason for such a phenomenon, and most often these are some kind of illness.

Why does mucus accumulate in the throat

The upper layer of the mucous membrane of the pharynx consists of epithelial cells. They are able to produce a colorless substance, sputum. It is necessary for the body, but in limited quantities. It envelops the internal surfaces of the nasal cavity, throat, bronchi, provides moisture to the mucous membranes, contains immune cells and maintains the existence of normal microflora in the respiratory tract.

When it is more than necessary, it means that the body is trying to protect itself from something or is irritated. The reasons that snot accumulate in the throat can be divided into two groups.

Non-infectious causes of increased mucus production in the throat

• Irritation of the mucous membrane with spicy dishes, alcohol, tobacco smoke, harmful gases,
• Pathology of the gastrointestinal tract,
• Allergic reactions.

The body, in response to irritation of the throat, begins to produce more sputum in its mucous membrane than usual.

Infectious causes of increased mucus production in the throat

• Diseases of the bronchi and lungs
• throat diseases,
• Inflammatory processes in the sinuses, nasal, frontal,
• SARS.

All these reasons affect the condition of the nasopharynx and its mucous membranes. If you do not take measures for treatment, then the development of a chronic process is possible. Then the main complaints are that there is constantly snot in the throat, a constant feeling of discomfort, and expectoration brings a temporary effect, mucus accumulates again and flows down the back of the throat.

The most common causes of mucus in the throat are such infectious diseases:

• Pharyngitis,
• Rhinitis,
• Tonsillitis,
• Sinusitis,
• sinusitis,
• Frontit.

The origin of these diseases may be different. Most often, pathogens are viruses and bacteria, less often these diseases are caused by fungi.

Pharyngitis is directly an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the posterior pharyngeal wall, so in this case it is clear where the sputum comes from.

With inflammation of the sinuses, mucus is formed in them, and all cavities are somehow connected with the throat, therefore, with rhinitis or sinusitis, it first forms in the inflamed sinuses, and snot flows along the back of the throat. Quite often they are simply reflexively swallowed, especially by children.

Some try to somehow get rid of them, periodically expectorating. Coughing may also be present because the mucus that drips irritates the throat.

The resulting mucus may be clear if caused by a virus, or yellow-green in color if the infection is bacterial. When examining the throat, it can be seen that the back wall is inflamed, a slight swelling is possible. There may be signs of inflammation of the tonsils, signs of bronchitis, tracheitis or pneumonia. Bronchial asthma can also cause the presence of sputum in the throat. With problems in the bronchi or lungs, the secret formed in large quantities rises up and accumulates in the throat.

Sputum with blood: what does it mean

Some patients notice that the sputum that comes out has a rusty color or red streaks. This means that there is blood in it. Snot in the throat with blood on the background of bronchitis, tracheitis or pneumonia is not considered a dangerous symptom. Of course, this indicates damage to the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract, which comes from straining when coughing or as a result of exposure to an inflammatory process. With the treatment of the underlying disease, the symptom will also go away.

In cases where blood is present in the sputum, and there is no acute inflammatory process in the respiratory tract, it is worth worrying. This symptom may be an alarming signal of the presence of a tumor process in the respiratory tract or gastrointestinal tract. In this case, treatment should be started as early as possible, and tumors are often insidious and manifest themselves already in the later stages.

What to do

The mucus that accumulates in the throat feels like a lump or something foreign that you want to get rid of. However, this does not always work out, if the sputum is very thick, then the snot in the throat is not expectorated.

If their cause is infection, then the mucus becomes a breeding ground for the continued reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms and a source of new inflammation. In any case, treatment is needed, which depends on the causes of sputum accumulation in the throat.

How to remove snot from the throat? In some cases, local therapy is sufficient: for some time, gargle regularly, irrigate it, and lubricate the back of the throat. Others will require medical treatment. If the cause is an allergy or external adverse effects, then first of all it is necessary to eliminate the influence of the allergen or harmful substances.

Local therapy

How to gargle

• Furatsilina solution,
• Pharmaceutical drug Rotokan,
• Infusions and decoctions of herbs: chamomile, sage, calendula.

Rinsing the nose with saline or disinfectant solutions is also useful. After washing and rinsing, you can lubricate the pharyngeal wall with softening preparations, for example, peach oil.

Medical treatment

• antibacterial drugs,
• antiviral agents,
• Mucolytics and expectorants,
• antihistamines,
• Vasoconstrictor.

In inflammatory processes in the sinuses, rhinitis, which are often the cause of accumulation of mucus in the throat, good results are obtained by using the herbal preparation Sinupret. Tablets help clear the sinuses and upper respiratory tract, relieve inflammation. As a result of complex treatment prescribed by a doctor in accordance with the causes of the problem, improvement occurs and the amount of mucus in the throat gradually returns to normal.