Question

I have had sinus problems since childhood. However now that I am a senior (70) it seems to be worsening. I have constant mucous flow during the night that collects in my throat and wakes me up. I also get an accumulation of dried mucus in my nasal passages which is very uncomfortable. Any suggestions as to what I should do?

Answer

We normally produce between one to two pints a day of a thin mucus in our nose. It drips down the back of the nose into the throat and we swallow it. Since this is a normal body function, we don't realize it's happening. When we produce an excess amount of mucus or the mucus becomes thick and sticky and collects in the throat, we become aware that there's a problem.

The most common problem causing excess nasal mucus production is a nasal allergy. We breathe in something we are allergic to causing an irritation of the nasal lining. The nose lining becomes swollen, blocks the nasal passages and produces excess mucus. When this occurs at night, we mouth-breathe through the night and awake in the morning with a dry, raw throat and thick mucus in the back of the throat.

As we age, the nasal mucus-producing glands do not work as well as they did in the past. They produce less than the normal amount of mucus and the mucus produced is thick and sticky. This gives the same symptoms as a nasal allergy problem, but for a completely different reason.

Some medications used to control high blood pressure can cause a dry nose and mouth. Finally, it is a common problem, especially as we get older, for acid to reflux from the stomach to reflux into the back of the throat. This most often occurs during sleep; it burns the throat, and causes us to awaken with a burning throat. Any or all these problems may be contributing to your symptoms. Discussing this with your personal physician is best.