Postnasal drip is often aggravated after eating when it is due to vasomotor rhinitis.
Postnasal drip, i.e., postnasal drip syndrome, refers to a series of uncomfortable symptoms triggered by a chronic inflammatory state of the nasal cavity and sinuses, in which purulent secretions produced at the site of inflammation flow backward through the nasal cavity and through the nostrils into the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx.
Vasomotor rhinitis is a non-specific stimulus-induced neurotransmitter-mediated neurogenic inflammation of the nasal mucosa. It is mainly caused by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, such as increased parasympathetic nervous system reactivity. It can exacerbate postnasal drip after eating as follows.
After eating, the sensory nerve endings of the nasal mucosa are stimulated, releasing neuropeptides and inducing a neurogenic inflammatory response. This leads to an increase in vascular permeability, hypersecretion of glands, and even induces mast cell degranulation to release histamine, which triggers a severe allergic reaction, a large amount of watery nasal discharge and mucus secretion, and aggravates postnasal drip.
Patients are advised to follow the doctor’s instructions for regular treatment of postnasal drip, and if they still have doubts, they are advised to communicate with their specialists actively.