What could be the cause of throat tightness with transparent sticky mucus in the throat?
Feb 13, 2013
what you are describing are symptoms of Post Nasal Drip which is caused by mucus production that comes down from the oropharynx in addition or instead of your nose. PND will cause irritation in the throat and can cause throat tightness and cough which is most of the time dry but can be sometimes productive if the amount is excessive and you are unable to swallow it normally.
Post Nasal Drip is associated with sinusitis (chronic and acute) rhinits, GERD.
Post Nasal Drip is associated with sinusitis (chronic and acute) rhinits, GERD.
•
Throat tightness might originate from mainly 2 factors: a psychological factor or a medical one. When it is associated with sticky mucous in the throat then it is most likely secondary to one of the following medical problems:
1) Sinusitis: highest on the list and this could be associated with other symptoms mainly like headaches, facial fullness and pains, nasal obstruction and congestion, and loss of the ability to smell properly.
2) Rhinitis: allergy in the nose and throat with excess secretions associated with nasal congestion that leads to further thickening of the mucus. Allergies could be seasonal, perineal, or related to food, dust and mites, etc.
3) Reflux Disease (GERD): which entales increased acid secretions from the stomach and weakness of the esophageal sphincter ie valve between the stomach and the esophagus leading to burning out of the mucosa of the naso-pharyngeal area during the night leading to the increased thickened secretions.
4) Presence of a mass / tumor in the nose, paranasal sinuses wihich leads to obstuction - congestion - thickened secretions and which becomes a vicious cycle with worsening of the symptom with time and should alert the patient to the pesence of an abnormality especially when coupled with nasal obstuction that is becoming worse.
Finally, we all have post-nasal secretions especially those of us who are living in polluted cities / environment, but when these secretions become thicker, they denote that we have a medical problem that needs to be investigated and attended to.
1) Sinusitis: highest on the list and this could be associated with other symptoms mainly like headaches, facial fullness and pains, nasal obstruction and congestion, and loss of the ability to smell properly.
2) Rhinitis: allergy in the nose and throat with excess secretions associated with nasal congestion that leads to further thickening of the mucus. Allergies could be seasonal, perineal, or related to food, dust and mites, etc.
3) Reflux Disease (GERD): which entales increased acid secretions from the stomach and weakness of the esophageal sphincter ie valve between the stomach and the esophagus leading to burning out of the mucosa of the naso-pharyngeal area during the night leading to the increased thickened secretions.
4) Presence of a mass / tumor in the nose, paranasal sinuses wihich leads to obstuction - congestion - thickened secretions and which becomes a vicious cycle with worsening of the symptom with time and should alert the patient to the pesence of an abnormality especially when coupled with nasal obstuction that is becoming worse.
Finally, we all have post-nasal secretions especially those of us who are living in polluted cities / environment, but when these secretions become thicker, they denote that we have a medical problem that needs to be investigated and attended to.
•
